Archive of previous devotions

Re-creation (Monday, November 30)

Perhaps we have missed the whole point of recreation. For a Christian, it has little to do with fishing or golfing. Recreation is all about re-creating ourselves each day. It means renewing ourselves through prayer, meditation and service.

Jesus is the Good Shepherd and our lives depend on him. As we draw close to him, we are re-created in his likeness. God fashioned us as physical beings, but he revives us again as eternal creations.

Every moment of our present lives can be a re-birth – a renaissance in the truest sense. Studying scripture; talking with God in prayer; listening to the Holy Spirit; all of these renew us in a way that matters most. We are constantly in the process of being made new creatures for eternity.

When we speak of recreation, we should be referring to exercising our faith more than our bodies. One day we will leave this frail flesh behind and live an entirely new life, one that is everlasting and re-created once and for all.

Receiving (Sunday, November 29)

Giving. In and of itself, giving is a gift. The gift that we receive is in the giving. If we have something valuable that we give away, for example, we are the ones who really benefit. In the end, we will receive the Lord’s thanks and blessings, which are far more precious than anything else we possess.

The same holds true when we give up our time and effort to help someone. Perhaps we stop what we are doing during a busy and hectic day to call someone who is sick or to write an email to a friend. Maybe we send a card to a neighbor or even check in on a shut-in. It could even be that we help someone change a flat tire or offer to go shopping for an elderly couple down the street. Whatever we do in the name of Jesus, we do for him.

Being able to serve in the kingdom is truly a gift. God calls us to give up our earthly lives, and all that we have, so that we can receive the ultimate gift – eternal life. But he also blesses us each time we sacrifice more of ourselves for others. He does not reward us with worldly treasure; rather, he gives us the things that last forever: peace, joy and contentment. These can never be taken away. They are ours to keep forever.

Long ago, Paul reminded the elders from Ephesus about the words of Jesus: that is more blessed to give than to receive. We are the ones who are blessed when we give, because God turns our material gifts to others into everlasting gifts from him.

What we see (Saturday, November 28)

Our vision for the future is much different than God’s. We tend to think in terms of tangible things. God does not. He focuses on what we will do for the kingdom, not on what we will do for ourselves. When we set our sights on the days ahead, we generally see only the physical. But his vision goes beyond this life. He can see clear into eternity.

What most often prevents us, blinds us if you will, from the great future God is taking us to is our lack of trust. We believe in God but we do not completely believe him to bring us to a place of peace and happiness. Each day, we struggle with doubts about what lies ahead. Maybe we even wonder about our purpose, value and worth. All the while we forget that God has, indeed, begun a good work in us and he will bring it to completion – his conclusion. We will achieve what he wants us to achieve. Nothing less.

Therefore, nothing in the world can stop us from what God has planned for our lives. What people say about us does not matter. What others do to us is of no account. What we have lost in the past is of no value. What we are going through right now, as difficult as it might be, will not stop God from fulfilling his will in us and for us.

If we try to catch sight of the future in terms of what little we know and think, we most certainly will come up short. If, however, we contemplate all that God can do, our eyes will begin to see infinite possibilities. He is above all and he is showing us the way there. He will see to it that nothing gets in the way.

Total trust (Friday, November 27)

Only in our helplessness can we discover God’s mercy. Only in our weakness do we realize his strength. And only in our grief are we able to understand his greatness.

The difficulties and tragedies of life reveal to us the divine power of God. As we are forced to stop and ask Him why, we open ourselves to him completely. We let God touch us in a way that only he can. We kneel before him, with our hearts bleeding and our minds empty of reason, for one thing only: his love.

We want to know that He is there in the midst of sorrow and despair – that he has not forgotten us even though we feel lost and confused. The image of Our Lord and Savior in the garden, on the night before He was crucified, is all the understanding we should need to remember that God is always with us.

Jesus was not alone during his many hours of darkness. Nor are we ever left on our own in despair. Our Father is always there to give us what we do not have within ourselves. He can help us to accept tragedy and despair even when we do not comprehend.

Giving him thanks (Thursday, November 26)

No matter where we find ourselves on this special day, in spite of any place or condition, we can find it in our hearts to say thank you to God. He is the one who has brought us to this point in time. He has cared for us, watched over us, blessed our way, gone before us and endured the suffering that was meant for us. He has done it all because we belong to him.

We are his children. But we are more than what we think. The word child comes from several sources: from an Old English and Gothic term meaning womb, and perhaps also from the Sanskrit name for belly. When God calls us children, he is calling us a part of himself because we were created from him.

He has given birth to us and guarded us all our days. He has never left our side, not even for a moment. Not even when we were desperate, in pain or in anguish. If we could see beyond the physical limits of our sight, we would see him holding us in his arms, cradling us like children.

We would also hear him speaking gently, telling us everything will be okay. I am here, he says, and I will stay with you. There is nothing on earth we can do to show our thankfulness. Telling him we love him is all he needs. To know that his children, his own flesh and blood, love him is his greatest joy.

God's miracle for you (Wednesday, November 25)

A new day always brings new hopes, new dreams and new opportunities. Each day God not only renews us completely from the past, both spiritually and mentally, but he also gives us his wonderful plan for the future.

Today may be when God blesses you with better health, a new job, needed finances, the house you have been searching for, a call from a distant friend, the opportunity to travel, a chance to start your own business or just simple peace of mind.

God wants us to live in anticipation of all these things—to expect his miracles each day. As we wait with eagerness and enthusiasm, we need to set our minds on the great work God is about to perform in our lives.

We know he is a God of miracles. He will always surprise us. We will be blessed in amazing ways that we did not expect. God will always give us what we need, and he also will give us more than we thought we needed.

For your own good (Tuesday, November 24)

As a young boy, I was told to do certain things because they were for my own good. Take this medicine because it’s for your own good. Eat your vegetables because they’re good for you. On occasion, I also would hear what was not good for me, like riding my bike alone to the shopping center or to the city pool.

Often in our lives, the Lord says exactly the same things to us as adults. He tells us what is best for us or what is not good for us. During such times, I have always had difficulty believing his sincerity. In retrospect, however, I realize he was always right.

Still, whenever I suffered loss or pain, I wondered what God was doing. I see now that each trial brought me a better place. That was especially true when I lost my position as a professor. Though I felt confused and upset, I should not have felt any regret—not even for a moment. God took me to Ohio, back to family and friends, to a college close to home. To do so, God had to end my career at one place. Thankfully, I was around to enjoy the last several years of my father’s life. And God did it for my own good. I have seen the Lord do the same in the lives of others. A friend of mine also lost his job after many years of faithful service. I know how hard this change was on him, but God has given him the wonderful opportunity to be at home while his daughter is growing up. Otherwise, he would have spent most of his time living and working overseas.

Time after time, God does things for our own good. The next time God takes us in a different direction, let us think about what he is doing to help us rather than complaining how much we will have to suffer. He already knows how much we will hurt, but he also knows how much greater our lives will be.

Opening our gifts (Monday, November 23)

There are times when I am simply overwhelmed by God’s love as well as his many blessings for me. This morning I sat in the darkness and thought about all that God has given me: a house that keeps me warm and dry; furniture that is comfortable; water and food whenever I want; a closet full of clothes; a car that allows me to go anywhere; electricity to power the things that make life easier; a soft bed where I can sleep; a telephone and cell phone so I can talk to those I cannot see. The list could go on and on. Everything I have is a blessing from God.

The most important gifts, however, are the people in my life—my wife, my children, my little grandchildren, the older couple down the street, the man and his wife at church who are suffering physically, the one who lost his job some time ago and has not been able to find work. These are living blessings from God.

