Daily Devotionals

Devotional - Way To Go

2025-04-22T04:58:00Z

“But Daniel resolved not to defile himself with the royal food and wine, and he asked the chief official for permission not to defile himself this way.” – Daniel 1:8

In his book “What Happens Next: A Traveler’s Guide Through the End of This Age”, Max Lucado writes: ““Good work! You did your job well” (Matt. 25:23 MSG). That phrase reminds me of a story Joe Stowell told me about a time he met the president at the White House. Joe was president of Moody Bible Institute at the time.

He and a dozen or so other leaders were invited to the White House to meet George W. Bush. They each waited in line for their turn to walk across the room and shake his hand. While Joe waited, he rehearsed his greeting: “Hello, Mr. President, my name is Joe Stowell, president of Moody Bible Institute in Chicago. . . .” Joe planned to go on to tell the president that they were praying for him.

Finally his turn came. When he reached the president, he extended his hand and began: “Hello, Mr. President, my name is Joe Stowell, president of Moody Bible Institute—” He got no further. The president smiled, slapped him on the shoulder, and said, “Way to go, Joe.”

He then turned his attention to the next guest as aides escorted a bewildered Joe away. Later in the day he shared the story with his secretary. By the time he returned to Chicago, she’d ordered a T-shirt and hung it on his chair. It read, “Way to go, Joe”—George W. Bush.

When he shared the story, we laughed, and then I offered this thought. “You know, Joe, you’ll someday hear similar words from the Supreme Commander of the universe. And they won’t be spoken casually or quickly. He will look in your eyes and say, ‘Way to go, Joe, you’ve done well.’”

No matter where life may lead, the Lord asks us to remain resolved in our faith in Him. Today in prayer, thank the Lord that He died for your sins and seek to remain true to your faith in Christ.

“Resolved: that every man should live to the glory of God. Resolved second: that whether others do this or not I will.” – Martin Luther

God’s Word: “Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.” – 1 Corinthians 15:58

DEVOTIONS IN EZEKIEL AND DANIEL †

Devotional - What Easter Is All About

2025-04-21T04:58:00Z

“On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you!" After he said this, he showed them his hands and side. The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord.” – John 20:19-20

In his book “Simply Jesus”, N.T. Wright writes: “Here, then, is the message of Easter, or at least the beginning of that message. The resurrection of Jesus doesn’t mean, “It’s all right. We’re going to heaven now.” No, the life of heaven has been born on this earth. It doesn’t mean, “So there is a life after death.” Well, there is, but Easter says much, much more than that. It speaks of a life that is neither ghostly nor unreal, but solid and definite and practical.

The Easter stories come at the end of the four gospels, but they are not about an “end.” They are about a beginning. The beginning of God’s new world. The beginning of the kingdom. God is now in charge, on earth as in heaven. And God’s “being-in-charge” is focused on Jesus himself being king and Lord. The title on the cross was true after all. The resurrection proves it.”

The brightest day in human history is the first Easter! Today in prayer, praise the Lord that death could not hold Him!

“Belief in the Resurrection is not an appendage to the Christian faith; it is the Christian faith.” – John S. Whale

God’s Word: “While they were still talking about this, Jesus himself stood among them and said to them, ‘Peace be with you.’ They were startled and frightened, thinking they saw a ghost. He said to them, ‘Why are you troubled, and why do doubts rise in your minds? Look at my hands and my feet. It is I myself! Touch me and see; a ghost does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have.’” – Luke 24:36-39

DEVOTIONS FOR GOOD Easter †

Devotional - Good Friday

2025-04-18T04:57:00Z

"It was now about the sixth hour, and darkness came over the whole land until the ninth hour, for the sun stopped shining. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two. Jesus called out with a loud voice, ‘Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.’ When he had said this, he breathed his last.” – Luke 23:44-46

Stuart R. Strachan, Jr. writes: “In the sixteenth century, Jesuit missionary Matteo Ricci journeyed to China, bringing religious art to share the Christian story with those unfamiliar with it. The Chinese readily embraced images of the Virgin Mary cradling her child. However, their reaction to the crucified Christ was starkly different. When Ricci introduced paintings of the crucifixion and explained that the God-child had grown up only to be executed, they responded with shock and revulsion.

The Chinese preferred to worship the Virgin Mary rather than the crucified Christ. In some ways, we who celebrate Christmas today mirror that preference for the serene, cherubic Christ Child over the crucified Savior. Like those early Chinese seekers, we often focus on the peaceful, joyful scenes of Bethlehem while avoiding the harsh reality of Christ’s death. After all, there is no “Good Friday” counterpart to the nativity, is there?

But this inclination to keep life comfortable and surface-level can obscure the true purpose of Jesus’ incarnation: to seek and save the lost, offering them new life. A Jesus who remains in the manger is not capable of accomplishing that mission. The fullness of His purpose comes into view only when we journey with Him from Bethlehem to Calvary.”

