God’s Promises

DAILY VERSE

Not one of all the good promises the Lord your God gave you has failed. Every promise has been fulfilled; not one has failed.

Joshua 23:14

DEVOTION

Like the stars that light up the night sky, so are God’s promises that bring light to a believer’s life, especially during dark times. God’s promises are trustworthy. God is faithful to all of them, and His goodness does not fail. 

He promises to always be with you (Isaiah 41:10). For those who believe, we have the promise of eternal life. (John 3:16) He promises to be our refuge and our strength in times of trouble. (Psalm 46:1) He promises to give us hope. (Jere 29:11) He promises to listen to and hear our prayers as well as answer them. (Jere 29:12-13 and 1 John 5:14-15) And He promises to provide. (Luke 12:24-25)

Rest in God’s promises, remind yourself daily of each of them, and prepare to experience the fullness God has intended for you!

He’s Overcome it All

DAILY VERSE

I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”

John 16:33

DEVOTION

Our brains are amazing. There are so many things that it does automatically to ensure we can function. Our hearts beat at an even rate, our lungs pull in oxygen, and our blood circulates throughout our bodies. It’s also uniquely made for self-preservation. Have you ever touched something hot? Your hand pulls away instantly.

Unfortunately, when the brain encounters emotional pain or mental anguish, it can’t always solve it. That’s when we wind up in the escape room. Since our brains can’t react, escape becomes the self-preservation mechanism. It can be alcohol or drugs, anything to numb the pain.

We often forget that Jesus spent over 30-years in a human body. He was hated, ridiculed, beaten, and finally killed. Resurrected, He gives us hope. He’s uniquely qualified to guide us through the pain of broken relationships, addiction, lost jobs, abuse… 

Put your trust in Christ, He’s overcome everything the world had to throw at Him!

He’s Preparing You for Better Days

DAILY VERSE

And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good,

for those who are called according to his purpose.

Romans 8:28

DEVOTION

God is good during your difficult times. He’s also good during your best times. All God is, and everything God does is infinitely good. He works for the good of those who love Him, whom He calls according to His purpose. 

God is involved in every detail of your life and demonstrates His goodness in many ways. You may be experiencing uncertain times right now. They may have just begun, or this may be a state you’ve been sitting in for some time. 

Either way, God is preparing you for better days — because He is good.

God IS Good!

DAILY VERSE

For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.

Isaiah 55:9

DEVOTION

“God is good!” We shout this out as an expression of praise when things go our way. But it seems hard to muster these words when we find ourselves in the “valley”. How quickly we forget God’s goodness during our trials. 

But God IS good! In His omniscience, He knows what you require. In His omnipotence, He has the power to supply you with what you need, and He is forever at work to meet your needs in His Omnipresence. 

Your security rests on God’s goodness. “For the Lord is good, and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations.”

Hope for Humanity

DAILY VERSE

The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!

John 1:29

DEVOTION

John the Baptist had been assumed to be the messiah, but when asked, he denied it. He did however recognize Jesus for who He was immediately. 

The evidence of the level at which God loves us can be summed up in one man, Jesus Christ. God had laid down the law, the way He expected us to act in order to enjoy an abundant life. But just as we did in the Garden, our sinful nature betrayed us. 

With no hope for humanity, God made a way by sending His son!

God’s Peace in the Midst

DAILY VERSE

For you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.

James 1:3

DEVOTION

When trials come the first thought that comes to my head is, “Oh no, I’m about to be taught another lesson in patience!”

I’ve been going through an extended trial, one that has lasted over 11-years at this point. There have been moments where I thought I had glimpsed the light at the end of the tunnel, yet the light was extinguished. 

At this point, I and a few others who’ve been navigating these waters with me, have been stuck with our feet hovering over the finish line for the last year. Why is God holding us back? I don’t have the answer, but I know that His timing is always perfect.

Faith is something you learn in these times. Your patience tested. But when you can experience God’s peace in the midst, God has truly accomplished a milestone. 

Patience…

DAILY VERSE

From Mount Hor they set out by the way to the Red Sea, to go around the land of Edom. And the people became impatient on the way.

Numbers 21:4

DEVOTION

Patience; forbearance, long-suffering 

Patience is a lesson we will learn over and over again. Every trial will require it. 

I’m certain everyone who reads through the Exodus story will, at some point, begin to scream at the Israelites in their heads. As readers, we can see that God is about to unleash heaven’s storehouse of blessings upon them if they’ll simply trust and follow Him as they trek through the desert. 

As we read, frustrated, have we forgotten; we most likely have a board sticking out of our own eye(Matt 7:3)? How many of us actually exercise patience while we’re going through stressful times?

Ask God to impart His peace upon you. Ask for patience and the strength to navigate your own Exodus story with faith.

Only Encouragement

DAILY VERSE

“But when the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, he will bear witness about me.”

John 15:26

DEVOTION

“I’m not qualified.”

“I’m not ready.”

“I’m not good enough.”

Have you ever felt like this? Have you ever had a time when you just felt really discouraged?

Maybe this is a time where nothing seems to go the way you’d hoped or planned and you’re struggling to find some semblance of solid ground.

None of that is from God.

The original word that’s translated as “advocate“ literally means “one who comes alongside to help or encourage”. 

God has given you and I the Holy Spirit to encourage us and speak words of life into us. The Holy Spirit will never discourage you. The Holy Spirit will only encourage you.

Surround Yourself

DAILY VERSE

Then Moses told his father-in-law all that the Lord had done to Pharaoh and to the Egyptians for Israel’s sake, all the hardship that had come upon them in the way, and how the Lord had delivered them.

Exodus 18:8

DEVOTION

Have you ever sat in your seat during a church service and felt that the message was targeted directly at you or your situation? 

Moses had many advisors, one of which was his father-in-law, Jethro. He discussed all that God had done to free the Israelites from Egypt.

God places us in unique situations and places certain people in our lives for a reason. That’s why who we surround ourselves with and what we consume visually matters. 

Surround yourself with those who breathe life into yours, turn off the distractions, and yearn for what is true and good.

He IS Near

DAILY VERSE

And the Lord went before them by day in a pillar of cloud to lead them along the way, and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, that they might travel by day and by night.

Exodus 13:21

DEVOTION

Do you ever feel as though you’re in a season where you’re wandering? Your future seems uncertain and you feel somewhat distant from God? Is He walking with you? Why is He silent? Will this season pass?

Like the Israelites walking through the desert, God IS with you. He doesn’t want you to wander aimlessly, He wants to guide your steps. He wants you to know He will never leave or forsake you.

So, in this season, know that He is near.