No matter what we think we lack, we are rich in God’s care and protection. He provides for us each day by giving us what we need, and not so much what we want. Being thankful to him is all about putting his will over ours. Once we realize his way for us is greater than our simple desires, then we can know the happiness of being truly thankful for everything, even the things that cause us pain and anguish.

Being thankful is a state of mind more than a state of being. It comes from deep inside of us as we take time to look around at all we possess. The gifts we have are reminders of God’s constant love for each one of us. But it is up to us, however, to open these gifts and to appreciate them.

One out of many (Sunday, November 22)

We are all Christians, that much is true. But behind this label, we are many different kinds. There are those who belong to the renewal movement. Others are pentecostal or charismatic. Some are evangelical or non-denominational. The distinctions may be significant and important to us, but they mean very little to God.

He treats each one of us the same. All of us are his children. We have been chosen by him and we are heirs in his kingdom. He does not make a distinction among our divisions. We tend to judge while God loves.

Let us never forget who we are in Christ. Who we are in the world, and in the church, makes no difference. The only thing that should matter is that Christ is the head and we are the servants. We are here to serve him and not our own separate beliefs. There is but one body and one will. 

Known by our love (Saturday, November 21)

To most of society, we are a group of radical renegades. We are part of a religious cult bent on changing the world. We talk about a God who created everything in the universe and a Son who came to earth to save all mankind. We also call upon a Holy Spirit to heal the sick and help the hopeless.

Many people do not understand what we are all about, just as those living 2,000 years ago did not comprehend the teachings of Jesus. They had no idea what he was talking about, but they could see something in him that did make sense. He was always kind, compassionate and caring. He cured illnesses and diseases, and he spent time with the downcast and the poor.

As Christians today, we are to follow Jesus’ example. Spreading the Good News of the gospel begins with being patent and gentle. What we have to share with the world is the very Word of God—something that many people do not know. It is a message that is both strange and wonderful. The best way to communicate the love of God is for us to be loving wherever we go.

We may still appear strange, but at least people will recognize one thing. They will know us by our love.

God's quiet voice (Friday, November 20)

Society thrives on noise. Cell phones, car horns, televisions, radios, announcements in airports and train stations – all of these sounds assault us constantly. They compete for our attention. All the while, God is waiting quietly. He is there in the silence waiting for us to find time for him. When we are willing to turn off the world, he is ready to give us a peace that we cannot find anywhere else.

As we pray, read our Bible and meditate on his word, we begin to realize that there is power in silence. It is there, in our solitude and communion with God, where we begin to comprehend that there is something much greater than the things we see around us each day. We give ourselves the chance to discover the mysteries of God’s universe.

From out of what seems like nothing, comes everything. Our life, our purpose, our very spirit depend on what we cannot hear with our ears. We must listen with our hearts. God speaks to us through the power and authority of his unspoken word, not through the noises we are used to hearing.

God is always there. But the only way we can hear him is to get away from the sounds and distractions of daily life. Then and only then will we recognize the great beauty and magnificence of his voice.

In the name of God (Thursday, November 19)

The brothers James and John were known as the Sons of Thunder, and with good reason. They were always ready to take action. At one point, they even asked Jesus if they could be seated at his side in the Kingdom. The story that reveals the most about their personality is when Jesus was not welcomed into a certain city. Scripture tells us that they asked Jesus, “Lord, do you want us to call fire down from heaven to destroy them?”

James and John were more than eager to destroy an entire city because the people there rejected the Son of Man. As we might expect, Jesus rebuked them for their anger and led them on to another town.

I would guess that many of us frequently act like James and John. We see what is going on in society, in the workplace, in our churches and in the market, and we ask God to punish the people who are polluting his world. No doubt we probably tell God exactly how to handle the situation. We are quick to judge and quick to act, all in the name of God.

But does God really want us to avenge the wrongs we see all around us? Or would he rather see us stop and wait for his will to be done? I am sure God can handle himself no matter what threatens him or us. When the time is right, he will strike. Until then, we need to put aside our feelings and listen to his voice. We need to do what he says to do, not what we feel like doing.

"He's a Christian" (Wednesday, November 18)

The way we live as Christians today must be different than the rest of the world. When we are driving our cars, for example, are we more patient and understanding than other drivers? Perhaps we are the ones who do not get angry and blow our horn each time a car cuts in front of us. Can people see, too, that we react with kindness when someone takes a parking spot that we were waiting for? Maybe we are meek and gentle when a person tries to tell us what to do at work or at church.

The whole point is that we need to act like Jesus in every situation, not just when we feel like it. That is the only way people will know that we are truly a child of God. We must think, act and live like our Savior. People should not need to know we are a “Christian” before we show them we are believers.

How many times I have heard someone say, “She or he is a Christian.” Well then, shouldn’t I be able to see it without being told? Go back 2,000 years ago. I cannot imagine Peter having to tell someone, “This is Jesus, the Son of the living God.” The crowds knew Jesus by his compassion and care. He stood out because of what he did, not by who he claimed to be.

The fact remains that we can only call ourselves Christians if we act Christ-like.

His help (Tuesday, November 17)

Jesus tells us to come to him whenever we need help. If we are weary, he will give us rest. If we are burdened, he will lift our load. If we are defeated, he will restore us. If we are at the end, he will give us a new beginning. My yoke is easy, he says. Learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. He can and will do all of these things for us.

But what about the pain, we ask, the physical suffering of feeling weary and worn out. What about the anguish that we must deal with day after day? When will it end? Jesus does not seem to give us the answer we seek. All he says is that we will find rest for our souls.

It is critical that we understand what Jesus means here by the word soul. He is not talking about the Greek notion of the soul as an entity separate from the body itself. The word soul refers, in this case, to the self as a living and breathing human being. The soul is the body.

We would do well to think of Jesus’ words in a slightly different way today, exchanging soul for body. “Come to me . . . and you will find rest for your body.” He may not take away all of our pain, but he will allow us to find the rest we require as well as the strength we need to go on. He will even carry us if he has to—anything to show that he will do anything to help.

Danger ahead (Monday, November 16)

Stopped by the Red Sea, the Hebrews could go no farther. They had reached the end of their journey. Their short-lived freedom seemed to be over.

The Egyptians pursued them, just like the troubles of this world pursue us at times. The forces of destruction are relentless and constant; they try to capture and control us. They long to hold us in bondage like helpless slaves and force us to make bricks without straw.

But God has set the captives free. Just as he did some 3,000 years ago for the Hebrews, he does for us today. We have all been released from whatever tries to make us prisoners. People, situations, circumstances and illness threaten us daily on all sides. To no avail, however. God will not let us perish. He holds us in his promises and nothing can break through his Word.

He is our fortress and our strength, a very help in times of trouble. No matter what you are going through this day, remember that God parted the Red Sea. In spite of what looms ahead, he is in control.

Gifts (Sunday, November 15)

The Christmas rush has begun. The stores are crowded with people trying to find gifts of every shape and kind for family and friends. It is amazing to see how much people will spend on others to demonstrate their love and affection. Material gifts are good, but we should not forget about the intangible things we cannot see.

To show God’s love to the world, Jesus went from one town to another healing the sick, curing the lame and helping the poor. He used physical signs from above to prove God’s concern for all of his children. These earthly miracles gave the world a chance to see what God could do, both in this world and the next.

As we go about preparing for this season of Advent, may we remember what the Savior’s birth is all about. It has little to do with decorations, Christmas trees, bright lights or even Santa Claus. The meaning is what we do for one another, not just at this time of year but throughout the other months as well.

Jesus gave us the most precious gift of all. That is what we should celebrate this Christmas. That is what we need to share with others, both now and tomorrow.