If the story ended on Friday, it would have been the worst day in the history of the world. But the story did not end on Friday. Today in prayer, give thanks to the Lord that through His death and resurrection you have eternal life.

“One thief was converted in his last hour that none might despair. But only one was converted that none might presume.” – J.C. Ryle

God’s Word: “And when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, he gave up his spirit.” – Matthew 27:50

DEVOTIONS FOR GOOD FRIDAY †

Devotional - True To Your Faith In Christ

2025-04-17T04:54:00Z

“But Daniel resolved not to defile himself with the royal food and wine, and he asked the chief official for permission not to defile himself this way.” – Daniel 1:8

In his book “The Economics of Neighborly Love”, Tom Nelson writes “On day after Christmas (2010) in Tehran, house-church pastor Farshid Fathi and his family were awakened to the frightening sounds of the Iranian security police pounding at their door. After the police searched his apartment and seized his computer, Farshid was arrested and sent to Evin prison.

Farshid’s crime was being a follower of Jesus. Behind bars and often in solitary confinement, Farshid was deprived of his freedom, his material possessions, and his livelihood. For six years, Farshid had very limited contact with his family, yet in the midst of the crucible of material and relational deprivation, Farshid lived a God-honoring flourishing life.

In a note sent from prison, Farshid described his difficult experience as a lovely wilderness where his good Shepherd was with him. Like many other members of the persecuted church around the globe, Farshid’s story reminds us that even in the most difficult circumstances and times of relational and material deprivation, followers of Jesus can and do flourish.”

No matter where life may lead, the Lord asks us to remain resolved in our faith in Him. Today in prayer, thank the Lord that He died for your sins and seek to remain true to your faith in Christ.

“Resolved: that every man should live to the glory of God. Resolved second: that whether others do this or not I will.” – Martin Luther

DEVOTIONS IN EZEKIEL AND DANIEL †

Devotional - Making Himself Known

2025-04-16T04:58:00Z

“And so I will show my greatness and my holiness, and I will make myself known in the sight of many nations. Then they will know that I am the LORD.'” – Ezekiel 38:23

Bishop Desmond Tutu tells the following: “There is a story, which is fairly well known, about when the missionaries came to Africa. They had the Bible and we, the natives, had the land. They said “Let us pray,” and we dutifully shut our eyes. When we opened them, why, they now had the land and we had the Bible. It would, on the surface, appear as if we had struck a bad bargain, but the fact of the matter is that we came out of that transaction a great deal better off than when we started.

The point is that we were given a priceless gift in the Word of God: the Gospel of salvation, the good news of God’s love for us that is given so utterly unconditionally. But even more wonderful is the fact that we were given the most subversive, most revolutionary thing around. Those who may have wanted to exploit us and to subject us to injustice and oppression should really not have given us the Bible, because that placed dynamite under their nefarious schemes.

The Bible makes some quite staggering assertions about human beings which came to be the foundations of the culture of basic human rights that have become so commonplace in our day and age.”

The Lord continually shows His greatness and Holiness. Around the world, people are turning to Jesus Christ knowing that in His righteousness we can have salvation. Today in prayer, thank the Lord that He is righteous and praise Him for His holiness.

“My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus’ blood and righteousness.” – Edward Mote

God’s Word: “For the LORD is righteous, he loves justice; upright men will see his face.” – Psalm 11:7

DEVOTIONS IN EZEKIEL AND DANIEL †

Devotional - His Promises Are True

2025-04-15T04:58:00Z

“Then he said to me: "Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel. They say, 'Our bones are dried up and our hope is gone; we are cut off.' Therefore prophesy and say to them: 'This is what the Sovereign LORD says: O my people, I am going to open your graves and bring you up from them; I will bring you back to the land of Israel. Then you, my people, will know that I am the LORD, when I open your graves and bring you up from them. I will put my Spirit in you and you will live, and I will settle you in your own land. Then you will know that I the LORD have spoken, and I have done it, declares the LORD.'" - Ezekiel 37:11-14

D.L. Moody in his book “How to Study the Bible” described the preciousness of God’s promises this way:

“Let a man feed for a month

on the promises of God, and

he will not talk about his poverty. . . .

If you would only go from Genesis to Revelation

and see all the promises made

by God to Abraham, to Isaac, to Jacob,

to the Jews and the Gentiles,

and to all His people everywhere;

if you would spend a month feeding

on the precious promises of God,

you would not go about . . .

complaining about how

poor you are, but you would lift up your heads

with confidence and proclaim the riches of His Grace,

because you could not help it.”

The Lord keeps His promises and gives us a hope. That hope is in Jesus Christ. Today in prayer, thank the Lord that His prophesies and promises are true and you can trust in Him.

“Jesus is the yes to every promise of God.” – William Barclay

God’s Word: “For no matter how many promises God has made, they are "Yes" in Christ. And so through him the "Amen" is spoken by us to the glory of God.” – 2 Corinthians 1:20

DEVOTIONS IN EZEKIEL AND DANIEL †

Devotional - The Good Shepherd

2025-04-14T04:57:00Z

“As a shepherd looks after his scattered flock when he is with them, so will I look after my sheep. I will rescue them from all the places where they were scattered on a day of clouds and darkness.” – Ezekiel 34:12

In August 2023, Chris Oxlade-Arnott spotted the animal at the bottom of a cliff while walking in Devon, England with wife Jilly.

