2026-04-17T05:13:09.09Z Daily Devotionals by Peter Kennedy Peter Kennedy https://www.devotional.com/profile/popup/06edfe971e Devotional.com 3965 1 25 2026-04-17T04:56:00Z 2026-04-17T05:13:09.09Z Devotional - Commit To The Lord <p>“Commit to the LORD whatever you do, and your plans will succeed.” – Proverbs 16:3</p><p><span style="color: rgb(26, 29, 30);">&nbsp;</span></p><p><span style="color: rgb(26, 29, 30);">Bradley Long wrote: “An instructor for the Perspectives on the World Christian Movement course shared with a class the major hang-up he had to get over before asking his wife to marry him. She had always felt a call to be a missionary. She had been clear with him since they’d begun dating that her passion for mission had not changed. So, he had reached a real sticking point – did he love her enough to uproot his life and move halfway across the world?</span></p><p><span style="color: rgb(26, 29, 30);">He was a believer and was an active member of his church. As he considered and prayed about this dilemma he had a realization. He put it this way, “I had made Jesus my Savior, but I had not yet made him my Lord.”</span></p><p><span style="color: rgb(26, 29, 30);">They did get married and went on to serve as missionaries in a Middle Eastern country for many years.</span></p><p><span style="color: rgb(26, 29, 30);">Following Jesus is more than just intellectual agreement with certain propositions about God. It is a commitment to let your life be defined by the Lord, King Jesus.”</span></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>The Lord asks us to commit to the Lord whatever we do. Today in prayer, commit all that you do to the Lord and seek to faithfully seek Him.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>"Give me 100 men who hate nothing but sin and love God with all their hearts and I will shake the world for Christ!" - John Wesley</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>God’s Word: “Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him and he will do this: He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn, the justice of your cause like the noonday sun.” – Psalm 37:5-6</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2026, Devotional E-Mail&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p>DEVOTIONS IN PROVERBS †</p> Peter Kennedy https://www.devotional.com/profile/popup/06edfe971e/ 2026-04-16T04:58:00Z 2026-04-16T05:13:04.083Z Devotional - Be Patient <p>“A hot-tempered man stirs up dissension, but a patient man calms a quarrel.” – Proverbs 15:18</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>In his devotional “My Utmost for His Highest” author Oswald Chambers writes the following: “Patience is more than endurance. A saint's life is in the hands of God like a bow and arrow in the hands of an archer. God is aiming at something the saint cannot see, and He stretches and strains, and every now and again the saint says--'I cannot stand anymore.' God does not heed, He goes on stretching till His purpose is in sight, then He lets fly. Trust yourself in God's hands. Maintain your relationship to Jesus Christ by the patience of faith. 'Though He slay me, yet will I trust in Him.”</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>One of the toughest lessons in life is learning to be patient. Today in prayer, confess any sin of impatience to the Lord and seek to be a patient person.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>“There are three indispensable requirements for a missionary: 1. Patience 2. Patience 3. Patience.” - Hudson Taylor</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>God’s Word: “Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD.” – Psalm 27:14</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2026, Devotional E-Mail&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p>DEVOTIONS IN PROVERBS †</p> Peter Kennedy https://www.devotional.com/profile/popup/06edfe971e/ 2026-04-15T04:58:00Z 2026-04-15T05:13:10.677Z Devotional - Avoid Laziness <p>“The sluggard craves and gets nothing, but the desires of the diligent are fully satisfied.” – Proverbs 13:4</p><p><br></p><p><span style="color: black;"> </span><span style="color: rgb(20, 20, 20);">In his book “Just Do Something” Kevin DeYoung wrote: “Don’t over-spiritualize. You can serve the Lord in a thousand different jobs. We need missionaries and we need pastors. But we also need entrepreneurs who create jobs so people can make money so they can support missionaries and pastors. And we need entrepreneurs because work is good. Please don’t ever think you are a second-class citizen in the kingdom of God if you aren’t in full-time ministry. You can honor the Lord as a teacher, mother, doctor, lawyer, loan officer, or social worker; you can work in retail, fast food, politics, or big business; you can be a butcher, a baker, or a candlestick maker. You can be just about anything you want as long as you aren’t lazy (Proverb 6:6–11; 26:13–16), and whatever you do you perform to the glory of God (1 Corinthians 10:31).”</span></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>The Lord does have a plan for our lives. We need to discover that plan to diligently at it. Today in prayer, confess any sin of laziness and seek to be a diligent worker.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>“Laziness grows on people; it begins in cobwebs and ends in iron chains.” – Thomas Buxton</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>God’s Word: “Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider its ways and be wise!” – Proverbs 6:6</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2026, Devotional E-Mail&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p>DEVOTIONS IN PROVERBS †</p> Peter Kennedy https://www.devotional.com/profile/popup/06edfe971e/ 2026-04-14T04:58:00Z 2026-04-14T05:13:05.81Z Devotional - Detesting Lies <p>“The LORD detests lying lips, but he delights in men who are truthful.” – Proverbs 12:22</p><p><span style="color: black; background-color: white;">&nbsp;</span></p><p><span style="color: black; background-color: white;">Arnold “Red” Auerbach was one of the winningest coaches in NBA history. He won 9 championships as coach of the Boston Celtics and was named NBA Coach of the Year in 1965 and NBA Executive Coach of the Year in 1980. One night while on the road with the Celtics, Auerbach ran into 3 of his players, each traveling with a beautiful woman in tow.