He comes to our rescue (Saturday, November 14)

In the story about Jesus calming the seas, we usually remember Peter the most. He eagerly jumped out of the boat and began walking on the water toward his master. A few steps later, though, he lost his nerve and faith. Suddenly, he started to sink until Jesus grabbed his hand and pulled him to safety.

This account does not tell us what the other disciples were thinking. No doubt they were scared at first, just like Peter, thinking they were all going to perish. Their fear probably rose like the seas when Peter got out of the boat. But then they might have been a little jealous when he started to walk over the waves. Perhaps they wished they had been the ones to trust Jesus.

What would be our reaction today to such an event? Would our fear keep us in the boat or would our faith allow us to walk toward Jesus? Every day we have to make such decisions in our lives. What we decide to do says a lot about how much we trust God.

Even if we can only take a few tentative steps on the seas of life that threaten us, at least we have tried to obey. The important thing is that he will never let us go down, no matter what happens. He will always reach down and pull us up.

A heavenly standard (Friday, November 13)

As he traveled, teaching and preaching, Jesus used parables to make a point. We all know the parable of the lost sheep, the lost coin and the lost son. These are simple stories that make us think about how we need to live if we want to be part of his kingdom.

But what about the parable of the workers in the vineyard? Remember the story? A man hired servants in the morning to work in his fields. He hired more at the third hour, the sixth hour and the ninth hour. When the eleventh hour came, and the day was done, he paid each one the same amount. Those who worked the most complained and grumbled, thinking the master was being unfair.

By all human accounts, the owner did not treat these particular workers as we think he should. We would argue, too, because we should be paid more. The master, however, made no such bargain with any of the workers. He offered each one a chance to earn money.

God offers each one of us a chance to work in his kingdom. He does not guarantee us more than someone else because we do more or serve longer. To each one of us he offers eternal life, a chance to be with him forever in heaven. Why, then, do we argue and quibble over such little things like common laborers? The important thing is our salvation, not how much more we are saved than someone else.

Believing what he says (Thursday, November 12)

The gospel of Mark tells about a man who brought his son to be healed. He tells Jesus that the disciples were not able to help and he begs Jesus to do something, if he can. To everyone’s amazement, Jesus cures the boy of his disease.

Stunned and surprised, the disciples ask why they could not do the same. After all, they had been given the power to heal and perform miracles. You did not believe, Jesus explains.

How often do we act the same way? We try to do something in the name of Jesus, but we fail. We are not able to use the power we have been given from above because we do not believe.

Our sincere prayer for today must be for God to grant us his power to believe and trust. Only he can make us strong enough to know what we can do for him. We cannot do it on our own. 

His purpose (Wednesday, November 11)

In my loneliness, I am forced to be honest with myself. I must face who and what I am in the quiet recesses of my own contemplation. At such times of solitude, I think deeply about my life. I wonder if I am really making a difference. I wonder whether anyone cares what I am doing. I wonder about my worth and value. I wonder about my usefulness. I wonder how the world sees me with all of my frailties and weaknesses. I know how I see myself.

But in this darkness of doubt, a light begins to emerge. There is a small, flickering spark ahead in the distance. It is faint at first. Then it grows. I receive an unexpected greeting from someone I helped years ago. The person is thanking me for what I did. One of my favorite hymns suddenly comes on the radio. Maybe I receive a phone call from a person I did not expect. Or perhaps I am invited to preach at a church across town on a special Sunday.

Soon, the light of God’s sovereignty overcomes the darkness in my mind. I am able to glimpse, once again, a purpose. It is his plan that matters and I need to stay focused, with all of my thoughts on him rather than on myself. My life is, after all, in his heart and hands alone.

"Save us now” (Tuesday, November 10)

They cried “Hosanna! Hosanna!” as Jesus rode into Jerusalem for the very last time. Men, women and children shouted triumphantly, swinging palm branches in his honor. They could not contain their excitement and praise for the Christ.

Some 2,000 years later, we still look at Jesus in the same way. We see him as a Savior, yes, but we also see him as our King and Messiah right now. We shout “Hosanna” as we look forward to what he will do for us. Our need is immediate and we need his help.

“Hosanna” is a Hebrew word meaning “please save” or “save now.” Our prayers and pleas to the Lord are much like the “Hosannas” of the multitudes on that Palm Sunday. We shout for Jesus to save us now, not later. We want him to rule today, at this moment, when it truly matters the most to us. We want to see justice, peace, judgment, and even vengeance brought to a world that sorely needs correction and reproof.

What we repeatedly overlook is that Jesus is the Savior for eternity, not always the Savior of the here and now. He saves us for what is most important. He saves for the future, for a new life with him that will never come to an end. Like our ancient brothers and sisters, let us shout “Hosanna” to the King. But let us do so with the knowledge that he came to save our soul and not our body.

Cherishing the unknown (Monday, November 9)

The mystery of the gospel. Paul used this interesting phrase in his letter to the Ephesians. He was in jail, thinking of his brothers and sisters in Jesus Christ, when he wrote, “Pray for me, that whenever I open my mouth, words may be given to me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel” (Ephesians 6:19-20). A mystery implies the unknown and unexplained. But Paul knew the teachings and gospel of Christ as well as any of the apostles. He experienced the physical power of the Lord on the way to Damascus, and he saw the spiritual power of God through many miracles and healings.

What he could not make clear, however, were the divine designs and plans of the living God. The vast mystery of the unseen power of the Holy Spirit, the creation of the universe, the resurrection of Jesus – all of these can be explained only by faith and belief in the gospel.

Without these two elements (faith and belief) we could never even begin to ponder the mystery and wonder of God. It is this inexplicable concept that we must tell to the world. Like Paul, we need to ask for the right words in order to help others appreciate and cherish the unknown. Through the unknown, God becomes known. The mystery of the gospel should not be any secret to those of us who believe.

Not doubting (Sunday, November 8)

Remember the apostle Thomas? Doubting Thomas. He was one of those who said, “I’ll believe it when I see it.” But recall what Jesus said to him? Jesus told him, "Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed." This is from John 20:29.

Listen to the second half of the sentence again: “Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” Jesus is talking about you and me. We have not seen him. Yet we believe in him. We are blessed. Jesus makes a point of saying, in the present tense, we are blessed. Not we will be blessed…sometime in the future. We have been blessed…sometime in the past. But we are blessed…right now.

I don’t feel blessed, you might be thinking. I have so many problems—my bills, my health, my job, my car needs to be repaired, my stove needs to be replaced and my house needs new carpeting. I have so many burdens it’s hard to see the blessings. The blessings are there, whether we see them or not. Usually, we are not looking hard enough.

Instead, we are looking only at our own problems. We don’t recognize something good until it is right in front of us. Until that happens, we continue to say: “I’ll believe it when I see it.” Jesus tells us to turn our thinking around. How? He says “Blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe.” In other words, get rid of the old phrase “I’ll believe it when I see it.” Exchange it for a new phrase: “I’ll see it when I believe it.”

Hebrews 11:1 reminds of this important principle: “Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.” Look at all of the examples that Paul cites for us. He reminds us of all those who believed first and saw second. By faith, Abel offered a better sacrifice that Cain. By faith, Enoch was taken from this life. By faith, Noah built an ark. By faith, Abraham became the father of many nations. The rest of the chapter tells us about the constant faith of Isaac, Moses, the people who passed through the Red Sea, and the people who saw the walls of Jericho come tumbling down.

They believed it and then they saw it come to pass. What about you? Today, try saying, “I’ll see it when I believe it.” Then wait and see what God will do.

