Daily Devo

Listen to today’s devo!

Let me live that I may praise you, and may your laws sustain me. (Ps. 119:175)

Expanded Passage: Psalm 119:169-176

I was enjoying a lovely and leisurely dinner with a ninety-year-old woman when she said something that impacted me deeply: “Let me tell you what God has been teaching me this year.” She went on to share with me the work God had been doing in her life and all that she was learning and applying. But what struck me the most was the fact that God is never done teaching us, whether we are nine or ninety. Here was a woman living every day out of the overflow of her relationship with Jesus: listening, learning, and applying God’s Word and way to her daily life.

Psalm 119, the longest psalm, is a carefully constructed prayer to God that sings the praises of his Word and reflects on the impact it has upon those who live it out. It is a love poem to God and his steadfastness. Nearly every stanza points to God’s law and how we are to live by it. As this psalm comes to a close, however, we are reminded that we can’t follow his law on our own; we need God’s help. Jesus is that help. He is the living Word, the truth, the fulfillment of the law. He is our salvation, our shepherd, and sustainer. When we know this Jesus, our lives begin to overflow with praise, each and every day of our lives.

Tell someone what God has been teaching you.

Jenn Petersen is president & CEO for World Hope International. She is also cofounder and copastor of Resurrection Life NYC, a Wesleyan church in Manhattan.

© 2026 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!

These things are excellent and profitable for everyone. (Titus 3:8)

Expanded Passage: Titus 3:1-15

In 2015, my husband, children, and I packed up our belongings and moved from Texas to New York to plant a church in Manhattan. What seemed crazy to others was a clear invitation from God to us: Were we willing to give up our comfort in order to love, serve, and seek the prosperity of New York? We obediently said yes and followed Jesus into this new adventure. What we soon realized is that this would not be fast or easy. This was a deep, long-lasting commitment to seek the good of the city so that all may flourish and see the love of Christ through our lives.

Paul’s message to Titus could be summed up as, “You haven’t just been saved from something, you’ve been saved for something.” Yes, we’re saved and redeemed by Jesus through his grace and mercy from sin and death—hallelujah! And we are saved by Jesus in order to do good, pointing others toward the “now and not yet” kingdom of God—hallelujah! As the hymn writer penned, we have “strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow.”

We’re saved by grace in order to do good works. This should be evident to all around us, whether we live in Boston, Omaha, Albuquerque, or somewhere in between. The good news of Jesus is excellent and profitable for everyone. How will you live it out?

Take a tangible step to serve someone in your neighborhood.

Jenn Petersen is president & CEO for World Hope International. She is also cofounder and copastor of Resurrection Life NYC, a Wesleyan church in Manhattan.

© 2026 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!

Our people must learn to devote themselves to doing what is good, in order to provide for urgent needs and not live unproductive lives. (Titus 3:14)

Expanded Passage: Titus 3:12-15

I have the honor of leading World Hope International, a Christian relief and development organization bringing hope in hard places through clean water, global health, and protection. On a recent trip to Sierra Leone, I had the privilege of meeting an eight-year-old boy named Bailo. Bailo has quadriplegic cerebral palsy. Unfortunately, when he was born his mother was told he was a demon and should be abandoned. His mother, however, bravely and firmly advocated for her son and sought help from World Hope, who provided physical therapy as well as disability inclusion and awareness training for his community. Today, Bailo smiles from ear to ear, attends school, and is surrounded by a family and community who love him.

Paul wrote, “Our people must learn to devote themselves to doing what is good.” Doing good is something we must practice with intentionality, because our natural inclination is to serve ourselves rather than others. The way of Jesus compels us to defy that inward curve toward self and move self-sacrificially outward, loving and serving others, particularly those who have urgent needs.

Because people at World Hope are devoted to following Jesus, to doing good and providing for urgent needs, children like Bailo have opportunity, dignity, and hope. This is what it looks like to live a productive life. This is what it looks like to bring hope to a hurting world.

Intentionally seek an opportunity to bring hope to someone today.

Jenn Petersen is president & CEO for World Hope International. She is also cofounder and copastor of Resurrection Life NYC, a Wesleyan church in Manhattan.

© 2026 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!

But avoid foolish controversies and genealogies and arguments and quarrels about the law, because these are unprofitable and useless. (Titus 3:9)

Expanded Passage: Titus 3:9-11

If Paul were alive today, I wonder what he would have to say about how we treat one another, whether in person or on social media platforms. Day after day, my feed is filled with heated arguments, dehumanizing comments, polarizing positions, and statements intended to cause division. What is even more disheartening is that many of these are shared by people who consider themselves Christians. I, too, have said things in the heat of the moment that I wish I hadn’t, and I would venture to guess you’ve had that experience as well.