</span></p><p><span style="color: black; background-color: white;">This was against team rules, and so one of the players, trying to get out of trouble, introduced one of the women as his “cousin.” Not wanting to cause a stir, Auerbach nodded without raising a fuss. But then the player decided to double-down on his deceit saying, “We were just on our way to church.” Sharing the story on a later occasion, Auerbach commented, “I couldn’t take that. I fined him twenty-five dollars for insulting my intelligence.”</span></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Lies are in direct conflict with the Truth. Today in prayer, confess any lies to the Lord and seek to be a person of integrity who walks in the truth.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>“White lies are non-existent, for a lie is wholly a lie; falsehood is the personification of evil; Satan has two names; he is called Satan, and he is called the Father of Lies.” – Victor Hugo</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>“There are six things the LORD hates, seven that are detestable to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that are quick to rush into evil, a false witness who pours out lies and a man who stirs up dissension among brothers.” – Proverbs 6:16-19</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2026, Devotional E-Mail&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p>DEVOTIONS IN PROVERBS †</p> Peter Kennedy https://www.devotional.com/profile/popup/06edfe971e/ 2026-04-13T04:57:00Z 2026-04-13T05:13:00.21Z Devotional - Keep Your Integrity <p>“The integrity of the upright guides them, but the unfaithful are destroyed by their duplicity.” – Proverbs 11:3</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>In his book “Hope in the Dark” Craig Groeschel wrote: “I spent a considerable amount of time with a guy I’ll call Martin. As a brand-new follower of Christ, Martin felt guilty for having previously embezzled a lot of money from his employer. After discussing the situation with trusted advisors, Martin decided that the right thing to do was to confess his crime and hope for the best. Unfortunately, the outcome fell closer to the worst. Martin’s company pressed charges.</p><p>Even though he admitted to the crime and agreed to repay the money, Martin was sentenced to seven years in prison. Seven years. For confessing and doing what was right. Some people might have gotten mad at God. But Martin told me he’d never been closer to God than when he was in prison. During that time, his spiritual roots grew deep. And his spiritual fruit multiplied. Every time I received a letter from Martin during his prison stay, it was always signed, “His grace is enough, Martin.””</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Guard your good name and maintain integrity in all that you do. As a Christian, you carry Christ’s name with you and often your conduct is your witness. Today in prayer, thank Jesus for His Holiness and integrity and seek to follow Him in all that you do.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>“There is no such thing as a minor lapse of integrity.” – Tom Peters</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>God’s Word: “Righteousness guards the man of integrity, but wickedness overthrows the sinner.” – Proverbs 13:6</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2026, Devotional E-Mail&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p>DEVOTIONS IN PROVERBS. †</p> Peter Kennedy https://www.devotional.com/profile/popup/06edfe971e/ 2026-04-10T04:58:00Z 2026-04-10T05:13:08.113Z Devotional - What Matters <p>“Hatred stirs up dissension, but love covers over all wrongs.” – Proverbs 10:12</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Dave Peterson writes: “ Once, while on vacation, on our way to church, Terri and I got into a disagreement over something. When I felt I was losing, to make my point, I stopped the car and got out. We were on a country road. It was drizzling. Unfortunately, I had no idea what I was going to do next. She and our kids looked at me wondering, "What's he doing out there?" Lacking an alternative, I got back in. We put the kids in the nursery and sat down in the sanctuary. The pastor began to read, 'Our text this morning is from 1 Corinthains 13, "Love is patient, love is kind, love is not jealous or boastful or arrogant or rude. Love does not insist on its own way. It is not irritable or resentful. It does not rejoice in the wrong but rejoices in the right. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends."' And just then, I felt Terri's hand reach over and lay itself gently on my hand. In that moment, whatever had been wrong between us was healed. Her willingness to die to herself, breathed new life into our marriage. This is one of the Bible's most powerful and profound truths--"Love does not insist on its own way."”</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>In all that we do, we need to love others. Today in prayer, praise the Lord that He loves you. Show your appreciation by loving others for Jesus.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>“He alone loves the Creator perfectly who manifests a pure love for his neighbor.” – Bede</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>God’s Word: “He who covers over an offense promotes love, but whoever repeats the matter separates close friends.” – Proverbs 17:9</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2026, Devotional E-Mail&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p>DEVOTIONS IN PROVERBS †</p> Peter Kennedy https://www.devotional.com/profile/popup/06edfe971e/ 2026-04-09T04:57:00Z 2026-04-09T05:13:05.417Z Devotional - Learn To Give And Take Rebuke <p>“Do not rebuke a mocker or he will hate you; rebuke a wise man and he will love you.” – Proverbs 9:8</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><span style="color: black;">Leo Tolstoy was a Russian writer. He is regarded as one of the greatest and most influential authors of all time. His War and Peace (1869), Anna Karenina (1878), and Resurrection (1899), which is based on his "youthful sins," are often cited as pinnacles of realist fiction</span><sup style="color: black;"> </sup><span style="color: black;">and three of the greatest novels ever written.</span></p><p><span style="color: black;">&nbsp;Leo Tolstoy famously renounced his inherited wealth and chose to live as an ascetic and hermit in his later years. One of his disciples, a writer named Chertkov, was a wealthy aristocrat. At one point, Tolstoy learned that Chertkov had traveled first class on a recent journey. He rebuked him, urging him to travel second class like ordinary people. On his next trip, the obedient Chertkov complied—by hiring an entire second-class coach for himself.