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Devotions based on Week 1 of The Prophets: Hosea (WATCH HERE)

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Jezreel – The Place of Scattered Judgment

Hosea 1:4 “Then the Lord said to Hosea, ‘Call him Jezreel, because I will soon punish the house of Jehu for the massacre at Jezreel, and I will put an end to the kingdom of Israel.’” 

When Hosea and Gomer had their first child, God told Hosea to name him Jezreel, a name loaded with history, meaning, and judgment. In Hebrew, Jezreel means “God sows” or “God scatters.” The name referred to the Valley of Jezreel, a place that had become infamous in Israel’s history for bloodshed, idolatry, and rebellion.

God’s reference to the “massacre at Jezreel” pointed back to Jehu, who had violently overthrown the house of Ahab (2 Kings 9–10). Though Jehu was initially acting on God’s command, he went beyond God’s purpose and used excessive violence, eventually leading Israel into the very same sins he had supposedly eradicated. Jezreel became symbolic of corrupted leadership and national rebellion.

So why name a child after that?

God was using Hosea’s family as a living sermon. Jezreel represented the judgment coming upon Israel. The people had sown seeds of idolatry, injustice, and violence and now they would reap the consequences. God was about to “scatter” them in exile. The northern kingdom of Israel, which had rejected God over and over, would soon fall to the Assyrians (722 B.C.).

But here’s where God’s faithfulness will overcome the scattering of unfaithful Israel. 

In Hosea 2:22-23, God reverses the meaning of Jezreel: “…and they will respond to Jezreel. I will plant her for myself in the land.”

Suddenly, Jezreel no longer means scattered in judgment but rather planted in hope. The same name that once signified exile now points to restoration. This is the heart of our faithful God: judgment is never His final word. He disciplines to redeem. He scatters in order to plant again.

God’s faithfulness is not voided by our failures. Even when He allows painful consequences for sin, it is never to destroy us, but to draw us back to Himself. Alluding to the reign of the Messiah and his Kingdom, he gives hope to his people of gathering them again, but this time stronger, deeper, and more faithful to him.

We can be like Israel.  Sometimes, we experience the consequences of our own sin or the brokenness of a fallen world, and it feels like God is scattering everything. This is not the time to move away from the Lord, but rather realize that what feels like destruction may actually be preparation for new growth.

God’s faithfulness always works to call us back.  At times he allows a “scattering” to bring us to a realization of what we are missing when we walk away from the Lord.  In repentance, he gathers us back to plant us in his Kingdom to be a people gathered together to produce a harvest of righteousness.

Remember, God is not just the God of Jezreel the battlefield, but he is also the God of Jezreel the planting ground.

Apply: Are you in a season of “scattering,” a time where it feels like things are falling apart? Could it be that God is using this season to plant something new in you? Are you willing to let Him work, even when it feels like judgment or discipline?
Prayer: Lord, I confess that sometimes I fear Your judgment more than I trust Your heart. When I see things unraveling in my life, I assume You are angry or distant. But Your Word reminds me that even when You scatter, You intend to replant. Even Your discipline comes from a heart of mercy. Help me trust that You are always working for my blessing and your desire to bring me close to you.  Lord. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Devotions based on Week 1 of The Prophets: Hosea (WATCH HERE)

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Hosea 1:2-3 “Go, marry a promiscuous woman and have children with her, for like an adulterous wife this land is guilty of unfaithfulness to the Lord.”

How would you have responded to this call from the Lord?  How would your family have responded when you told them you were going to marry an adulterous woman (with no guarantees that she had left her life of promiscuity!).

Yet this is what the Lord called Hosea to do.

Gomer was a living picture of Israel’s spiritual adultery, Israel’s unfaithfulness.  It wasn’t about sexual promiscuity, but it was about spiritual adultery.  The people of Israel had “divorced” the Lord for idols.  They had become comfortable with the worship of Baal and Ashtoreth.  Yet they still claimed a loose allegiance to the Lord.  

The Lord would not settle for Israel’s unfaithfulness. So he sent Hosea with the living illustration of God’s faithfulness in spite of his people’s unfaithfulness.

It would be easy to assume we’re better than Gomer, but spiritual idolatry can be subtle.  We may not have a statue of Buddha, Baal, or another foreign God, but our hearts could be tempted to trust in wealth, success, or our own intellect over God. These idols in our hearts are just as vile as setting up golden calves and calling them “God” in the land of Israel.

The Lord would not let his people continue in their spiritual adultery.  

He doesn’t discard us. He doesn’t walk away. Instead, He pursues us—again and again. Just as Hosea continues to pursue Gomer, God refuses to let go of His people. “But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8)

God didn’t wait for us to clean up our act. He came to us in our mess. Jesus is the greater Hosea—the One who doesn’t just speak God’s love but embodies it. He came to redeem a faithless world, not with silver, but with His own blood.