Chris, an experienced climber, scaled jagged rocks with the sheep slung over his back to bring it to safety.

The couple had been enjoying a coastal walk when Jilly saw a "white lump" on a photo she had taken.

"We inspected it a bit more and realized it was a sheep which was quite far out, the tide was coming in [and] it was clinging on to a rock," Chris said.

"She was absolutely soaking wet, looking at us as if to say help."

The rocks were jagged and slippery, which made the climb precarious.

Deducing the animal had fallen from the cliff top and been swept out by the waves, Chris decided to take matters in to his own hands and climb down to rescue it.

Despite being "fairly sure-footed", his return to the cliff-top was challenging.

"The rocks were very wet and there were some gaps we had to jump across to get her out," he said. "You didn't know until you put your full weight on if that foothold was going to take."

At the top of the cliff he placed the ewe down and within moments she wandered away to graze, leaving the couple free to resume their walk.

"She must have been absolutely starving as I suspect she was probably there most of the night," he said.

"She looked pretty much fine - there was no blood, there was no obvious breakage so we thought we'd just crack on with the day."

The Lord knows each of us and is committed to watching over us. Today in prayer, give praise to the Lord that even when we were not walking with Him, He knows where we are and He can rescue us.

“Too many leaders act as if the sheep... their people... are there for the benefit of the shepherd, not that the shepherd has responsibility for the sheep.” – Ken Blanchard

God’s Word: “My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand.” – John 10:27-28

DEVOTIONS IN EZEKIEL AND DANIEL †

Devotional - The Need To Repent

2025-04-11T04:58:00Z

“Say to them, 'As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign Lord, I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that they turn from their ways and live. Turn! Turn from your evil ways! Why will you die, O house of Israel?'” – Ezekiel 33:11

Lesslie Newbigin, in his book “Mission in Christ’s Way”, shares a powerful analogy of repentance from his days serving as a missionary in India.

“I remember once visiting a village in the Madras diocese. There was no road into the village; you reached it by crossing a river, and you could do this either on the south side of the village or on the north. The congregation had decided that I would come by the southern route, and they had prepared a welcome such as only an Indian village can prepare.

There was music and fireworks and garlands and fruit and silumbum (the performance of a South Indian martial art done on ceremonial occasions)—everything you can imagine. Unfortunately I entered the village at the north end and found only a few goats and chickens. Crisis! I had to disappear while word was sent to the assembled congregation, and the entire village did a sort of U-turn so as to face the other way. Then I duly reappeared.

This is what metanoia (repent) means. The point is: ‘The reign of God has drawn near, but you can’t see it because you are looking the wrong way. You are expecting the wrong thing. What you think is ‘God’ isn’t God at all. You have to be, as Paul says, transformed by the renewing of your mind. You have to go through a mental revolution; otherwise the reign of God will be totally hidden from you.’”

The Lord calls upon us to repent of our sin and to turn to Him. Today in prayer, with brokenness, repent of any sin in your life and turn to Jesus.

“With the words “turn, turn,” the Holy Spirit is calling to you saying, “I want you back! Jesus died for you too, and I have forgiven your sins.” – Joel Pankow

God’s Word: “This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.” – 1 Timothy 2:3-4

DEVOTIONS IN EZEKIEL AND DANIEL †

Devotional - Heed The Warning

2025-04-10T04:57:00Z

Heed The Warning Thursday - April 10, 2025

“Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel; so hear the word I speak and give them warning from me.” – Ezekiel 33:7

Roger Boisjoly, a booster rocket engineer at NASA contractor Morton Thiokol, tried vehemently to prevent the launch of the Space Shuttle Challenger in January 1986.

Concerned about the elastic seals at the joints of the multi-stage booster rockets, Boisjoly, six months before the Challenger explosion, predicted a “catastrophe of the highest order” involving the “loss of human life” in a memo to Thiokol managers.

The elastic seals tended to stiffen and unseal in cold weather, and the forecast for the next morning at the Kennedy Space Center included a launch-time temperature as low as 30 degrees Fahrenheit — unprecedented for NASA.

Boisjoly and his colleagues argued persistently and vigorously for a launch delay, and initially, Thiokol managers agreed.

However, during a conference call with NASA officials, the pressure from NASA caused Thiokol managers to reverse their recommendation and proceed with the launch.

Boisjoly, traumatized by the Challenger explosion and the deaths of its crew, including Teacher-in-Space Christa McAuliffe, continued to speak out about ethical decision-making and the importance of sticking with data.

He was ostracized from some colleagues and endured unsuccessful lawsuits against Thiokol and NASA.

Despite the challenges, Boisjoly remained committed to sharing his experience to impact young engineers’ lives until his death in 2012.

