Daily Devotion
January 14, 2026
Hebrews 11:7 “By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith.”
This verse makes it clear that Noah’s faith saved him. He became heir of the righteousness which is by faith. When God determined to destroy the first world with a flood, He revealed His plans to Noah and gave him specific instructions about building a great ark. In Genesis 6, God promised Noah that every living thing outside the ark would die, but everything inside the ark would live. The Bible gives us reason to believe that while Noah was building the ark, he also preached to the people about what was coming (2 Peter 2:5). Yet when the time came to enter the ark, only eight people, Noah, his wife, their three sons, and their wives, stepped inside. Their salvation was not in the craftsmanship of Noah’s boat-building skills, but in the promise of Almighty God, who had given His Word in the matter. Noah may have been the worst boat builder in history. The ark may have been an unsightly structure of crooked beams, tar-covered seams, and lopsided construction. We simply don’t know. But because God promised to save them alive in the ark, that ark was flood-proof and unsinkable. Everyone inside was drown-proof. When God says, “I will save you,” He saves you. Every person who believed God and walked into the ark before the floods came walked out alive and well when it was over. So how secure is our eternal life when we believe on Jesus as Savior? The Bible answers that plainly. 1 John 5:13 says, “These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life.” Acts 2:21 declares, “Whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.” And Romans 10:9 assures us, “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.” Not might be saved. Not saved if certain standards are met or if we measure up to some man-made doctrine. But shall be saved. The same God who gave Noah and his family an unfailing promise of salvation gives us the same certainty today. When we call on the name of Jesus, believing that He died for our sins and rose again, God saves us. Period. In Noah’s day, he believed God, and God kept His promise. In our lives, we believe what God has said about His Son, Jesus Christ, and God still keeps His promises.
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January 13, 2026
John 14:1 “Let not your heart be troubled.”
The word troubled in this verse means to lose calmness of mind, to be stricken with fearfulness or dread, to be agitated and anxious. Our Lord spoke these words to His disciples as part of His final encouragements before His crucifixion. Things were about to change for them. The three years they had enjoyed walking with Him were coming to an end, and what lay ahead would stun them, try their faith, and send their lives in very different directions. We can all wake up one morning expecting a normal day, only to find before nightfall that our life’s path has taken a sharp and unexpected turn. Some who are reading this devotion may be walking through circumstances right now that you never saw coming. In moments like these, the assurance of the Lord’s presence and His promises becomes more precious than ever. In this chapter, Jesus promised the Holy Spirit, the Comforter, and assured His followers that no matter the situation, God’s desire for His children is peace. Not the kind of peace the world talks about, because this world cannot know true peace until Jesus comes again. But it is the peace Jesus promised in verse 27: “My peace I give unto you.” That is easy to trust when life is smooth, when we feel healthy and strong, have a little money in the bank, and no family feuds happening. But seasons of trial and sorrow come to us all. That is why John 14 is such a needed reminder: while our circumstances change, Jesus Christ is “the same yesterday, and today, and for ever” (Hebrews 13:8). The Lord repeats today’s verse again in verse 27: “Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” He adds the part about fear because He knows our need for His blessed assurance. Well over one hundred times in the Gospels, Jesus tells us in different ways not to be afraid and to take courage. He is not saying we should deny reality or think that fear is evil. Rather, when we are caught off guard, blindsided by trouble, and overwhelmed with worry and helplessness, He invites us to fix our eyes on Him and let faith in His Word be our response. Can Jesus give peace in times of trouble? Absolutely: yes, yes, and yes. He can, He does, and He will. He knows our need, and as Psalm 56:3 says, “What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee.” What will He do for us? He will either take us through our troubles or deliver us from them. But one thing is certain: He will never fail us.
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January 12, 2026
Psalms 100:1-2 “A Psalm of praise. Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all ye lands. Serve the LORD with gladness: come before his presence with singing.”