</span></p><p><span style="color: black;"> </span></p><p><span style="color: black;"> </span></p><p>A gentle, loving rebuke can shake us to great things.&nbsp;Today in prayer, ask the Lord to give you a ready ear and heart and to apply any rebuke to become more like Jesus Christ.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>"Often times God asks us to take risks in order to be obedient to Him. This is especially true when He speaks to us about our need to confront others when they are unmistakably caught in the cycle of unrepentant sin." - Ritch Grimes</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>God’s Word: “These, then, are the things you should teach. Encourage and rebuke with all authority. Do not let anyone despise you.” – Titus 2:15</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2026, Devotional E-Mail</p><p>DEVOTIONS IN PROVERBS †</p> Peter Kennedy https://www.devotional.com/profile/popup/06edfe971e/ 2026-04-08T04:57:00Z 2026-04-08T05:13:05.543Z Devotional - Don't Be Arrogant <p>&nbsp;“To fear the LORD is to hate evil; I hate pride and arrogance, evil behavior and perverse speech.” – Proverbs 8:13</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>In his book “Family Discipleship that Works” author Brian Dembowczyk wrote: “One of the cardinal rules of improvisational theater is that actors must never steal scenes. In her book Improvisation for the Theater, Viola Spolin bluntly puts it this way: “Any player who ‘steals’ a scene is a thief.” On the stage, not stealing scenes is necessary to keep the performance going.</p><p>In God’s drama, the same rule applies for a different reason. When we try to steal a scene—when we fail to live in humility—we are stealing the attention Jesus deserves as the star. When all eyes should be on Jesus, we get determined to change that. We want those eyes to be on us, so we try to steal the scene from him. It’s the fruit of sinful pride, plain and simple.”</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>The sin of arrogance is odious to both God and other people. Today in prayer, confess to the Lord any pride or arrogance in your life. Seek to walk humbly with Jesus in all that you do.&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>“The source of sin is pride.” – Augustine</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>God’s Word: “When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom.” – Proverbs 11:2</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2026, Devotional E-Mail</p><p>DEVOTIONS IN PROVERBS †</p> Peter Kennedy https://www.devotional.com/profile/popup/06edfe971e/ 2026-04-07T04:58:00Z 2026-04-07T05:13:00.357Z Devotional - Flee Adultry <p>“For the lips of an adulteress drip honey, and her speech is smoother than oil; but in the end she is bitter as gall, sharp as a double-edged sword.” – Proverbs 5:3-4</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>In his book “Life for Leaders” Mark D. Roberts wrote: “Some years ago I had a pastoral relationship with a couple of people who were deeply in love with each other. They believed that God wanted them to get married so they could consummate their love. There was a problem with this plan, however, since they were each married to someone else. Their relationship was an adulterous one, something clearly forbidden in Scripture.</p><p>Yet, they were truly convinced that God was bringing them together, so they acted on this conviction. Later, after they were married, they confided in me that the pain they had brought upon themselves and their loved ones was so great that, knowing what they knew then, they would not have pursued the course they chose.</p><p>Had they taken seriously God’s prohibition of adultery in the first place, they might have spared themselves and their loved ones much hurt. Of course, God’s grace is wide and God’s redemptive ability is immense. Yet, it is wrong to disregard God’s prohibitions of sin because God’s grace is abundant (Romans 6:1-2). If we wish to live our lives as worship to God, and if we desire to live abundantly, then we will receive God’s prohibitions as gracious guidance that point us toward the positives of kingdom living.”</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Adultery hurts those involved and those who love them. Today in prayer, look to the Lord and flee from any temptation of adultery.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>“Do not commit adultery. Adultery destroys a marriage and is a sin against God and against your mate.” – Billy Graham</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>God’s Word: “Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a man commits are outside his body, but he who sins sexually sins against his own body.” – 1 Corinthians 6:18</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2026, Devotional E-Mail</p><p>DEVOTIONS IN PROVERBS †</p> Peter Kennedy https://www.devotional.com/profile/popup/06edfe971e/ 2026-04-06T04:58:00Z 2026-04-06T05:12:59.607Z Devotional - He Has Risen! <p>“Finally the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went inside. He saw and believed.” – John 20:8</p><p><br></p><p>In his book “God’s Homecoming”, N.T. Wright wrote: “Most people today imagine that the point of Christianity is “to go to heaven when you die.” That’s what most believers believe. It’s what most unbelievers unbelieve. It’s certainly what journalists, broadcasters, and popular commentators think Christianity is supposed to be all about. They are all wrong. The point of Christianity is not that we should go to heaven. The point of Christianity is that heaven should come to us. “To earth,” in Jesus’s words.&nbsp;</p><p>The story the early Christians told was not about how humans (or their souls) could, as it were, go upstairs into the presence of God. It was about how God had come downstairs to live with them—and would one day complete that operation, eventually suffusing all creation with his glorious presence.&nbsp;</p><p>Thus, though people sometimes speak of those who have died as having “gone home” to be with God, from the early Christian point of view that is the wrong way around. The great hope is God’s own homecoming. That project, long promised in Israel’s scriptures, was launched with Jesus and with the holy spirit. Grasping this enables us to glimpse the true Christian hope and allow it to shape our mission and life. In much contemporary Christianity, this story has been all but forgotten. It is time to refresh our memories.”