Category: Daily Devotions

Today’s devotion is based on the Message: Love Revealed (Watch Here)

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“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud… It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.”
—1 Corinthians 13:4–8 (NIV)

There is no question that when one looks for examples of Christ-like love, we look to our mothers.  For sure, not every person has the blessing of a loving mother, but motherhood is still lifted up as a primary example of what love is.  Yesterday, on Mother’s Day, we paused to celebrate the women who have nurtured, guided, and loved us—mothers, grandmothers, stepmothers, adoptive mothers, and spiritual mothers. 

Often the world defines motherhood by activity—diapers changed, meals cooked, soccer practices attended—Scripture points us to something deeper: the heart behind those actions. In 1 Corinthians 13, the apostle Paul describes the kind of love that mirrors the character of Christ. It’s no coincidence that this same kind of love often shows up in the life of a faithful mother.

“Love is patient, love is kind.” How many times has a mother waited with patient endurance through tantrums, teenage attitudes, or times of uncertainty? How many acts of unnoticed kindness—packing lunches, offering hugs, praying late at night—have flowed from a mother’s heart?

“It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.” A godly mother rejoices in her children’s growth and victories, not her own recognition. Even in a world that often overlooks her quiet labor, she finds joy in others’ flourishing.

“It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.” This kind of love chooses forgiveness over resentment, gentleness over harshness, humility over pride. Mothers who love this way reflect Christ—especially when no one else sees.  How many times does mom forgive!

“Love always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.” This is the kind of fierce, enduring love that continues to believe in a child who has lost their way, hopes in hard seasons, and stays steadfast when life is overwhelming. This is agape love—selfless, sacrificial, and unconditional.

As great as our moms are, even the most devoted mother falls short. No human love is perfect. But that’s why we look to God’s love, the source of all true love. The love described in 1 Corinthians 13 is ultimately the love of Christ, poured into our hearts by His Spirit (Romans 5:5). We thank God for moms who lean on Jesus, who seek to be filled with his love, His strength, His grace, and His example so they might love well.

Thank you Lord for all our moms who live out this kind of love—not just through what they do, but through who they are. Strengthen them each day to love as you have loved them.

 

Apply: If you haven’t, take time today to give thanks to God for your mom…let her know too!

Prayer:  Lord thank you for moms who seek to reflect your heart of love.  Refresh and strengthen them as they continue to pour out their love to their children.  Encourage those that are struggling.  Give hope to moms experiencing loss and in all things fill the hearts of all with your unchanging and enduring love.  AMEN.

Today’s devotion is based on the Message: Trust Revealed (Watch Here)

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“I can’t wait until they are over!”

As our girls finish up their school semester by taking tests and exams, it brings back memories of that season of life where one spends hours studying, not just prior to an exam, but throughout the semester.  The week of exams was grueling with long hours of studying, the nervousness of wondering if you had prepared enough and then the mental focus to take an exam that could be a couple hours long.

But the stress leading up to all the tests melted away as the last one was handed in and the pressure and responsibility of homework and studies melted away to the freedom a relaxing schedule of the summer months.

What does this have to do with Psalm 23?

I don’t think that King David went through semester exams, but he went through life exams.  As we reflected on yesterday, some of those can be intense, stressful, dark and worrisome.

But David knew what was on the other side.  The joy, relief, and peace stood in contrast to the dark valleys of life:

         5      You prepare a table before me 

         in the presence of my enemies. 

         You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. 

         6      Surely goodness and love will follow me 

         all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever. 

Four wonderful blessings that we get to enjoy as a result of the Lord being our Shepherd to lead us through life:

1. Being a welcome guest at the Lord’s table of blessings.  David had many enemies, but he knew he had safety in the Lord’s presence.  A picture of an invited guest of the Lord’s banquet gives a picture of what we experience in heaven from Revelation 19:9:Then the angel said to me, “Write: ‘Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb!’ ” And he added, “These are the true words of God.” 
2. Being anointed by the Lord.  David was anointed with oil and set apart to be the king of Israel.  He knew he was chosen by God and as a result always was filled with the blessing of God.  At our baptism, we were set apart by God as his child.  We know, in spite of what anyone else would say, we are chosen children of God.  The Apostle Paul to the Corinthians expressed it this way (2 Corinthians 1:21-22): Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.
3. Goodness and love will follow us every day.  Life may have its challenges and seasons that are not easy, but we are confident that goodness and love of God are not abandoning us, but rather walking with us. Romans 8:28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.
4. We get to dwell with the Lord forever.  The best promise our Good Shepherd gives us is that after our journey through this life is over, our life begins in the presence of God forever.  This is always the hope, joy and peace for a Christian.  No matter what this life throws at us, we have a room being prepared for us in heaven that we will get to enjoy forever! The Apostle John records Jesus’ words (John 14:1-3): “Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. 2 In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.

Summer break was always fun to look forward to after a long semester.  How much more the blessings of our Good Shepherd to look forward to both during and especially after our journey through this life. 

The Lord is YOUR shepherd.  Enjoy life with him each day!

 

Apply: What blessing of the Lord given in Psalm 23:5-6 give your heart peace today?

Prayer: Lord, our Good Shepherd.  Ensure my heart and mind are always focused on the blessings you give and you promise, even as I journey through the dark valleys of life.  AMEN.

Today’s devotion is based on the Message: Trust Revealed (Watch Here)

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I don’t like haunted houses.  I’ve been through a few in my lifetime and really have no desire to go through one again.  Obviously, the purpose of a haunted house is to create fear in the visitor.  The gruesome, the unexpected, and the evil depictions are somehow worth individuals paying money to go through.  

In reflecting on these experiences, I asked, “Why would someone go through these?”

Perhaps it is facing fears of life and making dealing with the gruesome and terrifying easier?

Perhaps it is being able to laugh at that which wreaks havoc on life?

Perhaps it’s just the simple knowledge that all of this is fake and I will make it through the other side.

But what about when “haunted house” depictions become reality in our own lives?  What happens when this isn’t a staged event for entertainment and it is reality in our lives that we must navigate?

It’s not easy.

Evil wreaks havoc on our world.

Tragedy instantaneously changes our world.

And sometimes we don’t know if we are going to make it out alive.

Psalm 23:4 is for such occasions in life. 

         4      Even though I walk 

         through the valley of the shadow of death,

         I will fear no evil, for you are with me; 

         your rod and your staff, they comfort me.

In a haunted house, you often want someone to go through it with you.  You may hold their hand or simply stay close to have someone to rely on if things go wrong.

The Lord is MY shepherd which means he is walking through these haunted houses of life with you. 

When you or a loved one get a medical diagnosis that is terminal…he is walking with you.

When you experience the loss of a loved one due to murder, drunk driving or some other evil…he is there with you.

When you are facing the challenge of mending a relationship, digging out of a financial hole, or the potential for job layoff, he is with you.

What this also means is the LORD is doing work on your behalf that you may never see. He uses the strength of his rod and the guidance of his staff to keep us from evil or keep evil from harming us.

The morning you are running late to work and forget your phone in the house may be your Good Shepherd delaying your departure to prevent you from getting in a serious car accident.

The day you read a devotion from the Word is the exact word of God you needed to overcome a temptation that could have cost you your job or your relationship.

The day you read these words from Psalm 23 is what you need as you watch or read the news to protect your heart from fear and lack of peace as you listen to what is going on in the world.

Because of sin, we live in a world that we often face the “valley of the shadow of death” or feel like it.  But remember this verse…The Lord, YOUR shepherd, is with you!

Apply: What “valley” are you facing today?  How can this verse give you courage to face that valley with confidence knowing that the Lord is with you?

Prayer: Lord, thank you for being my shepherd that is willing to walk with me through the valleys and evils of this world with a promise to protect me from it.  Help me to never forget this promise, AMEN.

Today’s devotion is based on the Message: Trust Revealed (Watch Here)

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I am not an experienced shepherd.  But from what I understand, the main role of a shepherd was to lead the sheep to pastures they could eat from, guide them to waters they could drink from and protect them from enemies that could harm them.  The indication that the shepherd was doing his job well was the peace and calm of the flock.  The sheep were at peace because they knew their shepherd was taking care of them.