Without the foundation of the absolute truth of God’s Word, if we watch the news, try to put our finger on the pulse of the world’s heartbeat, and make sense of what’s happening, it’s enough to make us feel as though all hope is being stripped away. Many people are talking about a shift they sense in their spirits, something unlike anything they’ve experienced before. It almost feels as if time itself, and even reality, is different than it was just a few months ago. The world seems more volatile and uncertain, and there is a sense of foreboding that refuses to go away. But some things are certain. The Lord God has not changed, and His Word will never change. The remainder of Psalm 100 gives us these marvelous words: “Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name. For the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations.” Nations, governments, cultures, and societies have risen and fallen again and again, and through it all, the Lord was God, still is God, and will be God forever. It is far better to be on our knees, drawing closer to the One who holds the future in His hands, than wringing our hands in fear or tormenting ourselves in frustration over circumstances we cannot control. Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. He is our shelter, our refuge, our rock, and our peace. He alone is our joy, our hope, our security, our future, and our resting place. Let’s double down on our determination to praise the Lord and declare His greatness. Let’s confront the uncertainty of a fallen world with the certainty that our God reigns, and that He is good. He holds the future, and we will reign with Him. Let us drown out the evil noise of unbelief with a joyful noise that proclaims God’s mercy is everlasting and His truth endures forever. Psalm 100 contains only five verses, yet it is filled with eternal anchors. If we have not memorized it, now is a good time to do so and make it part of our daily worship. I love the line that says, “We are his people.” Perhaps what we are sensing is the wind of the Holy Spirit, gently reminding us that what lies ahead is Titus 2:13, “that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ”.
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January 11, 2026
Proverbs 21:23 “Whoso keepeth his mouth and his tongue keepeth his soul from troubles.”
The message here is clear: if we are careful about the words that come out of our mouths, we can keep ourselves out of a great deal of trouble. I wonder how many times in my own life, if I had simply kept my ignorant mouth shut instead of blurting out thoughtless words, I could have spared myself some painful situations. The Scriptures tell us in James 1:19, “Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath.” All of that goes together. Listen carefully and allow time to process what others are saying. Think before responding. Use wisdom. And tamp down our temper before we react in anger. James goes on to say in verse 20, “For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God.” Words spoken in the heat of anger never express, or produce, anything good. But it’s not only angry words that lead us into trouble. Bad advice, offered from our narrow perspectives and without Holy Spirit-led wisdom, can push people we love away from God’s will for their lives. Words that come from a critical, unloving spirit can wound people Jesus died for. If we consider the source of most arguments, and even many violent situations, spoken words are often the catalyst. Children grow up in homes where they do not feel safe because their parents cannot control their tongues. Thinking about these things gives us a deeper understanding of James 3:6: “And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell.” That phrase, telling us the tongue is set on fire from hell, ought to give us pause and cause us to take today’s proverb seriously. We need the Holy Spirit’s help to become people who are slow to speak and quick to listen. People who keep a guard over their lips and tongues, so that we are peacemakers rather than sources of trouble. We need to hear what God is saying to us. He will bring His Word to our minds and hearts to guide and correct us. But too often, we are busy forming a response instead of listening, speaking over the top of God’s voice. Because of loose, unloving, ungodly words, spouses are abused, children are wounded, neighbors go to war, and relationships are painfully damaged beyond repair. Love grows cold, blood pressure rises, churches divide, and judgment replaces compassion. Lives are damaged, and sometimes lives are lost. Our words are never neutral: They either heal or harm, build or burn, reflect God’s righteousness or our own unchecked flesh. So today, let us pause and pray simply, “Lord, help me control my mouth.”
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January 10, 2025
Revelation 22:21 “The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.”
