Daily Devo

Listen to today’s devo!

Because the hand of the Lord my God was on me, I took courage and gathered leaders from Israel to go up with me. (Ezra 7:28)

Expanded Passage: Ezra 7:27-28

There are some conversations I would rather not have but that need to happen. Certain topics, controversial among believers, swing between heated arguments and strict avoidance. But my life circumstances keep me in proximity of these tough topics and regularly draw me into these difficult conversations. This new aspect of my calling requires immense courage, grace, and wisdom.

God calls his people to do things that are bigger than themselves because his purposes are greater than we can understand. He uses the weak to confound the wise. His plan often appears paradoxical, but there is no reason to be afraid when his hand is on us.

Ezra was a student, scribe, and teacher of the law. He obeyed its commands and taught others to do the same. The king’s appointment for Ezra to return to Jerusalem was a big assignment that required strength and courage. Ezra recognized God’s hand was on him because the king provided everything he asked.

Could Ezra have declined? Possibly. Perhaps he could have suggested a soldier go in his place. But he recognized God was putting pieces in place for him to take part in the unfolding story of the Israelites’ return to Jerusalem. So he gathered his resources and supporters and heeded the assignment.

God doesn’t necessarily call us to what we expect. But he equips us to follow through.

Follow God's call despite impossible circumstances, because you don't walk alone.

Elizabeth Rhyno is a Wesleyan worship and discipleship pastor and entrepreneur. She enjoys helping people deepen their intimacy with the Lord and grow in their joyful purpose.

© 2025 Wesleyan Publishing House. Reprinted from Light from the Word. Used by permission. Scriptures taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®.

Listen to today’s devo!

For Ezra had devoted himself to the study and observance of the Law of the Lord, and to teaching its decrees and laws in Israel. (Ezra 7:10)

Expanded Passage: Ezra 7:6-10

Every Friday in my junior year, I had a Psychology test. In this unusual 101 class, we didn’t have class time. Instead, we had a twenty-five-pound textbook, and the gumption and stick-to-it-iveness to learn the content for each week’s test. I loved it because I was a great memorizer. I didn’t love it because it usually required a Thursday all-nighter.

Ezra devoted himself to the study and observance of God’s law. He also taught others, helping them observe the laws in everyday life. He dreamed of Israel coming back together in the newly rebuilt and dedicated temple, so when King Artaxerxes of Persia appointed him to lead a wave of exiled Israelites back from Babylon, he anticipated a bold opportunity to help bring about the spiritual renewal that his heart longed to see.

It mattered to Ezra that the heart behind the law impacted who people were—hat the words of the law inhabited them and changed how they lived. He longed to see them shine as God’s chosen people.

When I crammed information into my head late on Thursday nights, it fueled me to ace my tests. However, it did not impact my daily life nor stick with me beyond the semester. There is a vast difference between seeking information in the Bible and seeking the heart of God through it. One will inform while the other can transform.

Seek the heart of God when you read his Word.

Elizabeth Rhyno is a Wesleyan worship and discipleship pastor and entrepreneur. She enjoys helping people deepen their intimacy with the Lord and grow in their joyful purpose.

© 2025 Wesleyan Publishing House. Reprinted from Light from the Word. Used by permission. Scriptures taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®.

Listen to today’s devo!

Let the one who is wise heed these things and ponder the loving deeds of the Lord. (Ps. 107:43)

Expanded Passage: Psalm 107:33-43

When teaching young preachers about proclaiming God’s truths, I often spend a great deal of time discussing the importance of considering from which point of view one is preaching. Plain and simple, I ask: Is it God’s truth or is it humanity’s so-called wisdom regarding how to live? I can usually tell from the title of a sermon what source of truth is being followed.

The wisdom of Psalm 107 tells us that we need to consider the loving deeds of the Lord and from where those actually come—from the hand of God, not from anything we can ever imagine or try to invent. The Bible is about God, not us. Life is about God, not us. God has graciously given us both of these things, but even so, all of it is to bring glory to his name and kingdom. When we seek our own ways, we miss out on God’s goodness.

Perhaps today would be a good day to reflect on who is in charge of your life. Ask yourself: Through which point of view will I live my life? Is it mine, or is it God’s? For when we have sought after the Lord, when we follow him instead of ourselves, life with our loving God—both now and in eternity—is unbelievably good.

Return to God’s truth instead of humanity’s ideals.

Jim Dunn is the president of Oklahoma Wesleyan University (OK). He previously served as the executive director of Church Multiplication and Discipleship for The Wesleyan Church.

© 2025 Wesleyan Publishing House. Reprinted from Light from the Word. Used by permission. Scriptures taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®.

Listen to today’s devo!

The Lord had filled them with joy by changing the attitude of the king of Assyria. (Ezra 6:22)

Expanded Passage: Ezra 6:1-3, 13-22

Have you ever prayed that God would change the attitude of a person or of a group of people? Perhaps someone in charge needed to listen to God more, or a group of people, even a congregation, needed to seek God’s leadership more fervently. Perhaps through these prayers, you too were changed.