Beating the giants (Saturday, November 7)

The giants of this world loom large in our lives today, just as they did to the Hebrews who were afraid to enter the Promised Land. But the giants all around us are often more than people. Sometimes they are things like anger, jealousy, anxiety and regret. These emotions exist inside our minds and cause us to become our own worst enemy.

We can easily become crushed by our thoughts—what we think—rather than by physical objects. We believe we cannot do something or we feel like being upset. We can even feel discouraged, without any hope at all, even when we have no reason. We may simply wake up in the morning ready for an argument.

We create giants out of all sorts of things: our jobs, our schedules, our chores, maybe those in our neighborhood whom we do not like. We are good at convincing ourselves that we have been defeated already and fighting a losing battle no matter what we do.

Let’s remember that everything is small when compared to God. There is nothing large in his eyes. As long as he is with us, and working through us, we can overcome anything—especially our own gigantic thoughts and feelings.

True acceptance (Friday, November 6)

The peace that passes all understanding comes when we are willing to accept that God is in control of each situation in our lives. Trusting God more than what we see going on around us can give us a sublime sense of comfort even while we suffer with a terminal disease or illness, when we have watched a loved one die, or as we feel defeated by our circumstances. To us as human beings, it does not make sense how we can remain calm during times of great turmoil. But such strength is supernatural. Only God is able to still our restless emotions. We cannot do it ourselves.

The Bible does not tell us much about how Abraham must have felt personally as he prepared to sacrifice his son for the Lord. We know that Abraham prepared for the act by cutting wood for the fire. He then traveled three days with his son and two servants. Finally, he made Isaac carry the wood as father and son went off to be alone. After building an altar precisely where the Lord had instructed, Abraham bound Isaac and placed him on top of the wood. He raised the knife, ready to kill Isaac, when the Lord stopped him. “Now I know that you fear God because you have not withheld from me your son, your only son” (Genesis 22:12).

Abraham accepted that God was in control, even though it meant murdering his son. Whatever Abraham was feeling, physically and emotionally, he most certainly had the spiritual peace that exceeds all human understanding. More than simply acknowledging God, Abraham was able to follow through without falling apart. He believed God with his heart, not his head.

Do unto others (Thursday, November 5)

You and I have been given much so that we can share our abundance with others. We are reminded of the words of our Lord about our responsibility: To whom much is given, much is required. He means that we possess certain blessings and these are to be given to others in turn.

If we have good health, we should help those who are ill and suffering with sickness. If we have money, we are to give to the poor. If we have a comfortable home, we are to help those who are homeless. If we are strong in our faith, we are to encourage those who have lost their hope. If we have many who love us, we need to be a friend to those who are lonely. If we have new life in Jesus, we need to show the way to those who are lost.

No matter our circumstances in life, each one of us can do something for someone else. God expects us to use everything we have for the sake of others, not for the sake of ourselves. Love your neighbor as you love yourself, Jesus taught. How different the world would be, and how different our lives would be, if we took his words to heart. Loving our neighbors as ourselves means doing for them everything we want to do for ourselves.

When we take care of others as God expects, he will take care us as we expect.

Go forward (Wednesday, November 4)

This is a new day. No matter what happened yesterday, or even last night, everything is made new right now. In many ways, today is the first day of our lives. We have no past to regret or fret about; there is nothing to hold us back; and no one to judge us. God gives us a fresh start each morning with his promise of protection and love.

Long before we awoke today, God planned these 24 hours. He created what we would do, where we would go, whom we would encounter and how we would act. He also knows what will come against us – the temptations to feel upset, alone, lonely or lost. He knows how we will struggle at times and how we will be pulled back into the past. None of that matters anymore. God has set us free to live today to the fullest.

Whatever has happened in your past, let God take care of it. Give it to him and then leave it there. Don’t even turn around to see what he is going to do with the situation. Trust that he knows what to do, and keep your eyes on what is before you this new day.

Remain focused on what God planned for here and now. He wants to work through us to show the world his compassion and grace. He cannot do much with us, though, if we keep walking backwards, still thinking about what was or what could have been. It is over and we need to get over it. This day is all that can make a difference now.

Waste of time (Tuesday, November 3)

Sometimes we learn only by learning the hard way. A case in point: last week I was extremely disturbed about an incident that occurred at work. I felt as though my thoughts were being completely overlooked. What I said did not seem to matter to anyone.

All of my anxiety was over a meeting that was being scheduled, whether I could attend or not. As it turns out, I found out this morning that the meeting had to be cancelled anyway. We would have to choose another day and time.

Everything I had put myself through – the frustration and anger – meant nothing now. I had become upset over nothing. Worst of all, I had forgotten to trust in the Lord. Instead, I was trusting in what I wanted.

How many times do we become swept away by our emotions and feelings? We make a decision without talking with God, and then get mad when things don’t turn out as we expect. We have to remember that God’s expectations are much different than ours. He wants what is best for us, but we want what is convenient. Let’s stop wasting God’s time and ours. May we stop learning the hard way and begin to trust God in the first place. If we do, we will have more time to enjoy life because we will not have to be anxious over anything.

A divine GPS (Monday, November 2)

Asking for directions on a trip is sometimes intimidating, especially for men. Most of us do not want to appear lost and admit that we need to seek help. The advent of global positioning systems (GPS) has made it much easier to travel. Now, all we have to do is to key in our destination and follow the directions.

But what about our journey through life? It is not so simple to find our way at times. We can’t just determine where we want to go, push a button, and listen to the cues. Life is full of all sorts of obstacles that a navigation device cannot see, know or predict. After all, a computer can give back only the information that is programmed into it.

As we go through this day, we can do so knowing that we have something much greater than a mechanical gadget made at a factory to guide our lives. We have God. He created us, gave us birth at the precise time and planned each step of our way. Unfortunately, we do not always follow his instructions. We turn off our divine guidance system and proceed on our own. The real tragedy is in not using what we sought to help us in the first place. It is like buying a GPS and never turning it on.

Our disguises (Sunday, November 1)

Last night, our neighborhood was filled with all sorts of strange creatures who do not really live here. There were princesses, soldiers, pirates, cowboys and, yes, even some monsters. Despite their differences, they were all getting along as they went from house to house collecting candy for Trick or Treat.

For a few hours, the children became something they were not. They dressed up in various costumes, some simple and some elaborate, as they took on the character of another persona. Still, we could tell who they were. We knew them by sight if not by name.

As adults, we often do the same thing as we go through the week. We turn into someone or something we are not. We go about our business like another character. We wear a disguise so that others will not see who we really are.

But God knows us, despite our appearance. He is not fooled by how we act, what we say or what we do. He can see beyond our make-up and our make-believe right into our heart. We do not have to dress up to get something special from him. He loves us just the way we are.

Paul's plan (Saturday, October 31)

The apostle Paul had always wanted to travel to Spain. In his letter to the Romans, Paul described his heartfelt desire to go to a new land to preach the gospel. He says that, “there is no more place for me to work in these regions, and since I have been longing for many years to see you, I plan to do so when I go to Spain. I hope to visit you while passing through and to have you assist me on my journey there, after I have enjoyed your company for a while.”

Paul had everything planned. First, he was going to Rome, where he would spend time with all of the faithful followers there. He looked forward to dwelling among this small group of Christians in the heart of the empire, preaching and teaching about the kingdom of God. He would encourage his fellow sisters and brothers, and spread the good news to all those who would listen. Eventually, these Roman Christians would help him travel to Spain on one of the ships headed south across the Mediterranean.

As far as we know, however, Paul never made it to Rome. God had other plans. The spirit led Paul to Rome, but no farther. It was there that Paul spent the last days of his life, under house arrest and confined to one room. How difficult it must have been for him. Paul had traveled throughout the world not once but three times! Now he was a prisoner, quite literally, in Rome.