The Holy Bible closes with these words, pointing us plainly to the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. When some people consider the entirety of the Scriptures, they see its primary themes as sin, judgment, and human failure, and all of these are certainly there. We are confronted with blatant truth, such as Isaiah 64:6, “But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.” But all who have truly seen Jesus Christ for who He is, and who have received the message of the gospel, know that over the top of all the mess that sin, darkness, and death brought into God’s amazing creation, there reigns the most wonderful and powerful reality imaginable: the grace of God. The picture of mankind apart from God’s grace, viewed through the lens of His holiness, is both horrific and hopeless. Our sin struck us down, separated us completely from God, and demanded our eternal death. To add to our dreadful condition, we became depraved and trapped in our sins, utterly unable to rescue ourselves. All our efforts to cover our condition or correct it are useless. As Isaiah declares, even our very best efforts at righteousness are not enough. But oh, praise be to the Lord, “where sin abounded, grace did much more abound” (Romans 5:20). Not only was sin no match for God’s grace, but Scripture goes on to say, “Even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord.” Grace does not merely respond to sin; it reigns triumphant over it. The Scriptures speak of grace in growing progression. There is saving grace, “For by grace are ye saved through faith” (Ephesians 2:8). There is sustaining grace, “But he giveth more grace” (James 4:6). And there is empowering grace, “and great grace was upon them all” (Acts 4:33). Grace is the good news that God loves us, desires to forgive us, and gave His Son to prove that love and set His redemptive plan into motion. How remarkable, then, that the Bible begins with humanity’s fall into sin and ends with a declaration of grace. From Genesis to Revelation, God’s final word to His people is not condemnation, but grace, grace through Jesus Christ our Lord. It’s no wonder that the hymn, “Amazing Grace,” has become an anthem of believers through the years. We, helpless, guilty, and unable to save ourselves, were rescued by our God who intervened with grace so powerful it overcame our sins and restored our lives. As we read the last verse of Scripture, may we also remember the words of Amazing Grace: “And grace will lead me home”.
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January 9, 2025
Mark 9:7-8 “And there was a cloud that overshadowed them: and a voice came out of the cloud, saying, This is my beloved Son: hear him. And suddenly, when they had looked round about, they saw no man any more, save Jesus only with themselves.”
Jesus only. Today’s verses come from the account of the day when Jesus took Peter, James, and John up on a mountain and our Lord was gloriously transformed before their eyes. Moses and Elijah appeared, talked with Him, and then the voice of God the Father boomed from the fog-like cloud saying, “This is my beloved Son: hear him”. Then everything became normal again with Moses and Elijah disappearing, and the voice of God silent. When the disciples looked around, they saw only Jesus. That’s a lesson for us to consider. The spiritual world holds many mysteries, and it’s tempting to get caught up in speculating what it all means and pursuing experiences and doctrines that seem otherworldly. But all we need is Jesus because the Bible says in Colossians 2:9, “For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily”. He is life, power, and eternity. Jesus is the past, present, and future, and He is the beginning and end. Consider the day recorded in Matthew 14 when Peter climbed out of the boat and walked on the water towards the water-walking Savior. When we’re talking about walking on water, are the strength of the wind or the fierceness of the waves really factors? Isn’t it more about the impossibility of doing what natural laws say can’t be done? Even if it had been a bright, bright sunshiny day, people can’t just walk on the water. But Peter did the impossible: He walked on the water towards Jesus. It’s when Peter took his eyes off the Lord that everything became a jumbled mess of unbelief. The force of the wind became more of a factor than the impossibility of walking on the water, and Peter began to sink. But he prayed, maybe yelled, that three-word prayer, “Lord, save me”, and Christ rescued him. When our eyes are on Jesus, we know He is more than able to help us in every circumstance of life. When we focus on Him, the supernatural becomes our natural, and we believe anything is possible. We know His story: it’s one of miracles, hope, salvation, and healing. It’s a story of deliverance, blessing, peace, and assurance. When our eyes are on Him, we can expect protection, grace, mercy, power, light, abundance, and goodness. He never fails. He is the Eternal God, and He is for us, not against us. It’s Jesus only.
