Category: Uncategorized

Two-minute read.

“Pray for our needs, not our greeds,” the Expositor’s Bible Commentary says about this verse. What a powerful statement: we pray more for greed than for needs. For instance, I have a perfectly good car, a few years old, with plenty of safety features and the right size for my needs, yet I want a new one. Not because I need a vehicle, but because of greed. I want the updated model with the latest bells and whistles, pure greed.

When we let our greed lead our prayers, we ask for the wrong thing. Instead of a new car, I need to become more like Jesus, who never rode or drove in a vehicle. But He did trust His Father to provide all his needs: food, clothing, and shelter. Christ never owned a home. He grew up in Nazareth and lived with his parents in a simple stone-and-mortar house. During the Lord’s ministry, He traveled, staying in different homes or outdoors. When you think of following the Savior, do you think of sleeping in a field, under the stars, with the angels watching over you? I don’t.

Living in America, most people have access to food, water, and shelter. Because we live in a land of abundance, most people don’t ask for daily bread. Instead, we want the latest trending thing because good marketing makes us think it will change our lives. But in truth, it won’t. Every time I upgrade my phone, I end up disappointed. The changes they touted don’t change the world or my life and barely make a difference from the one I had before. We pray more for greed than need.

As Christ’s followers, we become more like Him through intention. Instead of praying for greed, we must pray for needs. Ask the Lord for His Spirit to help you think, speak, and act like Christ. Pray for transformation as you obey Him. Request a Christ-like character so that in all situations, you respond as Jesus would. Seek the Lord’s guidance for the day ahead, and commit it to Him. We need God’s daily bread to nurture our souls, inspire our actions, and help us become like Jesus.

Spend time thinking about what you really need. Let go of worldly wants and focus your eyes on the Son. Let Him search your heart, and help align it with His. Jesus knows your true needs, and when you let Him fulfill those, you will experience life in abundance like never before. Drink from the living water, and eat from the Lord’s daily bread. Fill yourself with the Savior as you abide in Him.

Journal Questions:

How have you prayed for greed?

What do you think you really need?

How can your prayers help you become more like Christ?

Application:

Thank God for your basic needs.

Two-minute read.

God makes each day. He created the day we gave our lives to Him, and each one before and after it. As Christ followers, we live in the Lord’s love, and we should rejoice over our salvation and the gift of grace and mercy we received from the cross. Remembering Jesus’s sacrifice for us will help us rejoice in our daily lives. As we focus our attention on God’s Son, learning and growing with Him, we will find abundant life, no matter what our circumstances.

Writing on a Saturday, I started my day as I always do, spending time with the Lord, reading His word, praying, and journaling. As I began journaling, I wrote, “Thank You, Lord, for another Saturday with my Honey.” Getting to spend the day with Ron, doing chores around the house, and sharing time fills my heart with joy. Doing mundane things with those you love uplifts the soul. Whatever projects we work on over the weekend will draw us closer together as we strive to live life to the fullest.

Giving God authority over our lives opens the door to fruitful living. The Lord doesn’t go where He’s not wanted. If we don’t provide him with access to our lives, we can’t receive His blessings. As with any relationship, it takes two to make it work. We must do our part for the Lord to do His. And we must give our days to Him if we want God’s interaction in them. Each morning, starting the day with the Creator sets me on the right path. But I can easily lose focus on God if I let my thoughts go astray. When I received a group text on New Year’s Day, one of the replies instantly angered me, stealing my joy. To restore peace in my soul, I had to redirect my attention to the Savior, talk to Him, and gain a new perspective.

Intentional living means choosing to focus on God’s goodness, finding it in every day. If we start our mornings connecting with the Savior and thanking Him for the day ahead, we’ll begin a practice of rejoicing in the day the Lord has made. Even though life may seem routine and days blend, every day differs, even if only slightly. Today will never come again, and the events that occur will never happen in the same way. Some days we’d like to repeat, other days, not so much. But each day, we should rejoice and thank God in it.

Journal Questions:

When did you last thank God for making the day?
How can you find things to rejoice about today?

In what ways do you intentionally live joyfully for the Lord?

Application:

Rejoice in the present moment.

Two-minute read.