Notice that Paul used the verb “avoid” here. “Avoid foolish controversies . . . because these are unprofitable and useless.” The Greek word means to position oneself in a way that steers clear of unnecessary quarrels. How are you positioning yourself when engaging with others on divisive topics? Do you go into attack mode, positioning yourself against the person with whom you’re arguing? Are you spending your efforts stirring up conflict? Or are you positioning yourself as a person of peace—listening, learning, and prayerfully discerning? One position is unprofitable and useless; the other can lead to understanding and reconciliation. Which will you choose?

If Paul were alive today, I don’t think we have to wonder what he would say about how we treat one another. He has already made it clear: look to Jesus and follow his way.

Position yourself today as a person of peace.

Jenn Petersen is president & CEO for World Hope International. She is also cofounder and copastor of Resurrection Life NYC, a Wesleyan church in Manhattan.

© 2026 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!

He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ. (Titus 3:5–6)

Expanded Passage: Titus 3:5-8

At the church my husband and I pastor in New York City, we hold our baptism services on the rooftop of the school where we meet. During a recent baptism service, one of the men shared his testimony of moving from believing his worth depended on his own performance to finding his identity in Christ. As he came up out of the waters of baptism, he immediately threw his hands up in the air, fully knowing the freedom of receiving the gift of new life. At the same time, the congregation erupted in cheers and applause, welcoming this new believer into the family of God!

In all of Paul’s letters, this is the only place that mentions rebirth, which immediately reminds us of John’s gospel when Jesus interacted with Nicodemus about being “born again.” This image of cleansing waters bringing new life, rebirth, and renewal is paramount to our understanding of the sacrament of baptism. We follow Jesus and identify with him in his death and resurrection, but it is the Holy Spirit who does the cleansing work of renewal. His grace justifies us, declaring us righteous in the eyes of God because of the work of Jesus on the cross and through his resurrection. We’re not just changed; we are made new. This is something worth throwing our hands up in the air—hallelujah!

Praise God for how he has made you new.

Jenn Petersen is president & CEO for World Hope International. She is also cofounder and copastor of Resurrection Life NYC, a Wesleyan church in Manhattan.

© 2026 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!

He saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. (Titus 3:5)

Expanded Passage: Titus 3:3-5

“But Mom, you don’t remember what it’s like to be a teenager!” I’m probably not the only parent who has heard these words, and I likely won’t be the last. The reality is, it’s easy to forget what it was like when we were younger, and perhaps it is just as easy to forget what life was like before knowing Christ. When working with Christians on how to share their story of coming to know Christ, I often encourage them to reflect on three questions: What was your life like before knowing Jesus? How did you get to know him? What is your life like now? What never ceases to amaze me is that through every story, the love and kindness of Jesus shines through. It is always Jesus who does the saving. It is never something we can earn on our own. It is because of God’s mercy that we are saved.

And we aren’t just saved; we are changed. Notice the fruit that comes from Jesus’ saving work. Rather than foolishness, there is wisdom. Rather than disobedience, there is obedience. Instead of being enslaved, we live in freedom. We move from hating one another to loving one another. This is not something we can do on our own; this is something that only comes from the mercy and love of the Savior. Praise God! Let us not forget.

Take time to remember how Jesus saved you.

Jenn Petersen is president & CEO for World Hope International. She is also cofounder and copastor of Resurrection Life NYC, a Wesleyan church in Manhattan.

© 2026 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!

Be ready to do whatever is good. (Titus 3:1)

Expanded Passage: Titus 3:1-2

Our family’s golden retriever, Charlie, is a typical, lazy dog. She lies around the house all day until hearing her favorite phrase: “Do you want to go outside?” Then, she jumps to her feet and runs to the door, ready for whatever adventure awaits her.

Paul’s letter to Titus reminds the church that, while we don’t earn our salvation, it is because of the salvation of Christ that we are to live differently. Because of God’s grace, we are to be a new kind of humanity, one that points to the kingdom of God. We’re to be obedient, ready to jump into whatever adventure God has for us. Because we, as followers of Jesus, have been the recipients of such radical grace, this should also impact how we interact with others. This is where things get a little—or a lot—more difficult. Paul’s instructions are that we slander no one. Not our bosses, mothers-in-law, nor leadership with whom we disagree. Can we disagree? We most certainly will. But what would it look like for Christians to disagree without slandering? What would it look like in today’s world to be peaceable and considerate, always gentle toward everyone? What would it look like if followers of Jesus lived like Charlie, ready to jump up and do whatever is good? This is the adventure God has for us—how will you respond?

