Today's Devotional
“For this child I prayed, and the Lord has granted me my petition that I made to him. Therefore, I have lent him to the Lord. As long as he lives, he is lent to the Lord.” 1 Samuel 1:27-28 (ESV) Hannah, in the Old Testament book of 1 Samuel, was a woman who endured hardship. She was ridiculed in her home, but she also carried the burden of barrenness. She didn’t have peace or security. In the Ancient Near East, it was seen as a shameful thing if a woman couldn’t bear children. Some would have seen Hannah’s condition...
“Every word of God proves true; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him.” Proverbs 30:5 (ESV) When I was just a boy, my dad would say to me, “Son, this book is not just words on paper. It’s not just black on white. Every time you open God’s Book, you are...
“There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord.” 1 Corinthians 12:5 (NIV) Teamwork is something that I have come to appreciate. It speaks to the functions and roles that each of us as believers have been assigned to. We all have different skill sets, different strength areas, and different ways of looking at...
“The Lord will watch over your coming and going, both now and forevermore.” Psalm 121:8 (NIV) As a young girl learning to drive, I can remember the fear, exhilaration, and freedom that I experienced when behind the steering wheel. What a sense of responsibility to be out on the “open road.” I felt fairly confident...
“Then God said, ‘Let the land produce vegetation: seed bearing plants and trees on the land that bear fruit with seed in it.’” Genesis 1:11 (NIV, bold emphasis mine) Seeds are another miracle that we have seen since childhood, so we tend to take them for granted. But what if we had never seen a...
“Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost.” Luke 15:6b (NKJV) One of my favorite Bible stories is about the “Lost Sheep,” and one of my favorite hymns is “The Ninety and Nine,” about the Lost Sheep. It wasn’t until I went to a church and saw a picture of Jesus...
“If riches increase, set not your heart upon them.” Psalm 62:10; “For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.” 1 Timothy 6:10 (KJV) A number of years ago we visited Barkerville, BC, which is...
“Pay what you have vowed. Better not to vow than to vow and not pay.” Ecclesiastes 5:4,5 (NKJV) Janis was tired of her job flipping burgers. Now an office clerk, she is welcomed into the women’s office clique! Kandace, her new coworker, sings, “Remember it’s Friday. We’re meeting at Jambo’s this time!” “See you there!”...
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding.” Proverbs 3:5 (NLT) This Bible verse is commonly used to speak about trusting in the Lord, and it would come to my mind as I would seek God’s will about certain matters. One particular matter I did ask about when...
“For he who does wrong will receive the consequences of the wrong which he has done, and that without partiality.” Colossians 3:25 (NASB) I guess the issue of “consequences” is something we all need to get a handle on at some time or another. We were on tour, down in central Washington State a bunch...
“Therefore, since we have these promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God.” 2 Corinthians 7:1 (NIV) It was time for spring cleaning in our home again, and I had finally reached the last room, the living room. After a few hours...
Do you know the Creator's Son?