God never sleeps; every minute that passes unfolds more of His plan for our lives and the world. Jesus connects us to the Creator, giving us access to His purpose for our lives. Since the Creator never stops working out His purposes for us, no matter what the situation, we have reasons to praise Him. When we make praise a lifestyle, we’ll look for the Lord’s movement, and we will find it, even on the darkest days.

Years ago, I had a friend struggling financially. Driving an older car, it had many problems. No money to buy anything except the absolute necessities, every penny got counted. From my perspective at the time, I didn’t see much good in her situation. But I will never forget her faithfulness.

“Thank God for our car!” I remember her saying. Her sincerity and utter praise for the Lord struck me. From my viewpoint, she had many reasons to question the Savior for the situation she found herself in that day. But a lifelong, devoted follower of Christ, she didn’t focus on what she didn’t have; she praised God for what they did have. And they had a car that worked, no matter its age.

We don’t need the latest bells and whistles of a new vehicle, phone, or home. Jesus never rode in a car; He used a donkey to make His grand entrance into Jerusalem that Passover Day long ago. My friend taught me a lesson in living a lifestyle of praise, and I haven’t forgotten it decades later. Focus on what you do have, not what you don’t have. Praise God for the blessings He’s given you, don’t worry about the rest.

When we begin looking for things to praise God for in our circumstances, we will find them. During my stay in the hospital with life-threatening blood clots, I didn’t focus on the clump clogging my vein. Instead, I thanked God for the doctors and nurses who cared for me. I got to know their names, and I prayed for them. Praising the Lord for the technology that allowed the surgeon to remove the clot, as well as the medicine that helped heal me, didn’t take much effort. I will never forget singing praise and worship songs from my hospital bed, thankful for all the Lord did for me during that time.

Living a lifestyle of praise does take intention. Sometimes we will find things to thank God for with ease, other times, it might require more effort. But we can always find something to thank the Savior for if we look hard enough. We can count every breath we take as a gift from God, and we take between 17,000 and 23,0000 breaths a day, which means we have something to praise God for without even having to look for it.

Journal Questions:

Do you tend to find things to praise or criticize in life?

List ten things you can praise God for today.

What can you do to develop a lifestyle of praise?

Application:

Offer praise as a continual offering.

Two-minute read.

Worry indicates a need for prayer. Any time we start to fret about a situation, we can use it as an opportunity to pray. Considering 92% of what we worry about never happens, turning to the Lord in prayer reminds us not to let the world steal our joy. Worry takes us out of the moment and makes us miss important happenings by focusing on things outside our control. When we bring our anxieties to the Savior, we talk to the One in control, and who will get us through any storms we encounter.

Thanking God for His work in our lives helps us develop an attitude of gratitude. Changing our perspectives, we can trust the Lord’s plan for our lives and the situation, thanking Him in advance for what He will do. Remember, all good gifts come from the Savior. Whatever the Lord allows in our lives, He will work for the good. But we don’t always understand the Creator’s ways.

Having several friends who have lost children, the heartache attached to the losses truly has no words. The owner of the business where I rent space lost her seven-year-old son in a tragic murder-suicide situation. None of the events that occurred that day makes sense. But my friend took her pain and refused to let it define her, determined to bring joy from her son’s brief life. And so she created a business that brings joy to thousands. Local artisans, like me, display their wares and share their passions with others. In all nine locations, her son’s profile picture highlights the sign, Morgan’s presence in each.

My spaces, what I call prayer booths, that help introduce people to Jesus and draw them closer to Him, allow me to share my faith. Merchandising my booth during Christmas a couple of years ago, I felt tired and worn out. A customer saw me working and thanked me for my efforts. Seeing my tired smile, she said words I’ve never forgotten, “You do know you’re bringing joy to people, right?” Her words struck me because I hadn’t thought of it in those terms until she pointed it out to me. And that all happened because a grieving mother refused to let bad come from an already tragic situation. Instead, she chose to spread love and kindness in a world full of hatred.

Turn your worries into prayer. Trust God’s plan, letting it unfold, despite our understanding. Tell the Lord, thank You for the work in your life, and pray instead of worrying, praising Him for all He does and will do.

Journal Questions:

How does worry affect your life?

What happens when you start listing your blessings?

How does prayer strengthen you?

Application:

Gratitude changes how we pray.

Two-minute read.

Every morning, we get to try again.

