Kerusso Daily Devotional

Have you ever tried to follow God in a half-hearted way? You know what that means. You like the idea of God, but His perfect will for our lives also can feel restrictive.

That’s the moment you are walking along the highway of life completely alone.

Proverbs 3:5–6 says, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.”

Notice the precise language in these beautiful verses. We are to trust Him with all of our heart. Don’t take your eyes off Him and follow your own choices. Be upfront that He is your peace. It’s then He picks you up, protects you, and carries you home.

Today is the day you’re thinking about all this. You’ve messed up. You’ve messed up in the most spectacular and disheartening way.

And it is exactly at this moment that God is ready to do the greatest miracle in your life. Tell him you’ve screwed up and have no idea where to turn.

There—you’re learning to completely trust Him. Commit your life to Him, and be consistent about it from now on.

Remember today: the turning point to an awesome future!

Let’s pray.

Lord, help us to reject our own flawed wisdom and rely totally on yours. In Jesus' name. Amen.

It's amazing how important the right perspective is in helping us maintain a healthy balance in every area of life. Alphonse Karr has said, “Some people grumble that roses have thorns. I'm grateful that thorns have roses.” Isn't that amazing? It's so common to gripe and complain about negatives, yet we don't see the great things right in front of our faces.

Derek Carpenter has written, “The benefits of practicing gratitude are nearly endless. People who regularly practice gratitude by taking time to notice and reflect upon the things they're thankful for experience more positive emotions, feel more alive, sleep better, express more compassion and kindness, and even have stronger immune systems.” Just one of those benefits would be worth the effort, but in fact, there are tons more. 

Research tells us that you can improve your business by genuinely thanking employees. In turn, they develop more self-worth and confidence. This filters down through the company as workers help each other and their bosses. Remember the genuinely part. Most people can spot fake praise. Make it real.

Showing gratitude toward the one you love also boosts the relationship and has been proven to build trust. Ephesians 1:16 says, “I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers.” 

One more. Have you ever been depressed? In 2005, a positive psychology study found that a single act of kindness lessened depression by 35%. The effect lasted for several weeks. Next time you're blue, do something nice for someone else, and track your own mood. 

Consider keeping a brief log of your daily blessings. You might put these in your phone or a small notebook. Wherever you record them, track how your moods and physical health may improve. 

Getting into a habit of being grateful can change your life and the lives of others. One more tangible benefit to be thankful for.

Let's pray. 

Father God, we get in a rut, stuck in our own problems and bad moods. Help us to see that a heart of gratitude can bring positive changes to our lives and to the lives of those we encounter on a daily basis. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

John Kralik was in a bad place. The LA attorney was generally miserable…divorced again, broke, and living in a dingy apartment with no air conditioning. He was also struggling to pay his employees because clients wouldn't pay him. Not exactly glamorous, but then John did an amazing thing. He decided he would concentrate on things to be grateful for, and follow that up with writing a thank you note every day for an entire year.

Over time, and not too slowly actually, John's life began to improve. Life looked good again. One of the greatest outcomes has been the influence he's had on others. His book, “A Simple Act of Gratitude: How Learning To Say Thank You Changed My Life” sold like crazy. He said that the year-long thank you notes helped him prioritize good things, and helped him focus on that.

John also has noticed a really interesting thing. A person's natural tendency is to focus on nine things that go wrong. Yet what would happen if we focused instead on even a single good thing? He understands that we all can help each other. Rising tide lifts all boats, as they say. Just as we can help others form the discipline of gratitude, they can be our accountability in a very real way.

Every day we can text, email, call, or otherwise communicate to friends and family things that we're grateful for. In turn, we can receive their good reports. 

Colossians 3:15 says, “Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts to which indeed you were called in one body and be thankful.”

Whether it's a community of believers or simply the wider culture, we can help each other every single day by passing along what we're grateful for. There's power in telling another what they mean to you, or passing along thanks for something as simple as a shared meal. Such a choice doesn't cost anything, but it piles up spiritual treasure for us. Pretty soon you'll be grateful just for being grateful.

Let's pray. 

Father God, your blessings to us are endless. From the perfect distance from the sun for proper warmth and light to the love that you placed in our hearts for family and friends, you're a good God and you're deserving of our praise. We look forward to a glorious future with you. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

From the Bible, we know that a consistent heart of gratitude keeps us in harmony in our relationship with God, but in a practical sense, how do we maintain it and how can we be intentional? 

A first clue is the example of Paul. Philippians 4:12–13 says, “I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I've learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me.” 