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January 8, 2025
Acts 27:23–24 “For there stood by me this night the angel of God, whose I am, and whom I serve, Saying, Fear not, Paul; thou must be brought before Caesar: and, lo, God hath given thee all them that sail with thee.”
Acts 27 is the story of a shipwreck while the Apostle Paul was on a ship headed for Rome. Paul and many others were sailing from Caesarea to Rome when their ship was slammed by a terrible cyclonic storm. For fourteen long days they were driven helplessly by the fierce winds. At last, miraculously, every life was spared, and everyone made it safely to shore on the island of Malta. It’s one of my favorite Bible stories because it shows the grace of God and His power to protect in the worst of situations. The journey itself began with some bad decisions. Had the owners of the ship and the captain listened to the advice of the Apostle Paul before they ever sailed, the story would have turned out quite differently. They would not have lost their valuable ship, its precious cargo, nor endured such wrenching fear. In Acts 27:10, Paul warned them plainly: “Sirs, I perceive that this voyage will be with hurt and much damage, not only of the lading and ship, but also of our lives.” But the next verse says: “Nevertheless the centurion believed the master and the owner of the ship, more than those things which were spoken by Paul.” I think many of us can look back over our lives and say, “If only I had listened.” Wise fathers, godly friends, faithful pastors — the Lord places voices of warning and love around us. And sometimes, we sail right past them into storms we could have avoided. But here is the good news: the Lord does not abandon us because we have made foolish choices. Today’s verse gives us the words of Paul that he spoke to the frightened people on board the ship while they were all suffering through the hurricane, thinking they were doomed. He told them in effect, “God is with us: He gave me His promise that we will survive”. God was still with them. He still had a purpose. He still heard their cries. Not one life would be lost. We need that same consolation. No matter our circumstances, God will never forsake His people (Hebrews 13:5). We need the steady assurance that He hears our prayers and is working all things together for our good (Romans 8:28). And when the winds and waves of life crash over us, we remember the Savior who still says, “Peace, be still” (Mark 4:39). So let us look to Christ alone — for ourselves, for our families, and for every soul we love who needs a Savior and Friend. As Paul reassured his fellow travelers, may we rest in this truth: God is well able to give us “all those who sail with us.”
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January 7, 2025
Luke 6:27-28 “But I say unto you which hear, Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you, Bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you.”
In these verses, Jesus is teaching us God’s will for our lives, and it’s not always something we want to hear. When people are mean to us, treat us badly, or run us down to others, the last thing we want to do is good to them, pronounce blessings on them, and pray for their well-being. We want revenge. We want them to feel the same, or worse, pain than they caused us. We want them to suffer in some way as punishment for their meanness. The normal way of life is to love those who love us and be good to those who are good to us. That’s pretty much the example we’ve seen since childhood. The “revenge and vengeance” theme has been the norm. We’ve grown up watching movies where the bad guys always “get it in the end.” On a side note, it’s strange nowadays that some killers and evil people have become the heroes, and their anarchy and violence are celebrated. But when we hear the “love your enemies” lesson at a time when no one is hurting us, we might nod and agree that it’s the right way. However, catch us when we’re in the middle of being mistreated, when we’re angry, hurting, and our feelings are raw, we don’t want our noses rubbed in THIS passage. We want God, or somebody, to settle the score! Yet this is sometimes one of the hardest things we have to do: cool off, meditate on God’s Word concerning the matter, and then obey the will of the Lord. If we keep doing what’s right in every situation, it may look like people are going to get by with their hurtful, mean ways forever. But God has given us a promise: He will set the record straight because we belong to Him. Romans 12:19 says, “…for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.” When we want revenge, some people scheme in their minds to “get even,” and think about it over and over. Some even carry it out, ignoring the consequences. It’s hard to remember that God loves our enemies too, and He wants them to turn and follow His ways. When we love our enemies, we are really wanting them to know the Lord, His love, mercy, and forgiveness, just as we know Him. Loving our enemies doesn’t mean we approve of what they’ve done, nor does it mean they were right. It means we choose obedience over emotion, and trust God to handle what we cannot. God sees. God knows. And God will deal with every matter righteously: in His time, and in His way.