</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>The resurrection of Jesus is the center of our faith. Today in prayer, praise the Lord that after His death on the cross, He arose.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>“The story of Easter is the story of God’s wonderful window of divine surprise.” – Carl Knudsen</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>God’s Word: “So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see in his hands the mark of the nails, and place my finger into the mark of the nails, and place my hand into his side, I will never believe.”” – John 20:25</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Devotion for Easter</p><p>Devotional Email</p> Peter Kennedy https://www.devotional.com/profile/popup/06edfe971e/ 2026-04-03T04:58:00Z 2026-04-03T05:13:08.667Z Devotional - Being A Good Steward <p>“Honor the LORD with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops; then your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your vats will brim over with new wine.” – Proverbs 3:9-10</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>In his book “Money, Possessions, and Eternity”, Randy Alcorn wrote: “The word stewardship has recently fallen on hard times. To many it’s no longer relevant to the day in which we live. To some it’s a religious cliché used to make fund-raising sound spiritual. It conjures up images of large red thermometers on church platforms, measuring how far we are from paying off the mortgage.</p><p>Because of these bland associations, I was tempted not to use the word in this book. But it’s such a good word, both biblically and historically, that it deserves resuscitation rather than burial. “A steward is someone entrusted with another’s wealth or property and charged with the responsibility of managing it in the owner’s best interest.” A steward is entrusted with sufficient resources and the authority to carry out his designated responsibilities.”</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>The Lord asks us to be a good steward of the money and goods He has entrusted to you. Today in prayer, thank the Lord for all that He has given you and seek to bless others with what you have been given.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>“Feel for others - in your pocket.” - Charles H. Spurgeon</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>God’s Word: “"Will a man rob God? Yet you rob me. "But you ask, 'How do we rob you?' "In tithes and offerings.” – Malachi 3:8</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2026, Devotional E-Mail</p><p>DEVOTIONS IN PROVERBS. †</p> Peter Kennedy https://www.devotional.com/profile/popup/06edfe971e/ 2026-04-02T04:57:00Z 2026-04-02T05:13:08.553Z Devotional - Finding Wisdom <p>“For the LORD gives wisdom, and from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.” – Proverbs 2:6</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); background-color: white;">Andy Cook writes: “A life-threatening crisis came to my home when I was only 25. My wife suffered a near-fatal stroke and was rushed to the hospital, where doctors scrambled to keep her alive. Within hours, we were making decisions that face families countless times, every day. Our options included surgery, medical treatment and prayer. To make matters worse, two doctors adamantly called for two radically different courses of action. One proposed immediate surgery, while the other warned that immediate surgery would be the worst of all options.</span></p><p><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); background-color: white;">Both said my wife might die if their course of advice wasn’t taken. A third doctor solved our dilemma by arranging a course of treatment acceptable to both of our first two doctors, and within a few months, that course of action proved to be the right one. Looking back on that time, the comparison is almost too much to comprehend. On Wednesday, my most difficult decision was what to choose for lunch. On Thursday, I needed to make a life-saving decision for my wife! Needless to say, crisis intensified our search for wisdom.”</span></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>We find wisdom when we seek the Lord. And seeking the Lord begins with searching His Word. Today in prayer, thank the Lord that He gives wisdom in the Bible and seek Him with all of your heart.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>“The wiser man shapes into God’s plan as water shapes into a vessel.” – Ella Wheeler Wilcox</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>God’s Word: “If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.” – James 1:5</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2026, Devotional E-Mail</p><p>DEVOTIONS IN PROVERBS †</p> Peter Kennedy https://www.devotional.com/profile/popup/06edfe971e/ 2026-04-01T04:57:00Z 2026-04-01T05:13:01.71Z Devotional - Overcoming Temptation <p>"My son, if sinners entice you, do not give in to them." - Proverbs 1:10</p><p><br></p><p>In his excellent book, An Unhurried Life, Alan Fadling describes one of our greatest temptations in the modern age—hurry:</p><p>“Hurry is a great temptation. Hurry looks like impulsive, knee-jerk reactions: “I’ll act now because I may never have another chance!” The temptation to hurry is fueled by the lie that the only good to be had must be grabbed now or never.</p><p>Jesus’ encounter with the devil in the wilderness right after his baptism at the Jordan illustrates the hurried nature of temptation and a holy response to it. Jesus is a master of the unhurried response to tempting suggestions.”</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Everyday and in many ways we are tempted to sin. Today in prayer, thank the Lord that in Him we can overcome temptation to sin.</p><p><br></p><p>"Few speed records are broken when people run from temptation." - E.C. McKenzie</p><p><br></p><p>God's Word: "And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one." - Matthew 6:13</p><p><br></p><p>By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2026, Devotional E-Mail</p><p>DEVOTIONS IN PROVERBS †</p> Peter Kennedy https://www.devotional.com/profile/popup/06edfe971e/ 2026-03-31T04:58:00Z 2026-03-31T05:13:04.447Z Devotional - His Eyes Are Upon Us <p>“His eyes are on the ways of men; he sees their every step.” – Job 34:21</p><p><br></p><p><span style="color: black;"> </span><span style="color: rgb(37, 40, 42);">In his book “Prayer” Philip Yancy wrote: “Alexander Schmemann, the late priest who led a reform movement in Russian Orthodoxy, tells of a time when he was traveling on the subway in Paris, France, with his fiancée. At one stop an old and ugly woman dressed in the uniform of the Salvation Army got on and found a seat nearby.