When we hear a warning from the Lord, we need to heed it and not dismiss it. God gives warnings to protect us and to provide for us. Today in prayer, ask the Lord to give you a ready ear and a sensitive heart to hear His warnings and to follow them.

“If you can't be a good example, then you'll just have to serve as a horrible warning.” – Catherine Aird

God’s Word: “Teach me, O LORD, to follow your decrees; then I will keep them to the end. Give me understanding, and I will keep your law and obey it with all my heart. Direct me in the path of your commands, for there I find delight. Turn my heart toward your statutes and not toward selfish gain.” – Psalm 119:33-36

DEVOTIONS IN EZEKIEL AND DANIEL †

Devotional - Take His Hand

2025-04-09T04:58:00Z

“So I spoke to the people in the morning, and in the evening my wife died. The next morning I did as I had been commanded.” – Ezekiel 24:18

In an article entitled “Ministering During Personal Tragedy”, author Jess Rainer writes: “We were not prepared for the death of our son. About the only thing we could do was cry. In the months following Will’s death, we began to cope with our loss. We began to find our new normal as parents who lost a child. During those months, I learned three major lessons as a minister. I pray that I (or anyone else) will never have to apply these lessons again.

1. Minister to your family.

I was a new minister in a new church. There were people who needed to be ministered to throughout our community. More importantly, I had a family who needed me to minister to them. My 2-year-old son at the time wanted his daddy to hug him and play football with him. Rachel so desperately needed me to be a husband with a listening and compassionate ear. I wish I could tell you I was the perfect husband and dad during this time, but I wasn’t. If you find yourself in this position, minister to your family first.

2. Don’t hide your grief in your work.

I tend to be a workhorse. This trait is often perceived as a good quality, but during a time of personal tragedy, it’s not. I focused what little mental energy I had into my work. I did not allow myself to grieve. In my mind, I had to be strong for my family so that they could grieve. In order to eliminate my grief, I hid it in hours of work. It’s been nineteen months since Will passed away and I am grieving more now than when he passed away.

3. Seek God’s plan during tragedy.

God provided a peace that only He could provide during the immediate months following Will’s death. This peace was undeniable. We prayed for God’s comfort and He clearly provided it. Having this peace allowed us to seek out God’s plan during tragedy. While it is not completely clear, we understand God has enabled us to minister to others who are going through tragedy. God had and has a plan for Will’s death. Rachel and I will continue to seek it.”

The Lord leads us throughout our life, through the joy and sunlight and in the sorrows and darkness. Today in prayer, give thanks to the Lord that He is our Rock. Take His hand as He walks you through eternity.

“How sweet the sound of Jesus sounds in a believer’s ear. It soothes his sorrow, heals his wounds, and drives away his fears.” – John Newton

God’s Word: “Sorrow is better than laughter, because a sad face is good for the heart.” – Ecclesiastes 7:3

DEVOTIONS IN EZEKIEL AND DANIEL †

Devotional - Following His Commands

2025-04-08T04:56:00Z

“I am the LORD your God; follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws.” – Ezekiel 20:19

Kent and Barbara Hughes write in their book “Liberating Ministry from the Success Syndrome” the following:

“Elisabeth Elliot once stayed in the farmhouse of a Welsh shepherd and his family high in the mountains of North Wales. She stood watching one misty summer morning as the shepherd on horseback herded the sheep with the aid of his champion Scottish collie. The collie, she realized, was in its glory. It was doing what it had been bred and trained to do. Its eyes were always on the sheep, but its ears were dedicatedly tuned to obey its master.

Through obedience the dog had experience its glory. The same is true in the spiritual realm, as Mrs. Elliot insightfully summarized: ‘To experience the glory of God’s will for us means absolute trust. It means the will to do his will, and it means joy.’”

As Christians, following God’s laws and decrees bring us into a deeper relationship with Him. Today in prayer, seek to follow the Bible and live for Christ in all that you do.

“I feel that, if I could live a thousand lives, I would like to live them all for Christ, and even then, I would feel that they were all too little a return for His great love to me.” – Charles H. Spurgeon

God’s Word: “‘Come, follow me,’ Jesus said, ‘and I will make you fishers of men.’” – Matthew 4:19

DEVOTIONS IN EZEKIEL AND DANIEL †

Devotional - A New Heart, A New Spirit

2025-04-07T04:52:00Z

“Rid yourselves of all the offenses you have committed, and get a new heart and a new spirit. Why will you die, O house of Israel?” – Ezekiel 18:31

In his book “Grace: More Than We Deserve, Greater Than We Imagine”, author Max Lucado writes: “In the spring of 2010, a skiing accident took the life of her (Tara Storch) thirteen-year-old daughter, Taylor. What followed for Tara and her husband, Todd, was every parent’s worst nightmare: a funeral, a burial, a flood of questions and tears. They decided to donate their daughter’s organs to needy patients. Few people needed a heart more than Patricia Winters. Her heart had begun to fail five years earlier, leaving her too weak to do much more than sleep.