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January 6, 2026
John 14:16, 18 “And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever…I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.”
The Holy Spirit is called the Comforter. Notice that the title is capitalized in today’s verse, meaning it’s a proper noun: One of the Spirit’s names. And, because the Holy Spirit is God, it’s a name of God and reminds us of 2 Corinthians 1:3, “Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort”. He is called “the God of all comfort”. That’s because nothing on this earth, nothing we’ve ever encountered, and nothing we’re able to dream of hope for ever ends in lasting comfort. Yes, people wish us well, offer their condolences, and try to cheer us up when we’re down. They make efforts to help us when we’re in a battle of life, and tell us they’re praying for us. All that helps us and is a wonderful part of what people can do when they come alongside each other in troubling times. But when the Lord reaches into our souls and brings peace, confidence, and courage, He makes changes unlike anything else. He brings strength, healing, and unspeakable, amazing grace for our needs. That’s comfort that goes beyond description: Comfort that lasts and drives out despair, dismay, discouragement, and all those other “dis” things. Philippians 4:7 says, “And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” Trouble is always around, and comes in all types and ways. Job said in Job 3:26 “…yet trouble came.” It could be sickness, pain, or disappointments. It might be a painful tragedy, accident, or unforeseen calamity. It might be from our own making, caused by others, or it could be just stuff that’s no one’s fault. The end result is the same: we need comfort. The Holy Spirit might send someone with help, or He might turn the winds and tides of life in our favor. But He is the Comforter. He can also use us as instruments of comfort to others. The Bible says in 2 Corinthians 1:4 that He, “comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God”. Jesus is with us in the Holy Spirit just as if He were standing with us in a fleshly body. He is our Comforter and helps us reach out to others in His name. We can offer words spoken in love, a comforting gesture like a hug, a hand on a shoulder, and an offer to pray with them to the God of all comfort.
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January 5, 2026
Proverbs 19:17 “He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto the LORD; and that which he hath given will he pay him again.”
When we show compassion to the helpless, the hurting, the wounded, the hungry, and the downcast souls of this world, it does not go unnoticed in Heaven. It moves the heart of our Father. The Scripture even tells us here that when we give to the poor, we are actually lending to the Lord Himself, and He will repay. That’s quite a promise. And Proverbs 19:17 is not alone. Listen to the beautiful assurance found in Psalms 41:1-3: “Blessed is he that considereth the poor: the LORD will deliver him in time of trouble. The LORD will preserve him, and keep him alive; and he shall be blessed upon the earth: and thou wilt not deliver him unto the will of his enemies. The LORD will strengthen him upon the bed of languishing: thou wilt make all his bed in his sickness.” Think about that for a moment. The Lord promises blessings. He promises preservation. He promises deliverance in time of trouble. He even promises strength in sickness. All this simply connected to a heart that considers the poor. So why would we ever hand this holy opportunity over entirely to government programs or social agencies when it’s a storehouse of blessings for us? Not just for the ones we help, but also for those who obey the Lord in doing so. It’s easy to mistake “unwanted stuff donation” for true compassion. We clean out our closets, gather up clothes that no longer fit, find items we’ve replaced, or box up food we don’t prefer, and we drop it all off somewhere and feel we have done our part. None of that is wrong; it has value. But it may be far from our best efforts. The Lord gave us a better picture in the parable of the good Samaritan. Luke 10:33-34 says, “But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him, And went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him.” The religious crowd passed the wounded man by. They saw him, but they didn’t help him. Yet the Samaritan, an outcast himself, stopped and helped the suffering man. Jesus closed the story with these words in verse 37: “Go, and do thou likewise.” And mission work? It’s not always across the ocean. Many times, it’s across the street. Or at the end of your driveway. Or sitting at your own dinner table. The Holy Spirit will lead us, if we’re willing to see. The Lord has attached rich promises to caring for the poor. Not because He needs our help, but because He desires our hearts to reflect His.