</span></p><p><span style="color: rgb(37, 40, 42);">The two lovers whispered to each other in Russian about how repulsive she looked. A few stops later the woman stood to exit. As she passed them she said in perfect Russian, “I wasn’t always ugly.” That woman was an angel of God, Schmemann used to tell his students. She opened his eyes, searing his vision in a way he would never forget.”</span></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>No matter where you go, nothing escapes the notice of the Lord. Today in prayer, praise Jesus that His eyes are upon you and live your life in obedience to His Word.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>“Life is a tapestry:&nbsp;We are the warp; angels, the weft; God, the weaver.&nbsp;Only the Weaver sees the whole design.” – Eileen Elias Freeman</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>God’s Word: “The eyes of the LORD are everywhere, keeping watch on the wicked and the good.” – Proverbs 15:3</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2026, Devotional E-Mail&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p>DEVOTIONS IN JOB †</p> Peter Kennedy https://www.devotional.com/profile/popup/06edfe971e/ 2026-03-30T04:58:00Z 2026-03-30T05:13:02.507Z Devotional - From The Pit <p>“He redeemed my soul from going down to the pit, and I will live to enjoy the light.” – Job 33:28</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>In her book “Always A Guest”, Barbara Brown Taylor wrote: “Since Jesus isn’t attached to the same things we are, he can take the God-view, which is about more than redeeming our individual lives. God means to redeem the world, which is going to require some major teardowns before the global renewal project can go forward.&nbsp;</p><p>In this view there is some divine bulldozing to be done, some cosmic asbestos removal to be completed, before the world is safe for God’s creation to live in again. All the systems, powers, and economies that keep us separated into first class and coach—they’re already doomed. All the tribal politics that thrive on making us fear and loathe each other, every kind of religion that demonizes the stranger or violates the young—it’s all coming down.”</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>The Lord is in the practice of redeeming souls lost in sin and giving them eternal life. Today in prayer, praise the Lord that He found you lost in your sin, that He redeemed you through His precious death on the Cross, and granted you eternal life in Him.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>“Redemption never comes by our own efforts. Spiritually, redemption cannot happen without a Redeemer. This word is precious because it reminds followers of Jesus that relationship with Him has been purchased at great cost.” – Bob Snider</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>“Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: ‘Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree.’” – Galatians 3:13</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2026, Devotional E-Mail&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p>DEVOTIONS IN JOB †</p> Peter Kennedy https://www.devotional.com/profile/popup/06edfe971e/ 2026-03-27T04:57:00Z 2026-03-27T05:13:03.223Z Devotional - The Holy Spirit Within Us <p>“But it is the spirit in a man, the breath of the Almighty, that gives him understanding.” – Job 32:8</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>How much do churches remember the real and active role of the Holy Spirit? Do ministers rely on the Lord's guidance in their everyday operations? Francis and Edith Schaeffer conclude no, not at all. Edith recalls a question her husband once asked her.</p><p>"Edith, I wonder what would happen to most churches and Christian work if we awakened tomorrow, and everything concerning the reality and work of the Holy Spirit, and everything concerning prayer, were removed from the Bible. I don't mean just ignored, but actually cut out—disappeared. I wonder how much difference it would make?"</p><p>We concluded it would not make much difference in many board meetings, committee meetings, decisions, and activities.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>The Holy Spirit is God and He gives us understanding. Today in prayer, thank the Lord that He has imparted to you the Holy Spirit.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>“The Holy Spirit is not a blessing from God. He is God.” – Colin Urquhart</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>God’s Word: “But when he, the Spirit of truth,&nbsp;comes, he will guide you into all the truth.&nbsp;He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come.<sup><strong>&nbsp;</strong></sup>He will glorify me because it is from me that he will receive what he will make known to you.<sup><strong>&nbsp;</strong></sup>All that belongs to the Father is mine.&nbsp;That is why I said the Spirit will receive from me what he will make known to you.” – John 16:13-15</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2026, Devotional E-Mail&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p>DEVOTIONS In JOB. †</p> Peter Kennedy https://www.devotional.com/profile/popup/06edfe971e/ 2026-03-26T04:56:00Z 2026-03-26T05:13:08.837Z Devotional - When Money Owns You <p>“If I have put my trust in gold or said to pure gold, 'You are my security,' if I have rejoiced over my great wealth, the fortune my hands had gained, if I have regarded the sun in its radiance or the moon moving in splendor, so that my heart was secretly enticed and my hand offered them a kiss of homage, then these also would be sins to be judged, for I would have been unfaithful to God on high.” – Job 31:24-28</p><p><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);">&nbsp;</span></p><p><span style="color: black;">Jesus warns against greed and seeking wealth, because ultimately, </span><em style="color: black;">money is fiction.</em></p><p><span style="color: black;">Gold coins? Slips of paper? Ones and zeroes in a computer? They only have value because people think they do.