Certainly, this is not where Paul wanted to be. He hoped to go to Spain to continue the Lord’s work there. Paul may have been disappointed, but he did not stop serving the Lord. He continued to talk and write about what Jesus had done on the cross. He did not allow his personal will to get in the way of the Father’s will. Paul had already learned it was always best to do what God wanted and to be blessed, rather than what he preferred and have to do it completely alone.

Who isn't answering? (Friday, October 30)

Have you ever asked the Lord for something and wondered why he did not answer you? Perhaps God did respond; however, it was not exactly what you were seeking. The whole problem could be you and me, not God. We might have had our heart set on our needs, and we did not hear his reply.

You and I are like the rich young man who came to Jesus one day, asking how he could receive eternal life. Jesus told him simply to obey the commandments: do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not give false testimony, honor your father and mother, and love your neighbor as yourself. “I have kept all of these,” he said. “What do I lack?”

Jesus answered with words the wealthy man did not want to hear: “If you want to be perfect, sell your possessions and give to the poor. Then, come and follow me.” Jesus did not tell him what he hoped. Sadly, the man turned and walked away, even though Jesus showed him the true way to heaven.

Are we guilty of being like this? Do we turn away from God because we do not hear what we want to hear? We claim God has not answered us because he did not give us our way. Jesus said what was best for this young man. He does the same for us as well, telling us the truth in each situation. Before we rush to judgment and claim God isn’t answering our prayers, let us make sure we are not the ones who fail to respond.

Believing is seeing (Thursday, October 29)

There is a popular phrase that says, “I’ll believe it when I see it.” I wonder what would happen if we transposed two of the words: “I’ll see it when I believe it.” Imagine the effect such a sentence could have on us, as Christians, each day.

We would be able to see getting well when we are sick. We would be able to see being out of debt when we are buried by bills. We would be able to see success even while we are struggling to get by. We also would be able to see a hopeful future because we believe in God.

We cannot see anything unless our belief is strong enough. Believing is seeing. Not the other way around. Remember the apostle Thomas, doubting Thomas? Not only did he need to see the wounds in Jesus’ hands. But he had to touch them as well before he was convinced that Jesus was the one standing right in front of him.

Today, we can see Jesus on the cross because we believe. We do not have to see him there physically. Our believing allows us to know what we have not seen. Don’t wait for God to show you what lies ahead. Believe in him first and then you will see his plan.

Victims or victors? (Wednesday, October 28)

We occasionally take the view that we are victims of the world. In reality, though, we are victors of life. No matter what happened yesterday or years ago, we still have eternal life. No matter what occurs today, we remain a child of God. No matter what attacks us tomorrow, we are still protected by God.

We have already overcome every adversity that can come against us in this world. We did not do it alone. Jesus did it for us. He bore our pain and sin when he came to earth and died on the cross. From time to time, we might wonder why we still experience these same things in our lives. Perhaps we can use them to remind us of who took on the ultimate sacrifice of suffering. Without accepting death as he did, we would not be able to have any hope beyond what we see in front of at this moment.

Yes, we still encounter trials and tribulations. Sometimes, the hurt can be more than we can bear; our grief and sorrow can break us down. The anguish we feel can crush us into thinking that God has abandoned us just when we need him most. But he is there. The proof we have is that he was there, 2,000 years ago, hanging on a cross. That is a fact that the world cannot erase.

People in Jerusalem that day thought that Jesus was a victim. Nothing was further from the truth. Three days later, they realized that he was a victor. He triumphed over everything that could attack a human being and he, in turn, gave the victory to us.

In control or out of control (Tuesday, October 27)

How desperately we need patience today. There seems to be anxiety almost everywhere we turn: in the workplace, at home, on the road, and even at the grocery store. Our churches, too, are often filled with tension. People disagree with one another; they dislike one another; they argue with fellow brothers and sisters over what should be done during the worship service or in meetings.

Billy Graham once said that “Hot heads and cold hearts never solved anything.” When we become too concerned about ourselves and our feelings, we forget about everyone else. We think only about what we want and lose our sense of compassion. We ignore the love that God has put in our hearts. Instead, we act out of selfishness.

In an instant, we can react with words and actions that we regret. Like Peter, we cut off the soldier’s ear because we think we know what is best for God.

This day, let us use the patience that God has given us to trust him in all circumstances. May we give God a chance to be God before we take matters into our own hands. We need to learn how to control ourselves before we attempt to control everyone else around us.

He lives through us (Monday, October 26)

Being the body of Christ, we must be willing to be broken for him and like him. Each day, we must give ourselves to the world, just as he did, out of the same kind of love and concern for others. How we act is a demonstration of what Christ would do in each situation.

As we go about serving the world, we reflect the life of Christ. We show his compassion, his gentleness and his wisdom. We walk among those in our neighborhood, teaching and healing just as he did. We offer hope to the hopeless and life to the lifeless. We point the way to restoration and wholeness.

We also show the path to eternal salvation. That is how God is using us as meek as we might be and as insignificant as we see ourselves. In many ways, our lives are like Christ because God is using us to spread the good news to each person.

From time to time, we too will face trials, rejection and persecution. But, as with Jesus, God is with us all of our days. People will try to break us and destroy us. All of their efforts are in vain. Nothing anywhere can harm us until we have finished the work God first began in us. Because he lives through us, we can live today in complete confidence and purpose.

Looking to Jesus first (Sunday, October 25)

Who we are in the world is much less important than who we are in God. In fact, our place and our position do not matter at all as long as we are doing the work the Lord has called us to do. The problem comes when we try to please coworkers, friends and acquaintances more than God.

People everywhere, even well-meaning Christians, have a way of accepting or rejecting us based on what they see and think. They look at us through their eyes and perspective, not through the pure heart of God. At times, we do the same of others, too. We judge someone from what we have heard, what we have experienced and what we feel – even though we know all of these can easily deceive us.

Jesus knew well the trappings of our own temptations and sins. As a human, he faced the same emotions and situations. Yet, he was able to overcome his physical humanness and be guided completely by the spirit.

We can never go wrong when we follow the Holy Spirit. In God is where we find our true validation and worth. We cannot allow anything, even our own thoughts or hurts, to separate us from the Father. We need to forgive those who try to judge us, accept those who try to reject us and love those who try to ignore us. Jesus taught us what to do in each circumstance. He is the example. We are his followers.

As we begin today (Saturday, October 24)

There is a choice we make each morning: whether to follow God gently into a new day or to be jolted awake by our hectic thoughts and schedule. From the time we open our eyes, the world comes racing toward us with problems, concerns, anxieties and fears. But God offers us peace, comfort, strength and faith. Which one we choose determines what will happen during the next 15 or 16 hours, until evening falls and we rest again.

You and I need to work at letting God guide us as we take our first tentative steps into another day. Our hearts and minds must be listening to him, looking to him and walking toward him. We must actively seek him, doing whatever we can to push aside the sounds that call to us from everyday living.

Taking time with God every morning requires practice and discipline. There are dozens of things that try to pull us away and distract us – most of all time itself. The argument we hear most often in our heads is that we do not have time for prayer and meditation; we must get to work or school; we have an appointment; we cannot be late. We fool ourselves into believing we will set aside time later in the day to spend with God. In the meantime, who knows where we will be or what may happen.

Being with God at the beginning of each day lets us see his path and plan. He can give us the calm and order we are seeking in our lives. He sends us off in the right direction because he knows what is waiting for us just ahead. Trusting him means taking time with him to set our course on his will for the day. Better we follow him than our unpredictable thoughts, emotions and plans.