Taylor’s heart gave Patricia a fresh start on life. Tara had only one request: she wanted to hear the heart of her daughter. She and Todd flew from Dallas to Phoenix and went to Patricia’s home to listen to Taylor’s heart. The two mothers embraced for a long time. Then Patricia offered Tara and Todd a stethoscope. When they listened to the healthy rhythm, whose heart did they hear? Did they not hear the still-beating heart of their daughter/ It indwells a different body, but the heart is the heart of their child.”

When you give your life to Jesus, you gain a new heart. Today in prayer, thank your Heavenly Father for new life in Christ and the new heart and spirit He has given you.

“You will never be happy till you are converted.” – J.C. Ryle

God’s Word: “I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.” – Ezekiel 36:26

DEVOTIONS IN EZEKIEL AND DANIEL †

Devotional - Lose The Arrogance

2025-04-04T04:58:00Z

“'Now this was the sin of your sister Sodom: She and her daughters were arrogant, overfed and unconcerned; they did not help the poor and needy.” – Ezekiel 16:49

In his book, “Our Good Crisis: Overcoming Moral Chaos with the Beatitudes”, Jonathan K. Dodson points out our blind-spots with respect to pride:

We rarely think of ourselves as proud. Instead we think of others—“the arrogant guy,” “the stuck-up girl”—who seem to excel in pride as if they work at it. People from the entertainment industry may come to mind: Rosie O’Donnell, Christian Bale, or Beyoncé. Or from sports: Floyd Mayweather, Draymond Green, Nick Kyrgios.

Pride is easy to spot in those who are in the limelight but difficult to see in ourselves. When a video of Bale losing his temper and cussing out a camera crew went viral, people spewed judgments at him online. We often judge a high-profile person for an instance of arrogance, one explosion of anger, or a tirade rife with profanities, as if we’ve never done the same thing. We reduce people to the madness of a single moment.

The Lord desires us to be humble, not arrogant and prideful. Today in prayer, confess any sin of pride and arrogance and humbly seek the Lord with all of your heart.

"We have become an arrogant people, and we must understand our un-deservedness, and that without Him we can do nothing. Holy Spirit, bring us to a point of absolute repentance and confession and revival.” – Frank Page

God’s Word: “The arrogant cannot stand in your presence; you hate all who do wrong.” – Psalm 5:5

DEVOTIONS IN EZEKIEL AND DANIEL †

Devotional - The Source Of True Prophecy

2025-04-03T04:54:00Z

"Son of man, prophesy against the prophets of Israel who are now prophesying. Say to those who prophesy out of their own imagination: 'Hear the word of the LORD!” – Ezekiel 13:2

Pastor Edward F. Markquart wrote: “The Old Testament prophet was to be keenly aware of the evil powers around them; they were also to be aware of the grand promises of the Messiah who was to come. And the worst sin of the prophet was to fall asleep, becoming lethargic to the surrounding evil, or becoming lethargic to the future possibility of the Messiah to come. The complacent prophets were the false prophets.

We then approach the New Testament and Jesus clearly calls out to us “to watch, be alert, don’t fall asleep,” don’t drift into spiritual lethargy about the evil around you, the evil peril around us and in us. Also, we are not to fall asleep to the grand possibilities of God’s wonderful miracles to unfold before our eyes. Stay awake. Don’t fall asleep.”

True prophecy of the Lord can be found in the Bible. Today in prayer, thank the Lord for giving us His Word in the Bible and spend some extra time studying it today.

“It behooves Christians to keep close to the word of God, and in every thing to seek the teaching of the Holy Spirit.” – Matthew Henry

God’s Word: “Their visions are false and their divinations a lie. They say, "The LORD declares," when the LORD has not sent them; yet they expect their words to be fulfilled.” – Ezekiel 13:6

DEVOTIONS IN EZEKIEL AND DANIEL †

Devotional - Heed His Warnings

2025-04-02T04:57:00Z

“But if you do warn the righteous man not to sin and he does not sin, he will surely live because he took warning, and you will have saved yourself.” – Ezekiel 3:21

In 1915, the German consulate placed advertisements in the travel sections of major U.S. newspapers. The ad warned passengers on ships heading to Britain that they were entering a war zone, and they were in danger of having their ship sunk. Passengers ignored the ad, and set sail to England on the Lusitania. On May 7, 1915, the Lusitania was sunk off the coast of Ireland by a German U-boat. Among the dead were 128 American citizens, which sparked war fever in America. The Germans responded by saying they tried to warn the passengers. President Woodrow Wilson made diplomatic protests, and the Germans backed down on unrestricted submarine warfare. There was outrage over the German attitude that they had the right to sink passenger ships, and if any Americans died then it was their fault for being on the ship. Germany resumed the U-boat warfare in 1917, prompting an American declaration of war. The Germans had warned the passengers, but Wilson had warned them that the USA was ready to go to war. Germany did not listen to Wilson, and they ended up being defeated in the war.