</span></p><p><span style="color: black;">On the Micronesian Island of Yap, money can’t easily be stuffed into pockets. Instead, money is stone. Hundreds of </span><em style="color: black;">huge</em><span style="color: black;"> rocks are scattered all over the island and residents exchange them without ever even moving the rocks. One time, one of these rocks was being transported by boat and sank in the ocean. But it’s still good currency—it’s still money.</span></p><p><span style="color: black;">If people stopped treating precious metals, slips of paper, ones and zeroes, or even really big rocks as money—they’d go back to just being </span><em style="color: black;">stuff</em><span style="color: black;">.&nbsp;</span></p><p><span style="color: black;">And yet this stuff is the root of</span><em style="color: black;"> all kinds of evil! </em><span style="color: black;">Humans lie, cheat, steal, and even kill to get more of it. They neglect their families, ruin their health, commit all sorts of injustices, and turn their back on God’s commands… just to get some yellow metal or slips of paper.</span><em style="color: black;">&nbsp;</em></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>We cannot put our trust in money. Today in prayer, thank the Lord for being the only true foundation where we can place our trust and put your trust in Him and not in money.</p><p><br></p><p>“Money is the root of every mess you can think of. Anyone who lives for money is surely missing the best things in life.” – Sadie and Bessie Delany</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>God’s Word: “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 6:10</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2026, Devotional E-Mail&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p>DEVOTIONS IN JOB&nbsp;&nbsp;†</p> Peter Kennedy https://www.devotional.com/profile/popup/06edfe971e/ 2026-03-25T04:57:00Z 2026-03-25T05:13:11.82Z Devotional - Having A Heart For Orphans <p>“because I rescued the poor who cried for help, and the fatherless who had none to assist him. The man who was dying blessed me; I made the widow's heart sing.” – Job 29:11-12</p><p><span style="color: black;">&nbsp;</span></p><p><span style="color: black;">In his book “The Hopeful Neighborhood”, Don Everts writes: “Pursuing the common good has been a strong marker of the Christian church from the very beginning. The early church had many habits that they became known for, of course—including meeting frequently, eating together, and memorizing texts. But they also became known for their relentless pursuit of the common good of their local communities: visiting the poor, the sick, and the imprisoned; receiving and feeding travelers; generously contributing to common funds that went toward caring for the poor, replenishing stocks of food and clothing, and feeding needy people.</span></p><p><span style="color: black;">Christians in the early church busied themselves pursuing the common good of their communities. Throughout the centuries the church kept talking about this core calling. In The Epistle of Barnabas, an early Christian writing from the end of the first century, we read these words: “Do not live entirely isolated, having retreated into yourselves, as if you were already [fully] justified, but gather instead to seek together the common good.”</span></p><p><span style="color: black;">John Chrysostom, the famed preacher in Constantinople, preached about the common good in the early 400s: “This is the rule of the most perfect Christianity, its most exact definition, its highest point, namely, the seeking of the common good . . . for nothing can so make a person an imitator of Christ as caring for his neighbors.”</span></p><p><span style="color: black;">From Augustine to Aquinas, from Catholics to Protestants, Christians across the ages and denominations have repeated this call to pursue the common good. As a result, Christians throughout the centuries have stood shoulder to shoulder with the rest of humanity, leaving an enduring positive mark on their world.”</span></p><p><span style="color: black;">&nbsp;</span></p><p>We can all have a heart for orphans and do something to love them. Today in prayer, ask the Lord how you can help some of the orphans in this world.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>“What does love look like? It has the hands to help others. It has the feet to hasten to the poor and needy. It has the eyes to see misery and want. It has the ears to hear the sighs and sorrows of men. That is what love looks like.” - Augustine</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>God’s Word: “Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.” – James 1:27</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2026, Devotional E-Mail&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p>DEVOTIONS IN JOB †</p> Peter Kennedy https://www.devotional.com/profile/popup/06edfe971e/ 2026-03-24T04:58:00Z 2026-03-24T05:13:08.493Z Devotional - Fear Brings Wisdom <p>&nbsp;“And he said to man, 'The fear of the Lord--that is wisdom, and to shun evil is understanding.'” – Job 28:28</p><p><span style="color: black;">&nbsp;</span></p><p><span style="color: rgb(63, 63, 63); background-color: white;">In his book “Chasing Wisdom” Daniel Grothe writes: “All great jazz musicians have at least three things in common: (1) they have gone into the practice room and learned and internalized all the scales, which are simply organized sequences of notes, until they can play them forward and backward; (2) they have put in the time to learn all the standard jazz songs (in jazz parlance, they’ve “learned the book”); and (3) they can play every one of those standards in any key. “Oh, you want me to play Duke Ellington’s ‘Take the A Train’ in C?” No problem! “How ’bout we play ‘A Night in Tunisia’ in D?” You got it.</span></p><p><span style="color: rgb(63, 63, 63); background-color: white;">“Hey, man, you good with playing Brubeck’s ‘Take Five’ in E-flat minor?” Sure thing. If these three things are in place—knowing all the scales and all the songs in any key—a great jazz musician can walk into any club, on any night, in any city, and be ready to play. Living a life of wisdom is a lot like becoming a great jazz soloist. As counterintuitive as it may seem, we have to practice for spontaneity. We have to do our homework ahead of time, so we’re able to creatively improvise when the moment arises. A life of wisdom is about learning to think on our feet, about learning to be responsive to the actual conditions of life.”