Each word is a step forward (Friday, October 23)

We receive a new word from God each day. Today he may give us patience, peace, understanding, gentleness or persistence. Whatever he has for us is planned for this particular moment and these circumstances. It is easy to miss his word, though, if we are not listening.

Our tendency is to seek everything all at once – to reach the end of our trial without having to experience more frustration or anxiety. Rarely will God lift us completely out of a struggle. He wants us to realize, and learn, that we can trust in him each step of the way. All the while, he is developing our faith so that he can do greater things through us.

People like Moses, Abraham, Habakkuk, Barnabas, Stephen and Paul did not gain their great belief in God all at once. Their trust in him grew gradually through each encounter and each day, with every new word from God. At first, Moses was little more than a shepherd in exile; years later he had the faith to part the Red Sea. Once Paul persecuted Christians, yet he eventually traveled the world on three separate journeys to spread the good news of the gospel.

The word we have from the Lord today will take us ever closer to the place where he will accomplish miraculous things through us as well. He has to know, however, that we can be trusted with the small tasks first. Gradually, as we learn more, we will arrive at the point where we will do anything for him. With each new word we draw closer to God and farther away from our will. What God says to us today matters in what we are able to do tomorrow.

Covered with his will (Thursday, October 22)

We can measure our commitment to God by how much we are willing to persevere for him. We say we will follow him, serve him and work for him, yet we often lose heart when his plans and ours collide. He takes us one direction, while we want to go a different way.

What do we do, for example, when God leads us to be separated from family and friends, to be far away from the home we know and love so well? How do we react when God places us in difficult situations that seem almost impossible to overcome? There are many times when we must suffer physically and emotionally for him, not in spite of him. What we do during the struggle makes all the difference in what happens next.

As we walk through the door of each new day, we must be determined to continue to follow God no matter how we feel or what we think. There must be a constant renewing of our minds in him. Over and over again, we will wrestle with doubt, fear, insecurity, hesitation, even rebellion. We are stubborn creatures who think we know what is best. A new job, a new house, a new church or a new life somewhere else will not make any difference if it is not God’s will. Something different in our mind is rarely something better.

God knows what path we must take. In fact, he set the course long before we were ever born. Where we are right now is where he wants us to be. Where we go in the future is up to him. We can make our journey easier and lighter if we set aside our will for his. Instead of arguing with ourselves over things that do not matter, we can put all of our determination, hope and trust in him.

When we give ourselves completely to God, he gives himself completely to us. There, covered in his will, we are safe and secure even when we wonder where we are going or what is going on.

As we follow him, we lead others (Wednesday, October 21)

We are all called to be leaders. Our actions and words either lead people to Christ or drive them away. How we conduct ourselves as we go through the day matters in the lives of those who are watching.

Jesus was gentle when people opposed him. He was patient when his followers did not understand. He showed mercy to those who were full of sin. He was compassionate when he met people in need. Everything that he did showed the Father’s love.

We can do no less as his disciples. As we follow him, we lead others along the way. We become leaders to those around us who look up to us to see Jesus in our lives. How well we lead is determined by how closely we watch Jesus. All that we do needs to reflect his leadership in our lives so others will know how to live.

Being tempted (Tuesday, October 20)

When we say in the Lord’s Prayer “lead us not into temptation,” perhaps what we actually mean is “protect us from temptation.” Certainly, God would not have us follow him into tempting circumstances or situations. As our creator, He knows well our weaknesses and vulnerability. He realizes we are attracted and excited by all sorts of earthly desires.

What we need is God’s help to keep us out of danger, to protect us from ourselves so to speak. He must be present in our hearts and minds in order to prevent us from being tempted, either mentally or physically. We have no strength or power to save ourselves. If we try to fight the battle on our own, we will surely lose. Of that we can be sure.

Only God can deliver us from the evil that threatens to bring us down. And he will never allow us to be tempted beyond his control.

Where you belong (Monday, October 19)

When we were created, we were designed to be a part of the body of Christ. Yet, we often spend our lives trying to be something we are not. We try to be the hands when God wants us to be the feet. We try to be the mouth when we are intended to be the ears. Or we try to be the head when we are supposed to be the eyes.

Together, we are the living, breathing body of Christ. We have to learn to work together and to do what we are called to do. We also need to learn that each part is important. If we discard even one, we will not be complete. What would happen, for example, if we built a computer and left out a tiny chip that seemed too small to make a difference? What about constructing a car engine and leaving out one of the spark plugs? The vehicle would never run properly, no matter what else we did.

The kingdom of God here on earth will never work right if we forget someone or if we take it upon ourselves to change our purpose. Once we know our place, we need to accept God’s will and stop thinking about doing something else. We also must recognize that our purpose in life changes through the years. At one point, God may want us to focus on a career; then at another point in time, on being a good parent; still later, he might lead us into mission work.

Let us not become so caught up in what we want, both for ourselves and for others, that we miss what God wants. He created us to function in a certain way for a certain purpose. We need to take our right place in the kingdom and leave the outcome to him.

An invisible shield (Sunday, October 18)

When was the last time you and I truly thanked God for something that did not happen? We often want to blame him when we encounter difficulty or trouble, but what about when our life is going well? Yesterday God kept us safe as we drove from store to store. We did not get sick. We did not have to go without food or water. We have all the clothes we need. Our houses kept us warm and there is nothing that needs to be repaired.

We have many reasons to give thanks, although circumstances do not always go our way. It could be that someone has hurt us or criticized us. Perhaps we are tired of doing the same old things day after day. Then there are the errands that seem boring and the chores that are tedious.

If today seems like just another day, we can indeed rejoice. We can be glad because God is keeping us safe from more harm, more pain and more suffering. He protects us from even the things that we cannot see, from the spiritual forces that threaten our body and our minds. We are able to praise God for our simple lives.

Each day, his love and care surround us completely. He is both our strength and our fortress.

We are useful (Saturday, October 17)

Even when we have been used and abused by others, we can still be useful to God. He can use us because he does not base our lives on what has happened to us or by something we have done. He is able to use us because he made us and he loves us.

God sees us for what the world cannot see. He knows our heart. He knows our true intentions. He knows who we are in his kingdom. He also knows the place he fashioned us to fill in his will for the universe.

Those who tend to judge us try to take the place of God. They think they are somehow above him—that they are greater than the creator.

We need to know that only God knows us. What he sees in us is all that matters. Our spirit, our love, our concern and our compassion are the invisible things of his nature. These make us useful to him even when people believe we are useless to them.

God with us (Friday, October 16) 

Great is your reward in heaven, Jesus said. Rejoice and be glad when you are persecuted because of me. They came against the prophets and they will come against you as well. But your treasure is in heaven.

We hear Jesus speaking to the people as they sat and stood around him, their eyes amazed and their minds confused. No doubt they wondered how this man could be so passionate about something that did not make any sense. Who could possibly find happiness in suffering?

Jesus did not come to make the world understand him. He came to make mankind realize the greatness of God. Yet, we live by earthly standards. We get caught up in what is going on right now. We forget about what lies ahead and want our reward today. Tomorrow may be too late.

We often fail to remember that God is the God of the past, present and the future. He will be there for us in each day ahead, just as he has been there every year in the past and as he is with us at this very moment.

In a little more than two months, we celebrate the birth of Jesus. We will recall the story of the annunciation as well as the prophecy from Matthew 1:23: "The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel." The future tense of these words should make us mindful of God’s eternal presence. He was there when the prophet received the message and he was there when his Son was born. He also was with Jesus throughout his life. The name Immanuel means God with us. May we always know and believe God has been with us, that he is with us and he will be with us no matter where or when.