Be ready to say yes to doing good today.

Jenn Petersen is president & CEO for World Hope International. She is also cofounder and copastor of Resurrection Life NYC, a Wesleyan church in Manhattan.

© 2026 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!

Great peace have those who love your law. (Ps. 119:165)

Expanded Passage: Psalm 119:161-168

One of the first Hebrew words Max Federmann learned as a child was “shalom.” Although “shalom” means “peace,” he did not know peace growing up as a Jew in Germany. He was a child when Hitler came to power and Nazi storm troopers began destroying the property of every Jew.

His brother escaped to China, his father and four sisters fled to London, but Max, his mother, and younger siblings did not make it. At age sixteen, facing a labor camp, he escaped to Yugoslavia and then to Italy.

After the war, he married an Italian girl named Leda. She accepted the Hebrew faith, and they raised their children as Jews. Emigrating to the United States, they settled in California, where their older son was killed in a car accident, and Max became bitter.

Later, a neighbor invited their other son to a church camp, and he came home believing in Jesus. Max’s wife visited the church, and she too received Christ.

Confused, Max turned to the Hebrew Scriptures, which stirred up enough questions that he read the Christian Bible. He encountered Jesus in God’s Word and accepted Christ as Savior. So many years of bitterness over the Nazis and the death of his son culminated in peace with God because he found God in his Word.

Have you found the peace that “transcends all understanding” (Phil. 4:7)?

Read God’s Word and receive the peace he provides.

Ron McClung is a retired minister in The Wesleyan Church who enjoys writing and loves interacting with his large family.

© 2026 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!

Encourage and rebuke with all authority. (Titus 2:15)

Expanded Passage: Titus 2:1-15

It’s a rare person who can encourage and rebuke with balance. But let’s face it, we need both. People need to be encouraged when they’re on the right path, and they need rebuke, warning, and caution when they’re straying off the path.

We need encouragement when life gets tough and hands us more than we think we can handle at one time. That’s when we need to hear things like, “You can do it,” “Don’t give up,” “Just hold on a little longer.” Rebuke is what we need when we’re tempted to rationalize, take our own way instead of God’s way, or when we think the rules don’t apply to us.

Phyllis Theroux said, “One of the commodities in life that most people can’t get enough of is compliments. . . . But compliments by their very nature are highly biodegradable and tend to dissolve hours or days after we receive them—which is why we can always use another.”

On the other hand, rebukes are not nearly as much fun. But they are nevertheless just as important if we’re heading in the wrong direction.

May God give us all grace to accept encouragement humbly and receive rebukes graciously. May we also learn to give compliments generously and give rebukes with courage and sensitivity, but only when necessary. If you enjoy giving rebukes, you should probably check your attitude.

Ask God to help you give encouragement and rebuke in proper balance.

Ron McClung is a retired minister in The Wesleyan Church who enjoys writing and loves interacting with his large family.

© 2026 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!

It teaches us to . . . live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope. (Titus 2:12–13)

Expanded Passage: Titus 2:11-14

Lloyd John Ogilvie, who became chaplain of the US Senate, was vacationing in Scotland. One afternoon, he decided to hike along the rugged coast without telling anyone where he was going. He plunged ahead in spite of the rain, the wind, and the waves crashing on the rocks.

As he jumped from one wet rock to another, his foot slipped, and his leg became jammed between two giant boulders. He tried to free himself, but his leg collapsed “like limp spaghetti.” When he managed to pull it out, he discovered he could not put any weight on it, and later learned it was broken in several places.

Miles from any other human, he knew he could die in the cold before anyone looked for him or discovered him.

So he prayed. As he did, a plan came to him. By pushing himself backward with his hands, like a crab, he could make progress. The pain was severe. But he remembered the verse about God giving us “hope and a future” (Jer. 29:11).

He felt God was telling him, “You are not finished! I am your hope!”

It stopped raining, and he saw three people in the distance. One was a doctor who summoned a farmer with a vehicle and took Lloyd to a hospital. Out of that experience Lloyd developed a stronger hope and a deeper assurance of God’s presence.

Put your hope in God and trust in his future for you.

Ron McClung is a retired minister in The Wesleyan Church who enjoys writing and loves interacting with his large family.

© 2026 Wesleyan Publishing House. Reprinted from Light from the Word. Used by permission. Scriptures taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®.