Refresh your commitment today to test everything by the Word of God. The surest defense against spiritual deception is knowledge of spiritual truth.
From 1 Peter 5:8-9: “Discipline yourselves; keep alert. Like a roaring lion your adversary the devil prowls around, looking for someone to devour. Resist him, steadfast in your faith, for you know that your brothers and sisters in all the world are undergoing the same kinds of suffering.”
From Psalm 37:5-6: “Commit your way to the Lord; trust in Him, and He will act. He will make your vindication shine like the light and the justice of your cause like the noonday.”
Trusting always, Lord’s righteousness
Living under His cherished love
Filling each heart with His desires
Praises reign from heaven above
Trusting always, Lord’s promised light
Committing to His divine way
Shining upon mercy’s justice
Darkness vanquished, fading away
Trusting always, Lord’s faithful path
Sending love with His timely grace
Accepting redemption’s blessing
Peace extended, let all embrace
Trusting always, Lord’s hallowed Word
Reading as His blueprint unfolds
Gathering spirit leads us forth
Faith growing from Gospel’s foothold
From Psalm 37:39-40: “The salvation of the righteous is from the Lord; He is their refuge in the time of trouble. The Lord helps them and rescues them; He rescues them from the wicked and saves them because they take refuge in Him.”
God’s
Unconditional love
Covering our shortcomings
Filling valleys, leveling mountains
Grace
Faith
Strengthened daily
Scripture’s inspirational light
Savior’s grace at work
Hope
Today’s
Looking forward
Christ’s fulfilling peace
Opening faith to grace
Tomorrow’s
This is the unshakable secret of the Lord to those who trust Him–I will give thee thy life. What more does a man want than his life?
From Jeremiah 45:5: “And you, do you seek great things for yourself? Do not seek them, for I am going to bring disaster upon all flesh, says the Lord, but I will give you your life as a prize of war in every place to which you may go.”
Oswald Chambers (1874-1917) was a Scottish evangelist and Christian teacher. Following his death from an illness while in Egypt during World War I, his wife took on the task of transcribing the detailed notes she had written from his lectures and sermons. Gertrude Hobbs Chambers’ efforts resulted in the publication in 1924 of MY UTMOST FOR HIS HIGHEST. I frequently read from this devotional, and it has greatly deepened my faith and understanding of God’s Word.
From Galatians 5:13-14: “For you were called to freedom, brothers and sisters, only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for self-indulgence, but through love become enslaved to one another. For the whole law is summed up in a single commandment, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.'”
Creator always molding
Staying true to His design
Each believer sharing grace
Filling humankind’s sunshine
Freedom comes forth from Savior
Following Father’s design
Destiny at Calvary
Destroying sin’s evil spine
Eternal message proclaims
Living within God’s design
Redemption comes from His Son
Revealing faith’s bold headlines
Love’s kindness shared with neighbors
Witnessing mercy’s design
Defining contributions
Serving as Spirit assigns
From the words of American pastor and Christian teacher, Charles Stanley: “Our greatest impact on this earth comes from loving and serving others–as Jesus did.”
From Romans 3:23-25: “Since all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God; they are now justified by His grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a sacrifice of atonement by His blood, effective through faith.”
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His Resurrection awakens a new pathway
Christ’s blood, painting it blazing white
Our Father remolds life, from a new clay
Pharisees claiming to be servants of God
Viewing our Lord as not worthy, a sinner
Walking with sinners makes Him a fraud
Son of Man, unblemished Lamb of God
No one but Jesus, can walk to the Cross
Humbled Christians kneel, totally flawed
Jesus’ blood ransomed for sinners, you and me
This executioner’s tool, a cruel criminal’s Cross
Darkest sins, all nailed to this old, rugged tree
Watching from a short distance, the Cross stands
God pours out His love through His faithful Son
Exchanging darkness for light, from His hands
Walking faithfully with Christ, never alone
Keeping the Cross, always front and center
Our Savior’s suffering, faith’s cornerstone
On an Easter morn, Christ defeats death
Leaving a darkened tomb empty, Alleluia!
Salvation and peace, with every breath
Moving closer to the Cross, forgiveness rings
Accepting Christ as Lord, filled with His mercy
Making a new covenant with Jesus, hearts sing
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From John 15:10-11: “If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in His love. I have said these things to you so that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be complete.”
Originally published April, 2020.
Christ is worth all, or He is worth nothing.
From John 3:16: “For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him may not perish but may have eternal life.”
George Whitefield (1714-1770) was an English-born pastor and Christian evangelist. He spent the second half of his life in the American colonies.
From Joshua 1:8-9: “This book of the law shall not depart out of your mouth; you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to act in accordance with all that is written in it. For then you shall make your way prosperous, and then you shall be successful. I hereby command you: Be strong and courageous; do not be frightened or dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”
Just as Joshua’s steps trusted in God
Knowing always, He’d faithfully be there
Filled with everlasting strength’s courage
Taking time daily, spent in prayer
In days ahead, fresh hope breathes with each step
Trusting in Jesus, walk alongside Him
Filled with mercy’s lasting righteousness
Worshipping our Lord with every hymn
Life-stretching outcomes mold another step
Believing in Jesus, faithfully trust
Filled with His witness, love-inspired grace
Praising promises, never to rust
Spirit’s divine hand leads each daily step
Acting in accordance with trusted God
Filled with everlasting strength’s courage
Overcoming evil’s false facade
Faith-forming obstacles block every step
Walking forward, trusting always in Christ
Filled with mercy’s lasting righteousness
Receiving Lord’s redemption, high-priced
From Hebrews 12:1-2: “Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight and the sin that clings so closely, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith, who for the sake of the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, disregarding its shame, and has taken His seat at the right hand of the throne of God.”
It’s easy to be bold and courageous if everything is going your way. But you’ll never fully discover who Jesus really is unless you walk through one life-stretching, faith-forming challenge after another.
From Isaiah 43:2-3: “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you, and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you.”
Christ
Risen indeed!
Transforming faith’s cornerstone
Grace breathes with purpose
Justification
Christ
Conquering death
Taking sin’s place
Calvary’s now empty tomb
Redemption
Christ
Faithful shepherd
Hearing Savior’s voice
Wayward sheep now found
Assurance
Big Sky Buckeye 