In Ezra’s lifetime, God changed the attitude of the king of Assyria in order to get his temple rebuilt and finished according to his specifications. In fact, God used three kings to accomplish his purpose of rebuilding the temple. God shows us in this passage that he can work through unlikely circumstances. He can change the perspectives of others and give us the proper perspective all at the same time.

We can never say enough about God’s sovereignty. He either knows what he is doing, or he doesn’t. We think we can rationalize, even spiritualize, everything God does in life and ministry, but we would be better off not to try. We are not God. And, since this is the case, we can take the opportunity to believe that he knows what is best, even when things may not make sense in this life.

You never know how God will accomplish his work. Maybe it’s you whom God desires to work through today. God will accomplish his work, and may he do it through us, not despite us.

Open your heart to God’s shaping.

Jim Dunn is the president of Oklahoma Wesleyan University (OK). He previously served as the executive director of Church Multiplication and Discipleship for The Wesleyan Church.

© 2025 Wesleyan Publishing House. Reprinted from Light from the Word. Used by permission. Scriptures taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®.

Listen to today’s devo!

The Israelites . . . separated themselves from the unclean practices of their Gentile neighbors in order to seek the Lord. (Ezra 6:21)

Expanded Passage: Ezra 6:19-22

An old cartoon called Dennis the Menace featured an energetic young boy named Dennis who drove his neighbor, Mr. Wilson, crazy. In one scene, Mr. Wilson decided to play hide-and-seek with Dennis in order to keep the boy occupied and out of his hair. Mr. Wilson told Dennis to go and hide. The only problem with the game that day was that Mr. Wilson never went to find Dennis. Many minutes later, Dennis was found pouting. His mother asked him what was wrong. He said, “Mr. Wilson and I were playing hide-and-seek. The only problem is that Mr. Wilson doesn’t seek.”

The exiles were told to separate themselves from “unclean practices” and seek the Lord. Seeking involves looking for something. It requires focus, and focusing on one thing means we need to get away from other things.

We must ask: What are the “unclean practices” in my life? In my surroundings? Am I seeking a career, riches, relationships, hobbies, or other things more than I am looking to God to find authentic purpose for my life? Are you like Mr. Wilson, choosing not to seek, or like an Israelite, removing distractions to focus on seeking God? The beauty of this game of hide-and-seek is that God is not hiding, but rather waiting for you with open arms.

Separate yourself and seek the Lord with your entire being.

Jim Dunn is the president of Oklahoma Wesleyan University (OK). He previously served as the executive director of Church Multiplication and Discipleship for The Wesleyan Church.

© 2025 Wesleyan Publishing House. Reprinted from Light from the Word. Used by permission. Scriptures taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®.

Listen to today’s devo!

And they installed the priests in their divisions and the Levites in their groups for the service of God at Jerusalem. (Ezra 6:18)

Expanded Passage: Ezra 6:18

The youth of any society usually struggle with structure. Boundaries are too stifling, too controlling. I used to think that about many structures in culture. However, the alternative—chaos—is not a good option either. As life progresses, I have grown to appreciate structure. As a leader, I was often tasked with deconstructing and restructuring many things in life and in ministry. What I’ve discovered is that the temptation to trust ourselves seems ever-present when it comes to organization and management.

In this record of Ezra’s lifetime, God commanded the structure of his temple along with those who would serve him in ministry. His newly completed temple needed its service function to flow with God’s ordered structure, which is part of the reason he installed the priests and Levites in this passage.

Think about a few things God has structured for us. He structured the human body and mind. He configured the universe without humanity’s help. He even gave structure through his Word for his body, the church. God provided a framework for wisdom and intelligence. He has provided structure through his grace and truth, outlining the way of redemption for all humankind. He has even given us glimpses into how heaven is structured. While celebrating Jesus' birth today, recognize our Creator’s carefully crafted master plan and strive to embrace his commandments in daily life.

Organize your life around God’s structure—his Word.

Jim Dunn is the president of Oklahoma Wesleyan University (OK). He previously served as the executive director of Church Multiplication and Discipleship for The Wesleyan Church.

© 2025 Wesleyan Publishing House. Reprinted from Light from the Word. Used by permission. Scriptures taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®.

Listen to today’s devo!

Then the people of Israel—the priests, the Levites and the rest of the exiles—celebrated the dedication of the house of God with joy. (Ezra 6:16)

Expanded Passage: Ezra 6:16-17

Around twenty years ago, I was seated on the platform of the church I was pastoring. We sang “Great Is Thy Faithfulness” as a congregation that day as we dedicated a beautiful church construction project to God. I started to sing and broke down in tears. I couldn’t sing. I was so grateful for the mighty help of the Lord to get us to where we were as a church. I was also exhausted and a bit overwhelmed on the inside with the pressure of the project.

Reflecting on that modern-day construction project, I wonder what the celebration must have been like when God’s temple was finally completed. There were many doubters. There were many delays. It was a daunting task with so many godless people in power. The exiles must have been exhausted in more ways than one. Yet, they didn’t let their emotions and setbacks stop them. God ordered it, and they accomplished it with his help leading the way.