</span></p><p><span style="color: rgb(63, 63, 63); background-color: white;">&nbsp;</span></p><p>Fearing God is the yielding our hearts to Jesus. Today in prayer, love the Lord with your whole heart and He will give you wisdom.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>“The truly wise are those whose souls are in Christ.” – Ambrose</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>God’s Word: “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.” – Proverbs 9:10</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2026, Devotional E-Mail&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p>DEVOTIONS IN JOB †</p> Peter Kennedy https://www.devotional.com/profile/popup/06edfe971e/ 2026-03-23T04:59:00Z 2026-03-23T05:12:58.063Z Devotional - Don't Let Bitterness Consume You <p>“As surely as God lives, who has denied me justice, the Almighty, who has made me taste bitterness of soul, as long as I have life within me, the breath of God in my nostrils, my lips will not speak wickedness, and my tongue will utter no deceit.” –&nbsp;<a href="http://biblia.com/bible/nkjv/Job%2027.2-4" target="_blank">Job 27:2-4</a></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>In his book “Total Forgiveness”,&nbsp;R. T. Kendall writes: “When we are bitter, we delude ourselves into thinking that those who hurt us are more likely to be punished as long as we are set on revenge. We are afraid to let go of those feelings. After all, if we don’t make plans to see that justice is done, how will justice be done?</p><p>We make ourselves believe that it is up to us to keep the offense alive. This is a lie-the devil’s lie. “Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: `It is mine to avenge; I will repay,’ says the Lord” (Rom. 12:19). We only hurt ourselves when we dwell on what has happened to us and fantasize about what it will be like when “they” get punished.”</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Whatever bitterness you have tasted, do not let it consume you. Today in prayer, thank the Lord that in Christ, you are a victor over all sin and death and pray that bitterness does not take a hold of you.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>“Bitterness is like drinking poison and waiting for the other person to die.” – Ron McManus</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>God’s Word: “Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice.” –&nbsp;<a href="http://biblia.com/bible/nkjv/Ephesians%204.31" target="_blank">Ephesians 4:31</a></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2026, Devotional E-Mail&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p>DEVOTIONS IN JOB. †</p> Peter Kennedy https://www.devotional.com/profile/popup/06edfe971e/ 2026-03-20T04:58:00Z 2026-03-20T05:12:59.827Z Devotional - He Helps The Powerless <p>“How you have helped the powerless! How you have saved the arm that is feeble!” – Job 26:2</p><p><span style="color: rgb(60, 60, 60);">&nbsp;</span></p><p><span style="color: rgb(60, 60, 60);">Henri Nouwen is a well-loved writer and theologian who taught for decades at some of the most prestigious institutions in the country, but he left behind the academy to serve among the disabled population of the L’Arche community.&nbsp;The humble and the powerless became the teachers of this great and learned man. Nouwen writes, “These broken, wounded, and completely unpretentious people forced me to let go of my relevant self—the self that can do things, show things, prove things, build things—and forced me to reclaim that unadorned self in which I am completely vulnerable, open to receive and give love regardless of any accomplishments” (In the Name of Jesus) It took humility for Nouwen to realize he still had much to learn.</span></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Our God sees our tears, hears our sobs and draws close to the powerless. Today in prayer, praise Jesus that He is a God of compassion.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>“The dew of compassion is a tear.” – Lord Byron</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>God’s Word: “You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly.” – Romans 5:6</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2026, Devotional E-Mail&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p>DEVOTIONS IN JOB †</p> Peter Kennedy https://www.devotional.com/profile/popup/06edfe971e/ 2026-03-19T04:57:00Z 2026-03-19T05:13:01.837Z Devotional - Awe Belongs To God <p>“Dominion and awe belong to God; he establishes order in the heights of heaven.” – Job 25:2</p><p><strong style="color: black;">&nbsp;</strong></p><p><span style="color: black;">In his book “Awe: Why it Matters to Everything We Think, Say, and Do”, Paul David Tripp writes: “Where you look for awe will shape the direction of your life. It just makes sense that your source of awe will control you, your decisions, and the course your story takes. If you live in awe of material things, for example, you will spend lots of money acquiring a pile of material stuff; to afford your ever-increasing pile, you will have to work a lot.</span></p><p><span style="color: black;">You will also tend to attach your identity and inner sense of peace to material possessions, spending way too much time collecting and maintaining them. If material things are your awe source, you will neglect other things of value and won’t ever be fully satisfied, because these material things just don’t have the capacity to satisfy your awe-longing heart. Yes, your house will be big, your car will be luxurious, and you will be surrounded with beautiful things, but your contentment in areas that really count will be small.”</span></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>God is the Creator of all and His creation is awesome and beautiful. Today in prayer, praise the Lord for His Creation.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>“This is the creator; by his love, our Father; by his power, our Lord; by his wisdom; our maker and designer.” – Irenaeus</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>God’s Word: “By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God's command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible.” – Hebrews 11:3</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2026, Devotional E-Mail&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p>DEVOTIONS IN JOB †</p> Peter Kennedy https://www.devotional.com/profile/popup/06edfe971e/ 2026-03-18T04:58:00Z 2026-03-18T05:13:07.193Z Devotional - God Is Lord Of All <p>“But God drags away the mighty by his power; though they become established, they have no assurance of life.” – Job 24:22</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Charles Spurgeon wrote: “To a man who lives unto God nothing is secular, everything is sacred. He puts on his workday garment and it is a vestment to him: he sits down to his meal and it is a sacrament; he goes forth to his labor, and therein exercises the office of the priesthood: his breath is incense and his life a sacrifice. He sleeps on the bosom of God, and lives and moves in the divine presence.