This is the good news: You are not loved because you are faithful. You are loved because the Lord’s heart is faithful. His love is steadfast, undeserved, and unrelenting. 

He preserved the message of Hosea to bring to us today a vivid picture of our unfaithfulness and to show us great contrast with his faithfulness.  God’s faithfulness never wavers. “If we are faithless, He remains faithful, for He cannot deny Himself.” – 2 Timothy 2:13

Apply: Where in your life are you placing trust outside of God? Identify those areas, confess them, and receive God’s forgiveness. His grace reaches even the Gomers of this world.

Prayer: Father, thank You for loving me even when I’ve been unfaithful. Help me see the idols I’ve clung to and turn back to You with a whole heart. Thank You for never giving up on me. Amen.

Devotions based on week 13 of Joy in the Journey: Mindset (WATCH HERE)

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Philippians 4:21-23 “Greet all God’s people in Christ Jesus. The brothers and sisters who are with me send greetings. All God’s people here send you greetings, especially those who belong to Caesar’s household. The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.”

God’s Grace: The First Word and the Last Word

Paul ends his letter to the Philippians with a short but powerful benediction: “The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.” At first glance, this feels like a customary closing. But if we pause, we see that Paul’s words are deliberate. Grace was the first word of his letter (“Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ” – 1:2), and it is the last word as well.

This is no accident. Grace is the foundation and the finishing touch of the Christian life. From beginning to end, our joy, our strength, and our hope are anchored not in ourselves but in the grace of God through Jesus Christ.

Before Paul speaks of joy, unity, humility, or contentment in Philippians, he speaks of grace. Why? Because without grace there is no Christian life. Grace is God’s undeserved love and favor given to sinners through Christ. It is what takes us from enemies of the cross (3:18) to citizens of heaven (3:20). It is what rescues us from the futility of chasing earthly glory (3:19) and gives us eternal hope in Christ’s resurrection (3:21).

Grace is the reason Paul can rejoice in prison (1:18). Grace is the reason believers can work out their salvation “for it is God who works in you” (2:13). Grace is the reason the Philippians can give generously (4:14–18). Everything begins with God’s gracious action toward us.

Think of a seed planted in the soil. Without the life and nutrients provided by the soil, water, and sun, the seed will never sprout. In the same way, without God’s grace poured into our lives, we cannot grow in joy, faith, or obedience. Grace is the soil of the Christian life.

But grace is not just the start—it is also the end. Notice how Paul doesn’t say, “I hope you’ll be strong enough” or “Keep trying harder.” He says, “The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.” He points us back to the source. Our journey ends where it began: with grace.

At the end of a day filled with successes or failures, God’s grace covers us. At the end of a life of faith, it is grace that ushers us into glory. And at the end of this letter filled with encouragement, challenges, and practical wisdom, Paul leaves the Philippians resting not on themselves but on Christ’s never-ending grace.

This reminds us that joy does not come from our performance but from God’s promise. As Paul said earlier: “He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus” (1:6). What God starts in grace, He finishes in grace.

Every day focus on grace!

1. Start each day with grace. Before the tasks, emails, and worries crowd in, remember: you are loved, forgiven, and strengthened by Christ’s grace. Try beginning your prayers with thanksgiving for God’s undeserved favor.

2. End each day with grace. When you lay down at night, give your failures and successes to God. Rest knowing His grace is sufficient (2 Cor. 12:9).

3. Extend grace to others. If grace is the bookends of your life, it should also mark your relationships. Be patient, forgiving, and generous with others, because Christ has been infinitely patient and generous with you.

Prayer: Gracious Father, thank You for bringing joy to my journey.  Remind me each day that my life begins and ends with Your grace. Forgive me for the times I try to rely on myself instead of resting in Your love. Teach me to start each day in Your grace, to live each moment by Your grace, and to end each day with Your grace. May Your grace fill me with joy every day! In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Devotions based on week 13 of Joy in the Journey: Mindset (WATCH HERE)

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“Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.” (Philippians 4:8–9)

At the close of his list, Paul lifts our minds to a higher standard of excellence and praise. He isn’t merely telling us to have “positive thinking.” Instead, he calls us to set our thoughts on what is truly excellent and praiseworthy, the highest good that reflects the character of God.

Excellence refers to moral virtue and living in a way that aligns with God’s best. It means not settling for mediocrity in our spiritual lives but striving toward maturity and holiness. Colossians 3:23–24 echoes this: “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters… It is the Lord Christ you are serving.” Excellence, then, is not perfectionism; it’s wholehearted devotion to God.

Praiseworthy directs our minds toward worship. When we think about things that inspire us to thank, honor, and glorify God, we shift from self-centered living to God-centered living. Psalm 103:2 says, “Praise the Lord, my soul, and forget not all his benefits.” Remembering God’s works and rehearsing His faithfulness cultivates gratitude and strengthens our joy.