When I attended Weight Watchers years ago, we had an exceptional leader named Tonja. Blonde, blue-eyed, with an incredible smile, she made everyone feel loved and welcome. Anytime I felt discouraged, Tonja had a way of picking me up. After the death of my nephew, I will never forget how she comforted me.

“When you lose someone, it’s like someone pulled a nail out of a board; it leaves a hole that can never be filled.”

I’ve thought of those words so often in the last decade, they have proven true. No one can fill the hole left by a loved one. Tonja taught me another valuable lesson, one I still use today. When I would have a “bad” week, either I didn’t lose any weight, or I stayed the same, she would say, “Today’s a new day. Let the past go and start again.” And so I would let go of the past and start fresh, trying again.

The Lord does the same thing for us every morning. Every day, we fall short of the mark. Whether we say something we regret, we do something we know we shouldn’t have, or anything in between, God gives a do-over every day. Instead of making the same mistakes, we can say and do things differently. And if we fail, we can try again tomorrow. God’s unending mercies allow us to keep trying until we get it right. We can make amends when we need to, ask for forgiveness, and then do our best not to repeat the offense.

In the first thirteen years of my marriage, I made more mistakes than I care to admit. Hurting Ron with words causes me the most shame. But God used those instances to grow and mature me. Accepting responsibility for my actions and asking my husband for forgiveness humbled me. Because of those moments, I saw a part of myself I hadn’t seen before, and I knew I needed to change my ways. Through therapy, I dealt with the underlying issues that caused me to say destructive things. With prayer, supplication, and work, the Lord helped me transform into someone who no longer says those things. Because of God’s mercy and my husband’s grace, I had the chance to do things differently, and I did.

Each day, we get to try again. Using the Lord’s mercy as an opportunity to do better will transform you. Over time, you will leave the poor behaviors in the rear view mirror, and respond more like Jesus, with love and compassion to all.

Journal Questions:

When has someone given you a second chance that changed your life?

How can you do better today than yesterday?

What does God’s fresh mercies mean to you?

Application:

Thank God for renewing His mercies daily.

Two-minute read.

Each Sunday, no matter where we attend church, the service starts with worship music. As God’s people gather, raising their voices in praise, I can only imagine how it must bless the Lord. As a child, my church sang traditional hymns, accompanied by a piano or organ, and the choir. I thought that part of the service dragged on forever and would count the stanzas to see how much longer we had to go. Secretly, when they cut out a few verses, for whatever reason, it made me happy.

Now, I can’t wait for the instruments to begin playing and the worship leader to start singing. Maturing in Christ, I understand worship differently. As God transforms me, revealing my sin and helping me become more like Jesus, I can’t help but want to praise Him. The freedom found in the Savior gives us not only a new life but a purpose. Loving God and others will take you on the best kind of journey. Only by partnering with the Creator can you fulfill His desires for your life. As you draw closer to God, His desires become yours.

Gathering with other believers for corporate worship not only strengthens your faith but also emotionally encourages one another and fosters community through the shared spiritual experience—one body, with many parts, worshipping the Savior who bonds them together. Over Christmas, while suffering from the flu, I couldn’t attend church and missed it. Although we watched online and I sang along in a hoarse voice during the praise and worship, it didn’t feel the same. Nothing compares to a room full of Christ’s followers joining their voices in worship, giving God the glory He deserves.

No other name compares to the Lord’s. Only one true God exists, and to Him we should sing our songs of gratitude. If you attend church regularly, making it a part of your typical week, you will have more hope, experience spiritual growth, and a more profound sense of connection to your faith. When we finally returned to church after my illness, I received hugs of welcome and felt loved in a way that you can only experience in a faith community, bonded together by the Savior. And once again, as the band began to play, my heart soared to join in worship with my brothers and sisters in Christ.

Enter God’s gates with songs of worship on your lips. Rejoice in the work He has done for you. Let the Savior know how much He means to you by lifting praises to Him in song.

Journal Questions:

How does worship music affect you?

In what ways can you become a regular worshipper?

How do your songs of praise honor the Savior?

Application:

Enter God’s presence with thanks.

Two-minute read.