</p><p>To draw a hard and fast line and say, “This is sacred and this is secular,” is, to my mind, diametrically opposed to the teaching of Christ and the spirit of the gospel…. Peter saw a sheet let down from heaven in which were all manner of beasts and four-footed creatures, which he was bidden to kill and eat, and when he refused because they were unclean, he was rebuked by a voice from heaven, saying, “What God hath cleansed that call not thou common.”</p><p>The Lord hath cleansed your houses…, he has cleansed your bed chambers, your tables, your shops… he has made the common pots and pans of your kitchens to be as bowls before the altar, if you know what you are and live according to your high calling. You housemaids, you cooks, you nurses, you ploughmen, you housewives, you traders, you sailors, your labor is holy if you serve the Lord Christ in it, by living unto him as you ought to live. The sacred has absorbed the secular, the overarching temple of the Lord covers all your houses and your fields.”</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Christ alone is the eternal King. Today in prayer, praise the Lord that He alone is all-powerful and at the name of Jesus, every knee will bow.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>“The greatest single distinguishing feature of the omnipotence of God is that our imagination gets lost thinking about it.” – Blaise Pascal</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>God’s Word: “The LORD reigns, let the earth be glad; let the distant shores rejoice.” – Psalm 97:1</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2026, Devotional E-Mail&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p>DEVOTIONS IN JOB †</p> Peter Kennedy https://www.devotional.com/profile/popup/06edfe971e/ 2026-03-17T04:58:00Z 2026-03-17T05:13:24.023Z Devotional - God Tests Us <p>“But he knows the way that I take; when he has tested me, I will come forth as gold.” – Job 23:10</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>In his article “Does God Test Us?” Carl Joseph writes: “The large tractor-trailer trucks that travel the highways of the nation are subjected to a load limit, meaning there’s a limit as to how much weight each truck is safely capable of hauling. There’s a good reason for establishing such limits. If trucks were allowed to exceed their weight limit, the roads would eventually degrade, because each road is designed to support vehicles only up to a certain weight. Likewise, God knows how much we can bear when He allows us to be tested. He has assigned a definite “load limit” to each of us and never exceeds it. God is fair and His tests are fair. Though uncomfortable, we may advance in his kingdom as we pass His tests.”</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>The Lord tests us and knows what needs to be refined in our lives to make us more like Him. Today in prayer, praise the Lord for His testing, knowing that testing brings you closer to Jesus.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>“We turn to God for help when our foundations are shaking, only to learn that it is God who is shaking them.” – Charles C. West</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>“For you, O God, tested us; you refined us like silver.” – Psalm 66:10</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2026, Devotional E-Mail&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p>DEVOTIONS IN JOB †</p> Peter Kennedy https://www.devotional.com/profile/popup/06edfe971e/ 2026-03-16T04:57:00Z 2026-03-16T05:13:01.807Z Devotional - The Wise Judge <p>“Can anyone teach knowledge to God, since he judges even the highest?” – Job 21:22</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><span style="color: rgb(32, 32, 34);">In his book “Beyond Words, Frederick Buechner writes: “We are all of us judged every day. We are judged by the face that looks back at us from the bathroom mirror. We are judged by the faces of the people we love and by the faces and lives of our children and by our dreams. We are judged by the faces of the people we do not love. Each day finds us at the junction of many roads, and we are judged as much by the roads we have not taken as by the roads we have.</span></p><p><span style="color: rgb(32, 32, 34);">The New Testament proclaims that at some unforeseeable time in the future, God will ring down the final curtain on history, and there will come a Day on which all our days and all the judgments upon us and all our judgments upon each other will themselves be judged. The judge will be Christ. In other words, the one who judges us most finally will be the one who loves us most fully.</span></p><p><span style="color: rgb(32, 32, 34);">Romantic love is blind to everything except what is lovable and lovely, but Christ’s love sees us with terrible clarity and sees us whole. Christ’s love so wishes our joy that it is ruthless against everything in us that diminishes our joy. The worst sentence Love can pass is that we behold the suffering that Love has endured for our sake, and that is also our acquittal. The justice and mercy of the judge are ultimately one.”</span></p><p><span style="color: rgb(32, 32, 34);">&nbsp;</span></p><p>In our relationship with God, He is our teacher and judge. Today in prayer, praise the Lord for His wisdom in administering justice and mercy.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>“I will govern my life and my thoughts as if the whole world were to see the one, and to read the other. For what does it signify to make anything a secret to neighbor, when to God, who is the Searcher of hearts, all our privacies are open?” – Seneca</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>God’s Word: “But it is God who judges: He brings one down, he exalts another.” – Psalm 75:7</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2026, Devotional E-Mail&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p>DEVOTIONS IN JOB †</p> Peter Kennedy https://www.devotional.com/profile/popup/06edfe971e/