The Night Sky

DAILY VERSE

I look up to the mountains— does my help come from there? My help comes from the LORD, who made the heavens and the earth!

Psalm 121:1-2

DEVOTION

When I was young, I used to look up at the night sky and talk to God. In my undeveloped mind, that’s where God was; far off.

As an adult, I still go out on the back porch and look up. It makes me feel incredibly small. How can you be anything other than humble when you do that?

God is not far off, though. Is in our midst. He’s next to you as you are looking up and speaking to Him. But that forced humbleness allows you to know, even among the masses, He sees you and loves you.

More Precious than Rubies

DAILY VERSE

Who can find a virtuous and capable wife? She is worth more than precious rubies.

Proverbs 31:10

DEVOTION

Amen!

I spent 8 years as a single father. After the disintegration of my previous relationship, I decided I’d focus on my kids. One was in elementary school, and one was in junior high at the time. It was equal parts rewarding and challenging at the same time.

Once they were in high school it got even tougher. I began to pray for a helper, a wife who could be my partner, and friend, and help me raise my kids. As always, God came through! As He has done many times in my life, it wasn’t right away. But He chose the perfect person! Up to this point, I hadn’t consulted Him, so it was no surprise He was the only one that could tick every box.

If you are seeking that perfect partner, allow God to handpick that person, and you’ll be truly blessed!

Wounds from a Friend

DAILY VERSE

Wounds from a friend are better than many kisses from an enemy.

Proverbs 27:6

DEVOTION

True friends are willing to share hard truths with you in a loving manner. An enemy sincerely wants to hurt your feelings and tear you down.

It’s hard to find true friends. With true friends, you can confide in them and be vulnerable. You can expect to get good advice.

If you haven’t found a friend like this, pray for one! If you have one, be thankful and tell them how much you appreciate them.

Be a Purifier

DAILY VERSE

They must turn from evil and do good; they must seek peace and pursue it.

1 Peter 3:11

DEVOTION

Have you ever worked in an atmosphere where negativity seemed to bring down productivity and stifle communication? It can be very toxic. It’s easy to get caught in a rut if you allow the nativity to shape your own attitude.

Fred Smith puts it this way, “There are two kinds of people in any organization: polluters and purifiers.” Polluters are like smokestacks billowing out negativity. Purifiers can come into a smoke-filled room and filter out all of the toxic smoke and instead bring in positivity.

Be a purifier in your workplace. Be a peacemaker.

Let Christ Shine!

DAILY VERSE

And remember that the heavenly Father to whom you pray has no favorites when he judges. He will judge or reward you according to what you do. So, you must live in reverent fear of him during your time as foreigners here on earth.

1 Peter 1:17

DEVOTION

God doesn’t grade on a curve. He judges everyone the same. Thankfully, we have been covered by the blood of the Lamb!

We must be at our best every day. Others are watching how we carry ourselves and the integrity we display. Anything and everything that makes us stand out. The things that push people to dig deeper, wondering what makes us different.

It’s Christ in us that shines through!

Trial by Fire

DAILY VERSE

These trials are only to test your faith, to show that it is strong and pure. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold—and your faith is far more precious to God than mere gold. So, if your faith remains strong after being tried by fiery trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world.

1 Peter 1:7

DEVOTION

I don’t know what you are going through today or what you’ve been through in the past. What I do know is trials can leave notable imprints that remain as reminders of what God has done in our lives.

Most trials bring with them a period of testing. They can last for days, months, and even years. All I know is that the longer they last the tougher they are. But God uses these times to bring our focus onto Him, to rely on His strength and not our own.

Being forced to our knees swings our focus upward!

Be an Air Purifier

DAILY VERSE

Whoever pursues godliness and unfailing love will find life, godliness, and honor.

Proverbs 21:21

DEVOTION

In the workplace, we’ll always find some negativity. You know, people who may be slightly burnt out. A stronghold has been claimed and they view everything as though it’s a personal attack.

But it’s all about attitude. If you seek to see things through the lens of Christ’s love and seek God’s guidance, your attitude changes, your motivations become positive, and you seek to put out fires instead of starting them.

John Maxwell uses a smokestack in his analogy. Those who are smokestacks are billowing out toxic smoke. Then there are the air purifiers. They come in and filter through the smoke and clear the air.

Seek to be an air purifier and radiate God’s love instead!  

My Strength

DAILY VERSE

I love you, LORD; you are my strength.

Psalm 18:1

DEVOTION

What is your strength? Are you organized; a good speaker; detail-oriented? If you think about it, all our strengths have been bestowed on us by God. He’s created us with unique talents and abilities to complete the good work that He’s predestined us to accomplish.

I spent years in somewhat of a limbo. During that time, I went back to college, got a degree, got a certification, and still had no opportunities open up. We moved to a different state, and after getting plugged into a new church and joining a home group, God opened a door. A place where all of my strengths could be utilized and where I could flourish.

God is my strength!  

Joy

DAILY VERSE

Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again—rejoice!

Philippians 4:4

DEVOTION

You’ve heard it said, “Joy is infectious.” It’s true. When someone enters a room full of joy, others can’t help but feel some sense of joy well up in themselves.

Especially in difficult situations, it can be the joy someone is exuding that lightens the atmosphere. It is also an indicator that there is something different about that person.

The simple act of joyfulness can draw people to Christ if others find out where that joy comes from.  

They Know Not What They Do

DAILY VERSE

For, as I have often told you before and now tell you again even with tears, many live as enemies of the cross of Christ.

Philippians 3:18

DEVOTION

We should all be grieved that so many are headed for certain destruction. So many don’t understand “The Fall” and the current state sin has on their lives. If you don’t know, you don’t know.

In the world today, there are millions of people globally who sin blatantly. They obviously know not what they do, and that’s heartbreaking.

What can we do? Be the LIGHT. Be the EXAMPLE. Allow people to see Jesus through you.