Notice that the famous preacher trained his mind and heart to be always grateful. This meant a conscious, daily, hourly focus on the good things God has brought him. And sometimes we're down to basics on this. Life, food to eat, clothes to wear, shelter. That's all many people have, and it's easy — living in the US especially — to forget that our basic needs are met. But choosing gratitude is key.

The actor Will Arnett does this. He says, “I'm happy because I'm grateful, and I choose to be grateful. That gratitude allows me to be happy.” Another way to maintain a grateful heart is being very mindful every day of what God has gifted us with. Music icon Willie Nelson understands the value of such an attitude. He says, “When I started counting my blessings, my whole life turned around.” Take stock every day and actually list the things you're grateful for. Soon enough, it'll be part of your daily routine. 

A third way to maintain a grateful heart is to choose to focus on the positive. There's enough junk in the world. What you choose to focus on will in large part define you. It's sort of like a natural law. If you do an act of kindness for someone, or sit for 20 minutes watching a gorgeous sunset instead of scrolling through the news on your phone, you'll find that joy and a grateful heart become your reality. God loves you. Start your journey toward gratitude with that. 

Let's pray.

Father God, no one can stop us from thanking you for your love and grace. That's our first step toward having a grateful heart. From breathing clean air to enjoying a holiday with family and friends, we commit ourselves to a life of gratitude. In Jesus' name. Amen.

New York Times writer Arthur Brooks once cooked a Thanksgiving dinner for his in-laws in Spain. Over dinner, a couple of questions were asked. The first, “What does this beast eat to be so filled with bread?”, and then, “Should you celebrate this holiday even if you don't feel grateful?”

The first question is just funny. The second should give us all pause. Being grateful is a state of mind. It's intentional. Too many times, we get caught up in what we don't have, and let's be honest, as Americans, we have a lot. 

In Psalm 97:12, we read, “Be glad in the Lord, you righteous ones, and give thanks to his holy name.”

Robert Emmons, a professor of psychology at the University of California Davis says, “There's a magnetic appeal to gratitude,” and that it speaks to a need that's deeply entrenched.

In the Bible, there are powerful examples of people who were grateful for everything God had given them.

In First Samuel, we read about Hannah, who was childless until her sustained prayer moved God's heart. When she gave birth to Samuel, she was so grateful that she took him to the temple and dedicated his life to service to the Lord. In the gospels of Matthew and Luke, a Roman centurion asked Jesus to heal his servant who was deathly ill. Though Jesus offered to go to his house, the centurion was so appreciative, his faith compelled him to say that he knew Jesus could heal the servant without traveling to the home, and Jesus rewarded this gratitude by healing the servant in just that way.

Gratitude multiplies itself. Once you become intentional about practicing gratitude, you practice it more and more, and in turn, your faith grows so much that others notice, and in becoming this kind of example, you'll never have to ask if you should be grateful, even if you don't feel like it. You'll feel like it all the time. 

Let's pray.

Father, we want to practice daily gratitude for all you've graciously given us. Praising you with our prayers, and being intentional with our gratitude honors you and settles our hearts. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Psychologists and self-help gurus will all tell us that a grateful heart and a positive outlook will do wonders for health and relationships. A person with a heart of gratitude will be seen by others who will want to follow, and see what he has going for him.

Such a person is a magnet for sharing the Gospel, and the greatest source of wisdom has much to say on the subject. Dozens of times in the Bible, we read about the value of gratitude. Paul mentions it several times, including in the account of Elisha healing a woman’s sick son.

We read in 2 Kings 4:37, “She fell at his feet and bowed before him, overwhelmed with gratitude. Then she took her son in her arms and carried him downstairs.”

To be overwhelmed with gratitude, is an emotional reaction to kindness.

Lamentations 3:22–24 says, “The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. ‘The Lord is my portion,’ says my soul, ‘therefore I will hope in him.’”

This is especially interesting because to lament means a person is sorrowful about something. In this case, it’s the prophet, Jeremiah. But notice, even in his grief he focuses on God’s love and care for him. He is grateful in his circumstances. In modern language, Jeremiah was being intentional about his gratitude.

The Bible tells us there are many variations of gratitude. In Second Corinthians, Paul even expressed his deep gratefulness to God for allowing him to participate in sharing the Gospel. You see, a truly grateful heart transitions from selfishness, to concern for others. And we can do the same thing today. When we focus on others, gratitude follows.

In Philippians 4, Paul also passes along a profound life lesson. Here, he says that we can learn to be grateful in all circumstances. Think about that. Grateful — whether in distress, or good times. Abundance, or poverty.