Yesterday pointed out the personal nature of Jesus as our Good Shepherd.  The result? We lack nothing.

But that doesn’t mean we don’t have anything, but rather we have everything we need.

Psalm 23:2-3 says:

         2      He makes me lie down in green pastures, 

         he leads me beside quiet waters, 

         3      he restores my soul. 

         He guides me in paths of righteousness 

         for his name’s sake. 

For the sheep this was endless grazing until their stomachs were full.  For the lambs it was plenty of water to quench their thirst. For us the result is a soul that is restored.

Life happens with challenges, disappointments, discouragements and things that can make us depressed or just feeling down.  We can even allow these things to create a subconscious barrier with our God and allow that relationship to grow distant.  Our physical bodies may be OK, in that we have enough to eat or drink, but our souls, our spiritual side, is left empty, depleted and out of energy.

The Lord, our Shepherd, realizes this about us his sheep and steps in to address the challenge. He knows what they need to restore their soul is the food that gives life and the water that quenches the soul.  Jesus said in John 4 and John 6:

John 4:13 Jesus answered, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, 14 but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”

John 6:32 Jesus said to them, “Very truly I tell you, it is not Moses who has given you the bread from heaven, but it is my Father who gives you the true bread from heaven. 33 For the bread of God is the bread that comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.”

How do we get that living water and bread of life today?  It’s in the Words of Jesus, the Bible.  Here we find the wonderful message of forgiveness and grace.  Here’s where we find powerful promises that leave us with hope and trust in tough circumstances.  Here’s where we are given a perspective that at the end of all this life has to throw at us, we have eternal life waiting for us in heaven.

The picture is something like us lying down in the plush pages of the Bible and allowing our soul to be restored by all that the Lord has to give to us.

And then when it’s time to move, he guides us in paths of righteousness.  One of the best ways to maintain peace in our hearts and relationships is to walk in the ways of the Lord.  The Apostle Paul described what walking with the Lord looks like:

Galatians 5:22-25 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. 

No wonder we lack nothing.  With the blessing of his Word and the guidance of his truth…we are set up for tremendous peace, joy and hope in this life.

All because the “Lord is MY shepherd!”

Apply:  If your soul is not feeling refreshed at the moment, how might time in God’s Word bring your soul refreshment?

Prayer: Lord, continue to lead us to green pastures where our soul is nourished and guide us in paths of righteousness where our lives are blessed.  AMEN.

Today’s devotion is based on the Message: Trust Revealed (Watch Here)

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My car.

My house.

My spouse.

My child.

Versus

A car

A house

A spouse

A child.

One is personal.  One is impersonal.

One you have connection with.  One you don’t.

What makes Psalm 23 so endearing to so many is how it starts:

Psalm 23:1 The LORD is my shepherd,…

The LORD is not just a generic shepherd to someone…he is MY shepherd.

The LORD is not just a general person, but my SHEPHERD!

But then think of this.

Of all the things or persons in the universe to be a shepherd of you, who would you want?

The LORD? Might be a long shot in a normal reality.

We don’t deserve the Lord to be our shepherd.

We haven’t earned the right for the Lord to be our shepherd.

But he is.

These opening verses are a clear expression of the grace of God that took black, wandering, lost sheep into his fold and claimed them as his own.  The LORD wanted US to be his sheep.  So HE called us by name and compelled us to follow him.

He is now my shepherd.

But what does that mean?

David writes, “I shall not be in want.” Or in the Evangelical Heritage Version, “I lack nothing.”

The psalm could end here giving the reader great personal comfort.

The Lord as my shepherd is really all I need. Everything else is icing on the cake.

One could say, “I lack a good relationship.”  The Lord is the one who loves you most.

One could say, “I lack financial means.” The Lord is the one who owns the universe.

One could say, “I lack strength or ability.” The Lord is the all powerful.

The list could go on.

While not a promise that everything will be, in my opinion, always great, we know with peace in our hearts that we have what is most needed and most important.

The LORD is MY shepherd!

 

Apply: What does it mean to you that the Lord is YOUR shepherd.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for including me in your flock so that I can in a very personal and real way call you MY shepherd!  AMEN.