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January 4, 2026
Philippians 2:14 “Do all things without murmurings and disputings”
This verse speaks to us about complaining and arguing, or as my mom used to say, “fussin’ and fightin’”. It’s referring to people who are argumentative, seldom content, and ready to express their misery to anyone they meet. But if we’re believers, we should first look at the truth of who we are. We are children of the eternal God. We are blessed, loved by our Father, and indwelt with the Holy Spirit. We have the mind of Christ. Our needs are met, and our way is prosperous. We have eternal life, and we have a home in heaven. And on top of all this, our God is working all things together for good in our lives. With all that being true, why would we complain and argue? Why wouldn’t we instead be rejoicing, praising the Lord, enjoying His promises, and declaring that we are forgiven and free? Sure, everything in this life isn’t perfect, but we’re headed to a place where it will be. If complaining and arguing have become our pattern, something is amiss, and we’re not enjoying God’s best for us. Not only are we missing the joy of Psalm 118:24, “This is the day which the Lord hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it,” but we are also giving a poor testimony of the goodness of God. We picture ourselves as unthankful, miserable, mean-spirited, and arrogant. Trust me, no one wants to see us coming if all we do is complain, fuss, and oppose everything. God’s will for us is stated in verse 15: “That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world.” We are meant to reflect God’s goodness and glory, not grumble. Do you know someone who complains and argues about everything? It’s hard to know whether it’s just a habit with them or if that’s who they really are. They complain about the weather, the temperature, their spouse, their children, and their job. They don’t like their neighbors, the state of the world, politics, other drivers on the road, or high prices, and on and on it goes. A few minutes of that is about all most people can take. It makes you want to say, “Really, is there anything on earth that pleases you?” and then quietly slip away from their toxic words. What’s worse, sometimes these people are Christians. If we’re complainers, it may be the fruit of an unthankful or bitter heart. Let’s yield to the Holy Spirit who leads us toward gratitude, peace, and contentment. And let’s encourage each other to remember and declare what great things the Lord has done for us.
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January 3, 2026
Philippians 2:13 “For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.”
These words follow verse 12, where we find the statement that has perplexed people for years: “Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.” What does it mean to work out our own salvation and then acknowledge that it is God who works in us to perform His will and pleasure? At first glance, the two almost seem to contradict one another. We first settle the matter with Ephesians 2:8-9: “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.” Clearly, Scripture is not teaching that “working out” our salvation means doing good works to earn eternal life. If that were so, salvation would no longer be a gift: it would be wages earned. The phrase looks back to Philippians 2:10-11: “That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow… And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” When the glory of Christ is revealed, every created being will bow before Him and confess His Lordship. But we, as redeemed people, are unique among His creation in that we have been given forgiveness and eternal life through God’s salvation plan. That truth alone should cause us to walk humbly and reverently, deeply aware that it is only Jesus who sets us apart. Christ did not save us so that we would wander through life as if we have no Lord or Master. He saved us so we would fully enter into this great gift of salvation and pursue every blessing and responsibility that comes with it. The Greek word for “work out” means to put into practice, to realize in daily living, and to shape or mold into fitness. I often think of going to the gym and “working out” to strengthen the body. In the same way, we follow the ways of God as the salvation we have received directs us. And, as today’s verse declares, it is God Himself working in us to produce His will and pleasure. There are times when it may not seem that the Lord is at work in us. There are moments when we miss the mark and fail to live out the beautiful attributes that accompany salvation. Yet we are reminded in Philippians 1:6, “Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ.” So let us work out our salvation by doing what is right, even when it is difficult, and by seeking the fullness of the Holy Spirit so that our hearts stay tender toward God’s Word. He is working in us: And therefore, we gladly work for His glory.