Throughout the Bible, the Lord gives us warnings on how to live a holy life. Are you heeding His warnings? Today in prayer, confess any sin in your life and seek to follow the Lord as you read His Word.

“The Bible give us a list of human stories on both sides of the ledger. On list of human stories is used examples -- do what these people did. Another list of human stories is used as warnings -- don't do what these people did. So if your story ever gets in one of these books, make sure they use it as an example, not a warning.” – Jim Rohn

God’s Word: “These things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us, on whom the fulfillment of the ages has come.” – 1 Corinthians 10:11

DEVOTIONS IN EZEKIEL AND DANIEL †

Devotional - Be A Light

2025-04-01T04:57:00Z

“You must speak my words to them, whether they listen or fail to listen, for they are rebellious.” – Ezekiel 2:7

In his book “The Holy Spirit: Activating God’s Power in Your Life”, evangelist Billy Graham tells of the importance of witnessing with following illustration: “An old American Indian [Native American] legend tells of an Indian [Native American] who came down from the mountains and saw the ocean for the first time. Awed by the scene, he requested a quart jar. As he waded into the ocean and filled the jar, he was asked what he intended to do with it. ‘Back in the mountains,’ he replied, ‘my people have never seen the Great Water. I will carry this jar to them so they can see what it is like.’”

Wherever the Lord has you today, faithfully be His witness. Today in prayer, praise the Lord that He is a great God and share the love of Jesus Christ with someone.

“Never, for fear of feeble man, restrain your witness.” – Charles H. Spurgeon

God’s Word: “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” – Acts 1:8

DEVOTIONS IN EZEKIEL AND DANIEL †

Devotional - Don't Grumble

2025-03-31T04:59:00Z

“Don't grumble against each other, brothers, or you will be judged. The Judge is standing at the door!”– James 5:9

Charles Darwin, known for his chronic complaining, was at his happiest when he had something to criticize. He wrote to Charles Lyell in October 1861: “But I am very poorly today & very stupid & hate everybody & everything.”

One evening, he and his wife attended a banquet where everything seemed to go wrong. The speeches were dull, the champagne flowed too freely, the food was subpar, and the service was worse. To make matters worse, Darwin was seated in a draft, a condition to which he was particularly sensitive.

Throughout the evening, he grumbled and critiqued everything. When the banquet finally ended, the event’s host approached Mrs. Darwin, apologizing for Darwin’s visible displeasure. “I noticed your husband seemed terribly upset,” the host said. “I hope he can forgive us. We truly wanted him to enjoy himself.”

Grumbling accomplishes nothing. Today in prayer, praise the Lord for all that He has given, including the thorns in your life.

“He who stumbles and grumbles, is displaying a crumbled reasoning.” ― Vincent Okay Nwachukwu

God’s Word: “You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against the sons of your own people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the Lord.” – Leviticus 19:18

DEVOTIONS IN JAMES †

Devotional - Be Patient

2025-03-28T04:57:00Z

“Be patient, then, brothers, until the Lord's coming. See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop and how patient he is for the autumn and spring rains.” – James 5:7

One summer, the composer Edvard Grieg stayed at a small Norwegian hotel. A restless child also resided there, constantly annoying the guests by attempting to play the piano, producing nothing but discordant and clumsy renditions of the classics. Criticism of the child was frequent among the guests. One day, the child’s playing reached such a level of irritation that the guests could barely tolerate it.

Suddenly, Grieg entered the room, quickly sensing the situation. Walking softly behind the child, he gently placed his hands on the piano. With his skilled touch, he began to play, blending beautiful harmonies around the child’s dissonant notes, transforming her mistakes into something melodic and harmonious. The guests were captivated by the sudden transformation and praised Grieg for his mastery. After the performance, Grieg introduced the child to the audience, encouraging them to applaud her, emphasizing that it was her playing that had inspired his own.

Let the Lord give you His patience. Today in prayer, give any impatience you have to Jesus and receive His perfect peace.

“The three most important words in the English language are 'Wait... a... minute.'” - Sam Rayburn

God’s Word: “The end of a matter is better than its beginning, and patience is better than pride.” – Ecclesiastes 7:8

DEVOTIONS IN JAMES †

Devotional - Riches Can Bring Misery

2025-03-27T04:57:00Z

“Now listen, you rich people, weep and wail because of the misery that is coming upon you.” – James 5:1

Edward Seward, a regular customer at the Grand Bay, Alabama, Waffle House on March 6, 1999, tipped waitress Tonda Dickerson with a lottery ticket he'd bought in Florida. The next day, the winning lottery number was announced and Tonda realized her life was about to change. She won over $10 million.

She chose to take 30 annual payments of $375K rather than a lump payment of $4 million

Friends and colleagues started to come at her with legal battles from all angles, while the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and even Seward tried to take their cases to court.

Even her ex-husband tried to kidnap her.

Today, no one knows where she is, but her social media accounts suggest that she is a poker dealer at the Golden Nugget casino in Biloxi, Mississippi.