In a noisy world filled with distractions and mediocrity, the Spirit of God calls us to focus on the higher things of God. The things we allow to dominate our thoughts either elevate us closer to God or drag us down into discouragement and sin. Neuroscience confirms this: when we focus on gratitude and excellence, our brain produces dopamine and serotonin—chemicals that enhance motivation and contentment. In short, excellence and praise renew both our souls and our minds.

Practical Ways to Think on What Is Excellent and Praiseworthy:

1. Examine your standards – Are you living to please people or to honor God? What would excellence for Christ look like in your work, studies, or relationships?

2. Shift from complaining to gratitude – Replace grumbling with praise by keeping a daily list of reasons to thank God. (Shine don’t whine!)

3. Surround yourself with excellence – Read Scripture, listen to worship music, or learn from faithful Christians who reflect well the mind of Christ.

4. Praise God out loud – Speaking or singing praise not only honors God but rewires your own thinking toward joy. (Go ahead! Sing out loud while you are driving or showering!)

The blessing is clear: when we set our minds on excellence and praise, “the God of peace will be with you” (v. 9). Peace comes when our minds are lifted above the chaos of the world and anchored in the glory of God. Thinking excellent and praiseworthy thoughts leads us to live excellent and praiseworthy lives—lives that testify to Christ’s redeeming grace and transforming power.

Apply: Where in your life are you tempted to settle for mediocrity rather than pursuing God’s excellence? What daily habit could help you focus more on gratitude and praise? Who do you know that models an excellent, Christ-centered life—and how can you learn from them?
Prayer: Lord, teach me to set my thoughts on what is excellent and praiseworthy. Free me from mediocrity and distraction, and help me pursue Your best in every part of my life. May my mind be filled with gratitude and my lips overflow with praise, so that my life honors You in all things. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Devotions based on week 13 of Joy in the Journey: Mindset (WATCH HERE)

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“Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.” (Philippians 4:8)

The mind is like soil—whatever we plant in it will grow. If we plant seeds of purity, beauty, and admiration for what is good, our lives will produce fruit that reflects Christ. Paul urges us to direct our minds toward things that are pure, lovely, and admirable. These words paint a picture of holiness, beauty, and inspiration.

Purity points us to a clean heart and mind—free from the stain of sin, lust, or corruption. Jesus said, “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God” (Matthew 5:8). When we fill our minds with pure thoughts, we draw closer to God and reflect His holiness. Purity is not simply about avoiding sin; it’s about being wholly devoted to God in our thoughts and desires.

Lovely calls us to notice and dwell on the beauty of God’s creation, His love, and His people. The word suggests things that stir affection and draw us closer to God and others. Too often, our thoughts become dominated by negativity, cynicism, or criticism. But when we meditate on what is lovely, we train ourselves to see glimpses of God’s goodness in a broken world.

Admirable directs our minds to the praiseworthy actions of others and the noble qualities we should emulate. Instead of fixating on flaws, Paul encourages us to think about what is commendable and worth celebrating. Hebrews 13:7 tells us, “Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith.”

From a modern perspective, neuroscience reinforces this truth. Studies show that our thought patterns literally reshape the brain through a process called neuroplasticity. When we continually think on what is pure, lovely, and admirable, our brains form pathways that make it easier to return to those thoughts. Over time, this cultivates resilience, hope, and joy. Negative thinking, on the other hand, strengthens patterns of anxiety and bitterness. In essence, Paul was teaching us centuries ago what science is only now discovering: what we focus on changes who we become.

Practical Ways to Think on What Is Pure, Lovely, and Admirable:

1. Guard your inputs – What media, conversations, or influences are shaping your thoughts? Replace the toxic with the life-giving.

2. Celebrate beauty – Pause to notice God’s handiwork in creation, music, art, or acts of kindness. Let them point your heart upward.

3. Honor what is good – Instead of joining in gossip or criticism, highlight what is admirable in others. Speak words of encouragement.

4. Set your sights higher – Fix your thoughts on Christ, who is perfectly pure, lovely, and admirable (Hebrews 12:2).

The blessing of this mindset is transformation. As Paul promises in verse 9, “The God of peace will be with you.” Peace comes when we filter out the noise of the world and align our thoughts with God’s goodness. A mind saturated with purity, beauty, and admiration becomes a life that radiates Christ.

Apply: What daily influences pull your thoughts away from purity or loveliness? How can you intentionally celebrate beauty in your life this week? Who is someone admirable you can learn from or encourage today?

Prayer: Father, help me to set my thoughts on what is pure, lovely, and admirable. Protect my mind from the negativity and corruption of the world. Teach me to see beauty in Your creation, goodness in Your people, and holiness in Your Son. May my thoughts reflect Your light so that my life brings peace and joy to others. In Jesus’ name, Amen.