When bad things happen, people ask, “Why did God allow this?” We ignore the fact that sin entered the world thousands of years ago, and many of the “bad” things that occur come from it. The Lord doesn’t send temptation; He sends help. Jesus came to save the lost and give us victory over our sin, the Creator’s greatest gift to us. God also gave us free will to choose who we follow and how we live. Many people don’t choose the Savior, living for self instead, and allowing their sin nature to rule the roost.

Watching “Eden,” a movie inspired by actual events in 1929, a writer and his wife isolate themselves on an island in the Galapagos. From letters written to his homeland in Germany, others learn and decide to follow. A family of three and a baroness and her crew ascend on the island. As the story unfolds, we see the effects of sin in humanity as they allow primal emotions to rule their actions, denying God’s existence. Thievery, lying, cheating, and eventually murder ensue on an island paradise created by the Lord.

The Lord didn’t want those things to happen; people chose them. God created an island paradise, and humanity destroyed it with their sinful desires. As in the original garden of Eden, Adam and Eve had everything they could ever desire, yet they still ate of the forbidden fruit, not the Creator’s desire for them, but their desire for themselves. And now we have sin in the world, a battle we all must fight.

However, if we did not have free will, we could not love. God understands He can’t force people to love and follow Him; we must choose it. And if we don’t have the choice, we can’t love. Every day, the Lord sends His gifts to us: breath in our lungs, food in our bellies, roofs over our heads, every good and perfect gift comes from above. The Creator gives us kind and helpful gifts, not destructiveness. No evil comes attached to the Lord’s blessings. We can accept God’s offerings and acknowledge His goodness with gratitude. None of us deserves the grace and mercy the Almighty gives us. Jesus’s sacrifice on the cross paid the price for our sins; He got what we deserved so we could have a relationship with the Father.

Christ, God’s greatest gift to humanity, didn’t bring chaos; He brought love. Knowing what He had to do, Jesus took His place on the cross so we wouldn’t have to pay the penalty for our sin. Following the Savior will help us become more like Him, understanding His goodness and the gift of love He offers.

Journal Questions:

Why do you think bad things happen in life?

How do you think of God’s gifts in your life?

What do you consider God’s greatest gift and why?

Application:

Recognize God as the source.

Two-minute read.

God loves gathering His people together, redeeming and restoring them. Sunday services have that effect on me. Each week, we gather with hundreds of other believers, singing worship, listening to messages, and resetting ourselves for the week ahead. Living in America, I’ve always had the privilege of attending church without worry of persecution, and I thank the Lord for the opportunity. Serving on the prayer team for an international organization, I know that many countries do not allow the same luxury.

Persevering under persecution, believers in other nations find ways to gather and praise the Lord. Risking their lives, they form underground churches that love and support each other through the hardships of government persecution. And praise God for His faithful love endures forever, even during their struggles.

In 2 Corinthians 8:1-5, Paul praises the church of Macedonia for their abundant joy that overflowed in rich generosity, despite “being tested by many troubles, and they are very poor” (vs. 2). Paul goes on to explain that not only did they give of their own free will but begged him for the privilege of sharing in the gift with others. Jesus’s transformational work among the believers in Macedonia helped them look beyond their temporary circumstances to the eternal rewards that awaited them, and they wanted others to discover what they found in the Savior.

As followers of Jesus, we should want the same thing Macedonia wanted. Looking past our current circumstances, keeping the Son in our eyes, we will focus on the true prize, eternity in heaven with the Savior, where we will have no more struggles, basking in the glory of the Lord forever. Distractions in this world try to shift our focus from the eternal to the temporary. When we lose focus, we become adrift in a sea of narratives, seeking truth, but unable to find it. Having our eyes fixed on things above helps us discern and prioritize our time, keeping on track with the Lord’s mission for our lives.

Living for the Savior brings abundant life as we find joy in the Lord, gaining His strength and walking obediently in His ways. One faith step at a time reveals the next one we should take. God never gives us the entire road map, but leads us in increments, unfolding our purpose as we go. Watching “It’s a Wonderful Life” over Christmas reminded me that everything affects everything. Our smallest acts of kindness have ripple effects we know nothing about.

God made us for a purpose, and He supports us on the journey as we transition into new beings in Christ. We need to thank Him for His good works and faithful love that endures forever.

Journal Questions:

How does keeping your eyes on Jesus help you persevere?

In what ways can you focus on things above today?

What good work has God done in your life?

Application:

Thank God for who He is.

Two-minute read.