One will, one desire (Thursday, October 15)

God does give us the desires of our heart. Unfortunately, our own minds do not always realize what our spirit needs. I often pray for God to do this or that. Then I add, at the end, if it is your will. In a way, I am telling God what I think should be done and then allowing him to make a choice.

But it should be the other way around. When I pray, I should realize that God is giving me the chance to choose. I can let him take control or I can try to do what I want. I need to realize that I will always desire what is best for the moment—what brings temporary satisfaction. Our story is much like the woman at the well. She was seeking to quench a passing need when Jesus was offering what would satisfy for all eternity.

When we bring our human hearts in line with God’s divine heart, our perspective changes. We place his will above everything else in the world, even when it means that we must suffer a little longer. We can say, with complete confidence, that we believe all things work together for good because we trust him to do the right thing.

We must make his desires our desires, not our desires his will.

Re-new (Wednesday, October 14)

Feeling weary at times is a fact of life. We all become worn down by too much work, too many meetings, too many activities, sometimes even too much recreation. Our bodies are amazing creations, but they are not meant to go on and on without proper rest and relaxation.

We need constant renewal and restoration. Finding a quiet place to spend time with God is more important than we realize. For it is in the silence and solitude that we experience his power. Our weakness finds rebirth in him. If we pause long enough, we can feel the love of God all around us. There is perfect peace in his presence. No worry or anxiety. No concerns or fears. No anticipation or regrets. Just divine stillness.

Each day, we make time for what we want to accomplish. We carefully plan down to the minute so that we do not waste a second. Maybe we need to be committed to doing the same when it comes to God. There must be 15 or 20 minutes we can set aside to be alone with our Father. In no time at all, we will feel whole again, ready for the world that demands our attention.

If we take time for God, he will make time for us. He will take the minutes we spend with him and make sure we get everything else done. We can’t afford not to turn part of our day over to him. Time is not ours to spend, but his to give.

Be who you are (Tuesday, October 13)

We always hear about the apostle Paul, but very little about the faithful servant who helped him—the person who stood by Paul and traveled everywhere with him. He was there when Paul was nearly stoned to death, when Paul was preaching and when Paul wrote his epistles.

History does not tell us a great deal about Barnabas. His name is mentioned sparsely throughout the New Testament. We can only imagine the things he did that allowed Paul to serve the Lord in such miraculous ways. No doubt he made sure they had food, that they always had a place to sleep, that they had money and that they knew the way from town to town.

Barnabas was there from the very beginning, when Paul was first converted, and he stood by Paul throughout the three journeys. Yet, Paul is the one we remember most. If Paul could tell us one thing today, though, he would say that he could not have done all he did without Barnabas. Paul knew that he could always count on him.

Perhaps you are someone’s Barnabas. You are always there for that person, no matter what is going on in your life. On the other hand, maybe you are like Paul who has a person that supports you constantly. We are each called to do different things in the kingdom. No position is greater than the other. We are all the same in the eyes of God, and he loves each one of us equally. All that matters to him is that we do his will. If we do, then great is our reward in heaven, not on earth.

A better plan (Monday, October 12)

Why didn’t God do something to stop it? He could have prevented this from happening, but he didn’t. Many times in my life I have wondered why God did not intervene. The time I lost my position at a college. The time I didn’t get the next job I wanted. The time our house was destroyed. The time I suffered with pneumonia.

As I think back on all of these events, it occurs to me that the real issue at hand is not what God did or did not do. The whole point is what I wanted from God. I wanted him to let me decide what was best for me. I thought I knew what I needed, even though I could not foresee what would happen in the next 10 minutes let alone a month or a year later.

Over time, I have realized how different my life might have been if God would have done what I demanded. I think of the people I would have never met and the lives that might never have changed. Our own family would not be the same, nor would our neighbors. So, too, would our spiritual journey have been different. Nothing would be as it is now.

I can be very grateful that God did not answer my prayers according to my desires. He gave me my way when it was best. But all of the other times, I had to wait for something better.

Blessed are the meek (Sunday, October 11)

In the kingdom of God, being meek is a good thing. When we are meek, we are humble and gentle; we know our position as servants of an omnipotent king. We do not think more of ourselves than we ought. Quietly and confidently, we go about God’s work without boasting of our accomplishments, thoughts and ideas. We make little noise and fanfare over how God is using us, for we are meek enough to know that every task is done for his glory.

Not so with the world. The world demands that we exalt ourselves. The more attention we bring to our own worth and achievements, the better. Success is based on what we do right now, and not on what we do to make a difference in the future.

God does not share the world’s perspective. His values and standards are radically different. In fact, the ways of Our Father are in sharp contrast with the actions of human beings. Our nature is to be full of pride – well-pleased with ourselves – when we do something noteworthy of attention. God’s nature is mild and unassuming, even though he is the God of the universe. He does not call attention to his many acts of kindness and forgiveness each day. Instead, he guides us with a silent power that is barely noticeable to those around us.

Jesus shows us what it means to be meek. As the Son of God, he washed the disciples’ feet before the last supper. Even when Peter objected, Jesus explained that “unless I wash you, you have no part with me.” We need to remember Christ’s example whenever we are tempted to be arrogant or self-righteous, swollen with pride, over what we have done. God has no part with us if we cannot humble ourselves both to others and to him.

Celebrating each day (Saturday, October 10)

We naturally celebrate special occasions such as birthdays, anniversaries, holidays and family gatherings. But every day in our lives is extraordinary because of who we are in Christ. Today marks another day when we are loved and protected by the creator of the universe.

When we pause to think about the fact that God fashioned this very day and made us for this day, we begin to see our lives from a new perspective. Suddenly, we feel a part of the universe rather than apart from it. Too often we as Christians think that we are estranged from the rest of the world. Our purposes and goals seem out of step with post-modern society. Nothing could be further from the truth, however.

The universe was created by God and it is controlled by him. We are his creation and we were put here for his glory. We are not out of step with his design at all; rather, it is the world that has chosen to turn away from God. One of our primary purposes in life is to point the way back to God – to show those who are not believers what they are missing.

Realizing the importance of our work here on earth, as well as all that we possess through Christ, we can shout with joy and assurance that “this is the day that the Lord has made. Let us rejoice and be glad in it!” We celebrate each day because we are living in him, from this moment on and forever for all eternity.

You matter (Friday, October 9)

Your life is important—to others and to God. Sometimes we have the tendency to look inward, seeing only ourselves. We become self-ish and forget our neighbors. We look at who we are and think we are really nothing, that our life does not matter. After all, we aren’t well-known. We don’t have an important job. We can’t preach or sing like others. We might even wonder what God sees in us because of the way we see ourselves

But God knows our special gifts and talents. He realizes what we can do, and he understands the effect our little lives have on the rest of the world. Each one of us is created to serve God, and he in turn asks us to serve others. When we help someone else, we are being used by the very God of the universe to change the world for him.

There is nothing more important than to do God’s work here on earth. Just one small act of kindness can have a huge impact on someone else. It can actually change someone’s entire life. Look at all of the disciples. Once Jesus called to them, their lives were never the same. Or what about the person who first told each one of us about Jesus? Once we accepted Christ into our hearts, we were reborn and made new.

Yes, we all want to do big things and be known for our great works. But how do we know that sending a card to someone or saying hello to a stranger are not life-changing acts in the kingdom of God? May we have the courage this day to do the small deeds that really matter to God, and to stop thinking about the large acts that show our importance to the world. Remember, it’s all about God. Not us or anyone else.

Thanking God (Thursday, October 8)

How can we ever begin to thank God for all he has given to us? He has provided us with loving families, places to live, good health, money, food, cars and vocations. Plus, he has created us with talents and abilities to do all sorts of things. Most important of all is the eternal gift of salvation. What can we possibly say to such a gracious and loving God?