A few years ago, a youth missions group was repairing homes damaged by storms in Louisiana. A girl entered a house that was missing part of its roof, and she found an elderly woman rocking in a chair in a bedroom. “Oh, I’m just so happy to have a dry place to sit,” the woman said. She literally had no other dry areas in her home to be until help could arrive. Yet she didn’t complain about her circumstances. Instead, she gave thanks to the Lord, and in so doing — inspired that 16-year-old girl.

Gratitude is a perpetual gift, to us, and to others.

Let’s pray.

Father God, you are good. You’re good to us every day, and we are thankful for that. We’re grateful that you didn’t leave us in our sins, but you sent Jesus. We’re grateful that you sustain us always, in body and in spirit. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Clive Staples Lewis was successful. A British writer and theologian, his work has become very famous. When Lewis wrote his classic Surprised by Joy, he was emphasizing the fact that true joy comes from a place we cannot create, but only claim and receive.

His story really brings a point to our weeklong series about asking the Lord for help when we are at the end of our rope.

John 16:24 says, “Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete.”

In Surprised by Joy, Lewis compares joy to a signpost in a deep wood, pointing us to safety. Lewis was an intellectual and well-known as an atheist, until he reached a point where life had no real meaning. He realized—not too late—that it isn’t weakness to reach out to God.

If you’re in a deep wood and can’t find your way out—if the sun is setting—stop and ask Jesus for the thing you need the most. Think about the implications of the psalm: He is telling you that you will receive what you asked for; it’s already done!

Lewis thought of himself as a “complete man” once he found the Lord.

The same thing can happen for you.

Let’s pray. 

Lord, life has ups and downs. We need you to be there for us, with us, all the way. In Jesus' name. Amen.

We look for things and stuff to make us happy, don’t we? Especially in America, where we are blessed with abundance, people from all walks of life look for more and more.

That can bring us to an empty place. Spiritually and emotionally, we look in the wrong places.

But as we’ve discussed this week, that spark of joy we look for can be found only in Jesus. Everything else is, yes, clutter.

John 16:24 says, “Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete.”

This plays out over and over every day. We see this in dramatic ways when a famous person turns from materialism and empty fame, and finds Jesus. Someone like that, who has experienced uncommon wealth, comes to a place where Jesus must be dealt with.

Are you tired of your empty pursuits? Has the excitement over a new career or expensive car worn off? If you’re listening and nodding, do this today: tell Jesus what’s in your heart and head. He said to ask.

Ask.

Receive His joy. Then you’ll be complete. You will be uncluttered.

He’s literally waiting for you to sit down and tell Him all about it.

Let’s pray. Lord, refresh us and renew us. Clean our hearts and minds. We know you can and will. We receive that! In Jesus' name. Amen.

Solomon was one of the most amazing men in all of history. The King of Israel, the son of the famous David, was so rich he got bored. In fact, some believe he was the wealthiest man of all time. In terms of money, he was the Jeff Bezos of his time.

But the Bible tells us his story, and doesn’t spare any truth in doing it. Solomon accomplished great things, but at great spiritual cost.

After awhile, he discovered the secret to real success, and that is what we’re talking about today and all week: finding our Source.

John 16:24 says, “Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete.”

Solomon, you see, had wealth, power, fame, and relationships. But he saw that nothing really satisfied except knowing God. In fact, he asked God for wisdom!

Think about that. The king of an ancient empire could have had anything. Imagine a powerful being grants you three wishes. Most people in Solomon’s place would have asked for the usual.

Yet Solomon asked God first for wisdom. And the rest, as they say, was history. God gave him that wisdom, then added riches beyond measure.

Do you see? We are to ask for the right things, then other good things will find their way to us.

Let’s pray. Lord, your wisdom is the well we draw from. Thank you for not leaving us to our own solutions. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Are you thirsty for more biblical encouragement in your day?

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Life is a process. We know that if we’ve lived very long at all. And this week, we’re talking about the process of trusting God.

John 16:24 says, “Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete.”

Could Jesus meet our needs by just giving us something instantly? Of course. He made everything! And sometimes He does that; the miracles he performed that are recorded in the New Testament tell us that he often instantly met a person’s need.

But He doesn’t always work that way. That’s because Jesus loves to teach us.

In the book of John, He is telling us the steps necessary to trust Him for provision. First, we ask. Then we learn to receive His good gifts. Finally, we feel real joy, because we know exactly where it came from.

This process is designed to teach us faith, and then to be genuinely appreciative to the Lord for meeting our needs. All through the Bible, we are told that He delights in helping us, in loving us through tough times. The older we get, the more we are able to look back and see that He and He alone brought us through.

There is usually no other explanation.

And that is called a miracle.

Let’s pray. 

Lord, we are dependent on you for everything, and we are blessed that you are our Source. In Jesus' name. Amen.