Most of us need to do a better job celebrating God’s work in and around our lives. Perhaps the weight of responsibility or the next task can cause you to move too abruptly from celebrating God’s blessings in life. But taking time to pause, to reflect and rejoice at what God has done, is an important part of building our faith and remaining focused on God’s glory.

Pause to celebrate God’s goodness often!

Jim Dunn is the president of Oklahoma Wesleyan University (OK). He previously served as the executive director of Church Multiplication and Discipleship for The Wesleyan Church.

© 2025 Wesleyan Publishing House. Reprinted from Light from the Word. Used by permission. Scriptures taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®.

Listen to today’s devo!

They finished building the temple according to the command of the God of Israel and the decrees of Cyrus, Darius and Artaxerxes, kings of Persia. (Ezra 6:14)

Expanded Passage: Ezra 6:13-15

Sovereignty is not a concept or doctrine that is frequently talked about anymore. Often, we have become convinced that we can take care of things if we are industrious enough. Many theologies exist today that are human-centered instead of being God-centered. The other day, I even heard that you can control your own destiny in life if you would only “focus yourself on the epicenters of the universe.” Frankly, I don’t even know what that means.

To the casual onlooker, the decree to rebuild God’s temple needed a seal of approval from three earthly kings. While this may look like the truth, it was really God who commanded his temple be finished. The God of Israel ruled with sovereignty over the entire process.

He still is. God, in his past and present sovereignty, is the one who is in control of all things, whether we recognize that fact or not. Earthly kings, you, and I are not without free will, but ultimately we are God’s instruments, put to use to accomplish his will. His power of volition is supreme over all rulers, all oppressors, and even all the pagan libraries where the building plans were ultimately found during Darius’ reign.

Will we be able to understand God’s sovereign will fully? No. Do we need to trust that God is in control and knows what he is doing? Definitely!

Trust in the sovereign command of the Lord, not the limited decrees of humankind.

Jim Dunn is the president of Oklahoma Wesleyan University (OK). He previously served as the executive director of Church Multiplication and Discipleship for The Wesleyan Church.

© 2025 Wesleyan Publishing House. Reprinted from Light from the Word. Used by permission. Scriptures taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®.

Listen to today’s devo!

Let the temple be rebuilt as a place to present sacrifices, and let its foundations be laid. (Ezra 6:3)

Expanded Passage: Ezra 6:1-3

We live in a world of mouths. Yes, there is a real thing in society called “word of mouth,” which spreads even more swiftly in our day thanks to social media. Another phenomenon has slammed into our information age, and it demands our attention: Everyone is speaking at once. With all the cries for attention infiltrating our minds, you could liken it to a modern-day Babel. Often, trying to drown out all of the overlapping chatter seems beyond our control.

For the Jewish people, it took the decree of King Cyrus for the construction of God’s temple to be completed. It took an order from King Darius to search the records and find Cyrus’ decree. By their authority, God’s temple was finally rebuilt. The authority that King Cyrus had over the Jewish people was not in their control.

Similarly, some have authority today to decree things to us or on us. We cannot control these decrees. But we can ask ourselves: To whom am I listening? Whom have I given permission to speak into my life? Whom or what have I allowed to impact my life? Is it for good? Does it bring about wholesome thoughts and behaviors? In a world that just keeps talking, we must filter through all the voices to recognize the voice of the King of Kings.

Learn how to recognize God’s voice and know his decrees.

Jim Dunn is the president of Oklahoma Wesleyan University (OK). He previously served as the executive director of Church Multiplication and Discipleship for The Wesleyan Church.

© 2025 Wesleyan Publishing House. Reprinted from Light from the Word. Used by permission. Scriptures taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®.

Listen to today’s devo!

With God we will gain the victory. (Ps. 108:13)

Expanded Passage: Psalm 108:1-13

Have you thought about New Year’s resolutions yet? Me neither.

I have never been a great practitioner of resolutions. Then last year about this time, I learned that the second Friday of January is called Quitter’s Day because most people have given up on their resolutions by that time.

I do like to set goals. Each week, I have a list of things I want to accomplish over that seven-day period. The software I use even has a little box beside each item so I can check it off when I complete the task. I don’t put my Bible reading, devotional, and prayer time on the list, although that is a daily habit that I try to stick to faithfully.

Whether you form resolutions, set goals, or make to-do lists, your attitude about the whole process is extremely important. The American philosopher William James believed that one’s attitude at the beginning of any venture, especially a difficult task, affects the outcome more than anything else.

David had a great attitude. He believed that “with God we will gain the victory.” That attitude has so much going for it. Partnership with God, for one thing. Confidence that we will succeed, for another.

As we approach the new year, let’s determine that God will help us be victorious in whatever we undertake. With that attitude, I predict a great year!

Enter the new year believing that together, you and God will win.

Ron McClung is a retired minister in The Wesleyan Church. He lives in Michigan and has two sons, two outstanding daughters-in-law, nine grandchildren, and six great-grandchildren.

© 2025 Wesleyan Publishing House. Reprinted from Light from the Word. Used by permission. Scriptures taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®.