We can use our lives – our actions and attitudes, for example – to show our gratitude to God. Being kind to people, accepting others, greeting strangers, practicing patience, helping neighbors – all of these actions are visible signs of our appreciation toward God. He has been kind and gracious to us; we need to be just as loving toward others.

Once we realize that God accepts us for who we are, our lives take on a completely new perspective. Suddenly, we see that we do not deserve his love and mercy, yet he showers us moment by moment with a multitude of blessings. Our gratefulness toward him should overflow into our individual lives as we accept the people around us. When we can love each person the way God loves us, then we show him that we are truly thankful.

Like him (Wednesday, October 7) 

Jesus is one with us in our alienation from the rest of the world. He understands our separation and estrangement because he, too, was human. Sometimes we fail to remember that Jesus came from heaven to live on the earth. He gave up the perfect for the imperfect so that all could know eternal joy. How must he have felt at times, especially as he looked around at all of the pain, injustice and hypocrisy?

When we are troubled by what is going on, or even how others treat us, we need to remember that Jesus was affected in exactly the same way. He was criticized and persecuted. His flesh suffered as well from the weight of rejection. Yet, Jesus was able to endure it all because his true strength came from heaven.

Our help also comes from the Father. We do not go through life alone, unless we choose to do so. Jesus is always with us, offering authority from above, to allow us to endure anything. When our strength comes from heaven, we have the power and ability we need to go on. Jesus showed us how to look up for all our needs. His example points the way both for our lives here on earth as well as for our salvation.

Trust as a child (Tuesday, October 6)

Do you and I show the love of God to others? Can people tell, just by looking at us, that there is something different about us? Maybe we seem like everyone else as we go through life. Perhaps we do not smile or greet people. It could be that we appear sad or sullen, as if the weight of the world is on our shoulders.

There is nothing that should make us downhearted. We should be full of confidence and peace, even if we are hurting or experiencing trouble. The good news is that God has overcome the world. If we are in him, then we have nothing to worry about. He will protect us and fight life’s battles for us whenever we ask for his help.

Where we always go wrong is in trying to handle life on our own. We attempt to take on sickness, disappointment, rejection or fear alone. The truth is that we frequently have more faith in ourselves than in the Creator of the universe. Remember that Jesus said we must become like children if we want to enter the kingdom of God. In other words, we have to learn to trust and have the belief of a child.

Let us forget this notion of being adults and feeling all grown up. We will never be able to handle everything on our own. We need to rely on our Father and let him take care of us. Then, and only then, we will be filled with his joy. People everywhere will see that we have something they need, too.

Reality vs. illusion (Monday, October 5)

The best way we can help others is to help ourselves. Before we can be useful to God, though, we have to put ourselves aside. We need to get over our feelings of doubt, regret, anger and anxiety. We have to forget the past and remember the present.

We all tend to be distracted by what we did or did not do yesterday. Sometimes we are even thrown off track by worrying too much about what is coming tomorrow. We get caught up in living outside of the moment. Physically, we are one place but our minds are far away, drifting from one thought to another without any rhyme or reason. In no time at all, we are bewildered and confused. We lose our direction and focus for the day in front of us.

Whenever we are tempted to put more time and energy into our thoughts than in reality, we need to recall the image of Christ. If we can picture him in our minds, we will slowly bring ourselves back to where God wants us to be: living completely for him and not for ourselves.

Don’t let the thoughts of this life keep you from living in God’s world right now. Our place is with him. Not wandering around in our own reflections and thinking.

Remember Easter (Sunday, October 4)

A full moon was quietly setting in the west while the sun was rising in a clear blue sky. The new day was fresh and cool. I was suddenly reminded of Easter Sunday. It must have been on a morning much like this that Jesus rose triumphantly from the tomb. I can imagine John and Peter running to the grave with great anticipation and excitement.

We should have the same kind of attitude as we begin each day. Knowing what God has done for us, we should leap forward with surprise and wonder. We can expect great things because Jesus has risen. He conquered death for each one of us for all eternity.

Despite what you may be going through this very moment, Jesus reigns victoriously. He gives us the victory over sickness, depression, pain, suffering and, yes, even death. There is nothing he cannot conquer for us.

You can do all things through Christ who strengthens you.

The heart of the matter (Saturday, October 3)

The everlasting nature of love is, for the Christian, the nucleus all belief. The kind of love we are to practice is far removed from the temporal constructs of daily living, so much so that we miss the point and meaning entirely. We tend to love with our feelings, attitudes and emotions instead of by and through the spirit. Our human character, because of its selfish and narcissistic temperament, often separates us from the divine quality of love.

Yet, this same human body, with all of its many flaws and sins, has the potential to reveal God’s complete and whole love. By loving our sisters and brothers in the way God loves each one of us, we can see the fulfillment of God; the invisible God becomes visible. The apostle John explains this profound mystery in his first epistle. “Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us” (1 John 4:11-12). In other words, divine love will let us witness God in one another!

It is crucial to understand what John is saying. No one has ever seen God’s divine essence and nature but, John explains, we can see the invisible God as we practice unconditional love for one another. What happens is that as God begins to live in us and through us, his holy love is made complete in us.

As we look at the church – so full of people like us who are in desperate need of all kinds of help – we must remember how important it is to love one another with divine affection. When we are able to practice this kind of pure love – free of any intolerance or prejudice whatsoever – we will see and witness God. His love and being suddenly will be made visible in each one of us.

First things first (Friday, October 2)

In this age of technology and communication, I wonder if we spend more time talking with one another than we do with God. I think about all of the cell phone calls, the voice mails, the emails, the text messages, and they add up to a large part of our day. Then, too, how many hours do we spend watching television, listening to the radio or working (and playing) on the Internet? There doesn’t seem to be any room for God.

We are always diligent about the things that must be done on a regular basis: we put gas in the car, maintain the house, shop for food, pay bills. But we put the most important thing in the universe in last place. We give God whatever energy and time we have left at the end of day. We take care of everything else before we take care of ourselves, literally and figuratively.

Whatever happened to giving God the first fruits? Perhaps that notion is considered out of fashion today. On the other hand, maybe we need to slow down. Maybe we need to be still for a little while and not be so busy. Our jobs will wait, our appointments will wait, our meetings will wait and our dinner will wait. We should not keep God waiting.

I can’t imagine Jesus ever being so consumed with traveling, healing and teaching that he went to his Father in prayer only if he had time left over at night. No, Jesus went to the Father first, at the beginning of day when it mattered most. Let’s get back to where we started our walk with God in the first place: going to him before we take that very first step in the morning.

What do you want? (Thursday, October 1)

We are strange creatures sometimes. We will stop for coffee in the morning but not take time to pray or to read the Bible. So, too, we will pause in the middle of the day because we need to eat lunch yet we forget about our spiritual needs. Then in the evening, we will rest our bodies without really resting our hearts and minds in God. Our focus in life can easily become out of balance, especially when we concentrate more on the physical than the divine.

Jesus told us, many times, that we do not live by bread alone. Instead, we should live by every word that comes from God. The spirit of God is eternal; the bread of the world is not. God’s word lasts forever. Earthly bread lasts for a day; it will not satisfy us tomorrow or next week because it spoils quickly.

We are physical creatures made in the spirit of God. We have to decide which is more important to us: our body or our soul. We cannot treat both the same. We must choose one over the other.

Denying our flesh is what Jesus came to teach us. He showed us that we can, with the Father’s help, rise above corporeal and selfish desires. We can push our hunger or feelings aside if we want. The key is to want God more.