Only the Lord can satisfy our deepest needs. Today in prayer, thank the Lord for any possessions that you have and seek to use them to His glory.

“To be clever enough to get a great deal of money, one must be stupid enough to want it.” – G.K. Chesterton

God’s Word: “People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.” – 1 Timothy 6:9-10

DEVOTIONS IN JAMES †

Devotional - We Cannot Predict Tomorrow

2025-03-26T04:52:00Z

“Now listen, you who say, ‘Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money. Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.” – James 4:13

The following wrong predictions were made by distinguished people of their time:

· "X-rays will prove to be a hoax." - Lord Kelvin, President of the Royal Society, 1883.

· "The idea that cavalry will be replaced by these iron coaches is absurd. It is little short of treasonous." - Comment of Aide-de-camp to Field Marshal Haig, at tank demonstration, 1916

· "How, sir, would you make a ship sail against the wind and currents by lighting a bonfire under her deck? I pray you, excuse me, I have not the time to listen to such nonsense." Napoleon Bonaparte, when told of Robert Fulton's steamboat, 1800s.

· "Home Taping Is Killing Music" - A 1980s campaign by the BPI, claiming that people recording music off the radio onto cassette would destroy the music industry.

· "Television won't last. It's a flash in the pan." - Mary Somerville, pioneer of radio educational broadcasts, 1948.

· "[Television] won't be able to hold on to any market it captures after the first six months. People will soon get tired of staring at a plywood box every night." - Darryl Zanuck, movie producer, 20th Century Fox, 1946.

· "When the Paris Exhibition [of 1878] closes, electric light will close with it and no more will be heard of it." - Oxford professor Erasmus Wilson

The future belongs to the Lord, we cannot predict if it will bring happiness or sorrow. Today in prayer, praise the Lord that He is Lord of all and seek to humbly walk with Him.

“The next moment is as much beyond our grasp, and as much in God’s care, as that a hundred years away. Care for the next minute is just as foolish as care for a day in the next thousand years. In neither can we do anything, in both God is doing everything.” – C.S. Lewis

God’s Word: “Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring forth.” – Proverbs 27:1

DEVOTIONS IN JAMES †

Devotional - Do Not Slander

2025-03-25T04:59:00Z

“Brothers, do not slander one another. Anyone who speaks against his brother or judges him speaks against the law and judges it. When you judge the law, you are not keeping it, but sitting in judgment on it.” – James 4:11

In this book “The Power of Words and the Wonder of God”, author John Piper writes:

“The book of Proverbs is, in ways, a treatise on talk. I would summarize it this way: words give life; words bring death—you choose. What does this mean? It means you have never spoken a neutral word in your life.

Your words have direction to them. If your words are moving in the life direction, they will be words of encouragement, hope, love, peace, unity, instruction, wisdom, and correction. But if your words are moving in a death direction, they will be words of anger, malice, slander, jealousy, gossip, division, contempt, racism, violence, judgment, and condemnation. Your words have direction to them.”

Slander is malicious, seeking to damage others. Today in prayer, confess any sin of slander and ask the Lord to keep you from all slander.

“He who slings mud generally loses ground.” – Adlai E. Stevenson

“Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind.” – 1 Peter 2:1

DEVOTIONS IN JAMES †

Devotional - Submit To The Lord

2025-03-24T04:57:00Z

“Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” – James 4:7

Pastor Casey Clark wrote: “Luther's stand at the Diet of Worms is legendary. Having written blistering indictments of the abuses of the Catholic church and theological treatises which challenged its teachings, Luther was summoned in 1521 to the German city of Worms. He could make it all go away. All he had to do was take it all back; to recant.

Rather than submit to the authorities representing the power of the pope and Holy Roman emperor, Luther submitted to the Holy Scriptures, in submission to God. He defended himself and his writings, knowing that it could mean an end to his life, ending with the words, “Here I stand. I cannot do otherwise.”

It isn’t hard to see why the actions of Martin Luther resonated with so many Christians, and why they still do today. Luther might just as well have quoted Peter from Acts 5:29, that we ‘must obey God rather than any human authority.’ (NRSVUE)”

The Lord wants us to listen to His warnings and to submit to Him. Today in prayer, submit your heart to the Lord and make His will your will.

“Our satisfaction lies in submission to the divine embrace.” – Jan Van Ruysbroeck

God’s Word: “Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.” – 1 Peter 5:6

DEVOTIONS IN JAMES †

Devotional - Stupid Quarrels

2025-03-21T04:57:00Z

“What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don't they come from your desires that battle within you?” – James 4:1

Alisa D. Bowman describes the daily “bathroom counter war” she had with her husband. He liked a completely cleaned counter, she liked two objects on the counter: her toothbrush and facial cleanser: “Every morning, I woke up, walked to the bathroom, and groggily looked around for my toothbrush and cleanser. I’d look all over the counter. I’d close my eyes and open them again.

“I must be losing my eyesight,” I’d mutter. “They were right there. There. Right there.”