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January 2, 2026
Luke 15:24 “For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry.”
The story of the prodigal son is a story of hope and restoration. It’s a message about humility, repentance, and forgiveness. And from the scene between the father and the older brother, it’s also a lesson about stepping back from our own situations and seeing them from a heavenly perspective. The prodigal was a cocky, headstrong young man who made some terrible choices. He fell from a place of blessing and abundance into a hopeless, stinking mess. Truth is, in one way or another—either in big things or in small—we might all confess that we were, or are, a prodigal at one time or another. It was the heart of the father that made the difference. His unconditional love for his wayward son still speaks to us about God’s goodness and grace. There was no hesitation in making this filthy, pig-smelling, rebellious, money-wasting, loose-living son know he was still a child of his father, and that he still had a right to his sonship. Sure, great damage had been done. Bad memories were made. Blessings were wasted. But sometimes that’s how it is in this life. We mess things up. The prodigal didn’t receive what he deserved; he received grace. The older son didn’t get the rebuke he probably expected; he received a gentle reminder of who he was, what he possessed, and the value of life. The father got his son back, and the family was restored. Both sons needed mercy, compassion, forgiveness, and their father’s unconditional love. I’ve certainly been a prodigal—made stupid choices and wandered far from God’s best for me. And like the older brother, I’ve also sat in the seat of the snooty and become a critic of others, as if I were the righteous judge. But it’s the character and will of the Father that humbles me. I want to be more like Him. May the Lord help me remember that prodigals have a path back to the Father. He loves them, wants them with Him, and is still extending His arms of mercy and grace. May God help me remember Psalms 1:1: “Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful”, and stay out of that seat of self-righteous criticism. Summary: The parable of the prodigal shows us that God’s heart is rich with mercy. Some wander openly and return broken; others stay near but grow cold and critical. Yet all need the Father’s grace. The best place to stand is in the father’s shoes.
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January 1, 2026
Philippians 3:13-14 “but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus”
Five years ago today, and three months after a complete laryngectomy, I began writing short Daily Devotions and posting them on our website. It’s what came to mind after I lost my vocal cords and was adjusting to a new kind of life, one where my only verbal voice is a squawking sound I make in my cheek. I sound a lot like Donald Duck. Those five years have gone by in a flash. In that time, I’ve posted over 1,800 Daily Devotions, 1,800 daily prayers, and my wife Laura reposts them each day on our Facebook page. In the big picture of the millions of religious things that get posted every day, it’s a small thing, but I pray that those who read these posts are blessed and that their faith is strengthened. Today’s verse was the very first verse used in these devotions, and it reminds us that there comes a time when we must stop looking back at where we’ve been and fasten our attention on what is ahead. In the Apostle Paul’s case, his past was a mess. He described his former self in 1 Timothy 1:13 as a blasphemer, a persecutor, and one who injured others. We can always look back and beat ourselves up over past sins and mistakes, allowing guilt and remorse to rob us of joy and peace. But the Lord has taken all the sins and failures of our past away and will never remember them against us (Hebrews 8:12; Psalm 103:12). We know we cannot change the past, yet some allow the past to dominate the present and control the future. The Lord calls us to forget that past in the sense of no longer living under its shadow, and to accept that He has completely and eternally taken it away. “If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature” (2 Corinthians 5:17). It is also time for us to forgive and release the wrongs committed against us by others: injustices, mistreatments, and unfair acts that dishonored and hurt us. The Lord has a better plan than for us to continue carrying the pain of rejection, injury, or unfairness. We are called to reach for the prize of our high calling in Christ Jesus. Our Lord would have us free, at peace, and filled with the Holy Spirit. He gives victory so that we may rejoice always and live a life governed by love, not dominated by regret, sadness, pain, or revenge. In 2026, let’s choose to stop the habit of living life in reverse and look forward in faith and hope. Proverbs 4:18, “But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day.
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