“In,” not “for.” People misunderstand Paul’s words to the Thessalonians. The apostle tells us to thank God IN all situations, not FOR them. No one thanks God FOR a negative health diagnosis, but they do thank God IN the situation for the doctors, nurses, medicines, and technology that help them get better. Creating a thankful heart means looking for the people, things, and events IN a situation to give gratitude, rather than focusing on the circumstance.

“Can’t see the forest for the trees” refers to someone so focused on the small details that they miss the big picture. In the same way, we can get fixated on a circumstance and lose sight of the blessings within it, not seeing the big picture and God’s presence. During my single years, I became fixated on my singleness, and I could easily overlook the friends and family who supported me through that season. I missed the forest for the trees by focusing on one small aspect of my life rather than the bigger picture.

As I waited for my husband, often, not so patiently, God used that period to refine me. The Lord brought people into my life who helped me learn how to have healthy relationships. When I discovered the Great Commandment, love God and others, it changed my life. As I took myself out of the center seat of my world and began submitting to the Creator, placing Him at the center of my universe, transformation began to happen.

Thankfulness started to develop in my heart as I recognized the blessings God had given me. Through countless layoffs at my company, the Lord protected me. I had a stable home, with an overflow of food and water. As I became involved in church, I developed a network of friends who rallied around me and still walk with me today, cheering me onward.

Following the Savior continues to develop a thankful heart within me. As I give more and more of my life to Him, I find it easier to praise the Lord. Each breath I take gives me a reason to thank God. When my feet hit the floor in the morning, I offer up praise. Every devotion, every book, every project I get to do, I offer gratitude to the Creator for letting me do His work. Jesus teaches me to live intentionally, with my eyes focused on Him, aligning my heart’s desires with His, and when I do, it cultivates thankfulness in my heart.

Cultivate a thankful heart by keeping the Son in your eyes. Ask the Lord for help if needed, to find things IN your situation to thank Him for today. No matter what you face in the next 24 hours, God goes with you. He has a plan, and it will unfold, all while the Lord gives you the strength to persevere and find reasons to give Him praise.

Journal Questions:

In what situation are you too focused on the forest instead of the trees?

What’s one thing in your current situation you can thank God for today?

How can you cultivate a thankful heart with Jesus?

Application:

Gratitude is a daily choice.

Two-minute read.

To live united, we must have a place of agreement. As Christ followers, He gives us a starting point. Believing in the Lord as our Savior begins the conversation, no matter what the situation. As we encounter life circumstances, we can look to the scriptures for instruction and follow Jesus’s example. Created for connection with the Lord and with people, God has provided everything we need to find victory.

As human beings, we all share the same problem; every one of us falls short of the mark, sinners in need of grace. Some people recognize their need for a Savior; others don’t. When Jesus walked the earth, He treated everyone the same, loving all. If people didn’t want to follow Him, the Lord didn’t force the issue, allowing them their free will. Not all will want to have Christ at the center of their life, but we can still love them and pray for them, hoping one day they will change their mind.

In a world full of chaos and turmoil, living in unity with others brings joy to God’s heart and peace to our lives. Appreciating differences gives spice to life. If everyone did the same thing, life would have no excitement. But learning to love people for their differences not only grows us, but helps them reach their full potential. And ultimately, don’t we all want to eek every ounce of life out of our purpose?

As we close this six-week devotional on friendship, let’s challenge ourselves to live in unity with God’s people, loving them, despite their differences. The Lord gives us free will to make our own decisions and choose how we will act. To love others, we must do the same. Remember, God loves us enough not to leave us as we are, but to transform us into new beings. We can help others do the same by praying for them and supporting them on their journey with Christ.

One day, we will meet in heaven, a place filled with people from all nationalities worshiping the Lord together. Why not start now? Loving those God places in our lives to the best of our ability and living in unity with His people one day at a time.

Celebrate the unique people the Lord gives you to love and do life with. Grow together as one body with different parts, and live life fully. In Christ, we have all we need to fulfill our purpose and persevere through the ups and downs of this world as we make our way to the promised land, eternal life with the Savior.

Journal Questions:

How does living in unity with Christ’s followers bring you joy?

In what areas do you struggle to love others?

How can you become more like Jesus today?

Friendship Application:

Celebrate the people in your life and live in unity with them.