After much searching, I’d eventually find them stashed in one drawer or another — where my husband had put them. When I confronted him about it, he insisted my stuff took up too much space. When I pointed out his stuff got to stay on the counter, he said he needed it. I told him I needed my stuff. We would go around and around the topic, never getting anywhere. Each morning I started a search and rescue mission for my soap and toothbrush.

One day, exasperated, I complied. I took everything off the counter. All toothbrushes, all soaps, his razor, everything — and put it in a drawer. I did this every morning. I don’t think he liked it. He never mentioned it, but I’m 99 percent sure he didn’t like it. I know this because one morning, I woke and found my toothbrush and cleanser on the counter. They were there the next morning, and the morning after that.”

We need to control our anger and not argue over inconsequential things in life. Today in prayer, give any anger you have to the Lord and pray that you may treat others with the love and respect you desire from them.

“Argument is the worst sort of conversation.” – Jonathan Swift

God’s Word: “Starting a quarrel is like breaching a dam; so drop the matter before a dispute breaks out.” – Proverbs 17:14

DEVOTIONS IN JAMES †

Devotional - Sowing Peace

2025-03-20T04:57:00Z

“Peacemakers who sow in peace raise a harvest of righteousness.” – James 3:18

In the book “The Magnificent Story”, James Bryan Smith writes: “From 1992 to 1995 the world witnessed one of the worst civil conflicts, the Bosnian War. Three factions, each tied to a religion (Orthodox Serbs, Catholic Croats, and Muslim Bosniaks), began attacking one another in a struggle for power after the breakup of Yugoslavia.

The Serbs, backed by the Yugoslavian army, attacked the Croats and Bosniaks, but the latter two united and fought back. In the end no one was innocent of the bloodshed. Over 100,000 people were killed, 2.2 million people were displaced, and it is estimated that over 12,000 women—mostly Muslim—were raped. In the midst of the ugliness and the suffering, beauty emerged to offer a different story.

As the mortar shells rained down on Sarajevo, a musician from Bosnia and Herzegovina named Vedran Smailović did the only thing he knew to do: he played his cello. In the midst of the destruction of buildings and the killing of his family and friends, Vedran played his cello—in full formal attire—alone in the ruins and in the streets, even though there was relentless sniper fire.

Vedran Smailović playing the cello in Sarajevo during the conflict no one knew when or where he would play, but as soon as someone heard him playing, the crowds grew. Grieving and starving, the people gathered to listen. Why? As Smailović said, “They were hungry, but they still had soul.”

In the midst of tragedy, his music echoed from another world, a place where beauty, goodness, and truth reside. Through Smailović—an instrument of God, I believe—the people found hope and healing. As he played his cello in the ruined city during the forty-four-month siege, Smailović inspired people around the world. Singer Joan Baez sat in solidarity with him as he played on the streets. Composer David Wilde wrote a piece for cello in his honor: “The Cellist of Sarajevo,” played by Yo-Yo Ma. Smailović became a symbol of how beauty stands in resistance to the madness of war.”

We all desire peace, but peace does not just happen; it is not the absence of war. Sowing peace is an action. Today in prayer, praise the Lord that He is the ultimate example of sowing peace and in Him we can have peace in our hearts and share that peace with others.

“Peace reigns where our Lord reigns.” – Julian of Norwich

God’s Word: “The fruit of righteousness will be peace; the effect of righteousness will be quietness and confidence forever.” – Isaiah 32:17

DEVOTIONS IN JAMES †

Devotional - Avoid Envy

2025-03-19T04:44:00Z

“But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth.” – James 3:14

Pastor Douglas Twitchell wrote the following about envy: “Every morning my mom would toast up and butter a big old stack of toast and put it on the breakfast table. Right in the middle of the table. I had two older brothers, and the Battle of the Toast was a war to see who would get the most toast for breakfast. It was a silly thing; none of us needed more than a couple slices of toast with jam or peanut butter, but none of us ever thought about what we needed, or even what we wanted. Instead we only thought about what "the other guy" was getting. And our desires were defined by what "the other guy" had. Thus, if my brother ate four pieces of toast, then I just had to have four pieces of toast. Didn't matter if I was already full; I had to keep up.

Eventually, Mom put a stop to the Battle of the Toast by carefully counting out how many slices of bread she toasted, and limiting us to two slices apiece. Seems kind of silly now, doesn't it?

But this is the cost of envy -- the cost of looking at the other person and comparing what I have to what they have. I stop thinking about what is good (or even what is healthy) and I just have to have what they have. It makes no difference if I need it, makes no difference if it is good for me. I want it.”

Envy is a sin that hurts oneself and often leads to other sins. Today in prayer, confess any sin of envy and thank the Lord that He is a generous God He has given you all that you need to bring glory to Him.

“Few men have the strength to honor a friend's success without envy.” – Aeschylus

God’s Word: “A heart at peace gives life to the body, but envy rots the bones.” – Proverbs 14:30

DEVOTIONS IN JAMES †