Kerusso Daily Devotional

A common theme today is that people are just tired of chaos—both public and private. It’s exhausting sometimes dealing with bad relationships. Global problems are with us every day. And we wonder when it will end.

There is good news for you, though. Literally, Good News.

1 John 5:4 says, “For everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith.”

This is a message to us that we don’t have to win the war ourselves. We don’t have to win a battle. Don’t have to take part even in a skirmish. Jesus has overcome it all. If you wonder how this can play out in practical terms, do this:

Read this verse several times—First John 5:4. Make the choice to believe it’s true. And then just literally sit back and close your eyes for a couple of minutes, and rest in the truth of God’s Word.

He is telling us that our faith overcomes all setbacks and difficulties. Our faith. Scripture tells us that faith is the substance of things hoped for. We might not be able to see the end, but we trust God that He will be standing there.

Choose to be a warrior for Christ, and let Him lead. That is what will make the difference.

Let’s pray. 

Thank you, Lord, for winning the war already. We worship you alone. In Jesus’ name, amen.

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Rebecca knew just what Craig needed when he lost his job. She knew he felt ashamed that his job performance was a major contributing factor. In other words, he had failed in front of people.

The hurried goodbyes and awkward pats on the back actually sort of made Craig feel worse. He threw the small box with his personal belongings in the backseat and drove as fast as he could away from the scene.

Giving him some space for a day or so, Rebecca called to check on her friend; she had that wonderful quality of not being overbearing, but also sticking with it.

After a couple of weeks, the cloud began to lift, and Craig found not only a new job but a new resolve to do his very best and succeed. Rebecca’s example of friendship had been a catalyst in Craig’s decision to move on in a positive way.

Proverbs 17:17 says, “A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for a time of adversity.”

A lot of people will love you when you’re winning. Everybody loves a winner. It’s fun and, honestly, a little self-serving. We can often live vicariously through a friend who’s riding high. But a true friend offers encouragement and love no matter what.

Are you that kind of friend?

Let’s pray.

Lord, you are our example. We seek to do your will for our lives and contribute to the lives of those we come into contact with. In Jesus’ name, we pray, amen.

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One of the things that marks a healthy society is the consistency between generations. In other words, adults who care about the future of their children will invest the time to make sure tomorrow is bright.

God the Father is the ultimate parent, and we would do well to model His love for us.

Luke 18:1 says, “One day Jesus told his disciples a story to show that they should always pray and never give up.”

Passing the torch, or training up the next generation, involves taking the time to do it properly. If you love your kids, you’ll make time for them. You won’t take the easy way out and settle for schools or the culture at large to raise them.

Teach them yourself that we all experience tough times in this life, but sticking to God’s plan for their lives is the key to winning. Living the abundant life Jesus taught about, and sharing His Good News is the ultimate win. But we don’t get there by quitting when the going gets tough.

Let’s pray.

Lord, you never leave us, and you never abandon the human community to evil. You are a great God, and we thank you for your commitment to us. In Jesus’ name, amen.

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Today in America, two million men and women serve in our armed forces. More than 200,000 of them are deployed to various points around the world.

Joshua 1:9 reminds us, “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.”

The Lord has told us directly not to be afraid. We aren’t even to be discouraged! He’s told us through His promises that He’ll be with us every step of the way.

If we stop and think about the amazing history of this nation, we can see that God has literally been with us every minute of every hour. He was at Yorktown. He dropped a last-minute winning strategy into Chamberlain’s mind at Gettysburg. God went with our invasion forces in the Pacific and in Europe during World War 2, because people were enslaved and in need of rescue. He has been with us since the terrible moments of 9/11.

Be strong and of good courage today in the land of the free!

Let’s pray.

Lord, your provision for us in all times and all places is wonderful. Thank you for never leaving us. In Jesus’ name, amen.

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For most of us, being humble is easier in theory than it is in practice. 

Reaching out in Christian Love and kindness often means being a peacekeeper and letting go of the need to be right or to win an argument. God wants us to walk with humility at work, on social media, and at home. 

When we’re frustrated with someone across the table or online, considering the words and deeds of others through the lens of Jesus’ sacrificial love for us can bring clarity. 

Our scripture for today is Ephesians 4:1–3, which says, “As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.”

Let’s pray. 

Lord, we live in a world that praises getting the last word. Being the loudest voice, or the winner of every argument is not your will for us. Bless us with the spirit of humility and guide us in being peacekeepers online and in person. In Jesus’ name, amen.

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1 Peter 5:6–7 says, “Humble yourselves, then, under God’s mighty hand, so that he will lift you up in his own good time. Leave all your worries with him, because he cares for you.”

These two short verses tell us several things: One, if we submit to God’s power by acknowledging we can’t solve our problems, He is strong enough to intervene and bring about the outcome we really want.

Second, He does this in His own time, on His own timetable.

Third, we are to leave our problems at His feet. There is nothing wrong with getting an image in your mind where you actually do this and then walk away, your burden lifted.

Key in getting on track is recognizing that you might have trust problem. If you’ve been deeply hurt by, say, a family member, you might subconsciously be failing to trust God himself.

And this is a first step in getting free of fear for good.

Know that an unburdened mind is not usually gained quickly, or without what we would call maintenance. The only thing predictable about our world is that it’s unpredictable. If you think you’re going to have one great afternoon and then every day after that is carefree, you’re deluding yourself.

We’ve already established that a daily time of prayer, reading your Bible, and focusing on God’s love for you is a combination that our enemy can’t overcome. Choosing to believe God’s Word is practical, and it works. That can’t be emphasized enough!

Jesus said in John 16:33 that we will absolutely have trouble in our lives, but that He has already overcome the world. This fact will help to keep you on that straight path that will ultimately one day lead to paradise with the One that created you, sustains you, and loves you forever.

Let’s pray.

Lord, having the discipline to daily rely on you is something we often lack. When we focus and concentrate our minds and our hearts on your good gifts, fear leaves and can be replaced with courage and peace. Thank you for providing for all of our needs, all the time. In Jesus’ name, amen.

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I’m not sure where you’re at today. You might be angry at God. Something happened, maybe in your life, that has damaged your faith. If we live in the world long enough, it can happen to any of us.

How you respond is really important. If you’ve listened previously, you know we are talking about how to live by faith.

Having perseverance when we’re miserable is really, really hard. Don’t make the mistake of thinking you’re the only one.

2 Corinthians 5:7 says, “For we live by faith, and not by sight.”

Really listen to the words: “For we live by faith, not by sight.”

That’s how we’re supposed to live. Not for a few hours or a day or even a season. For life. It’s how we’re supposed to live. And we don’t always cling to what we can see in the short term.

Strong faith is built over time. Think back over your life to those times when God met your needs. Big needs! Those were the moments He gave you to prove that His strength is not limited.

That’s how we walk by faith!

Let’s pray. 

Lord, life is a marathon, it’s not a quick sprint. God help us to walk by faith, from beginning to end. In Jesus’ name, amen.

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Even during times of calm and security, the honest truth is, there are very few examples of really strong and steady leaders.

It’s a given then that when times are scary, brave leaders that reassure us are really needed…but really rare!

The Bible speaks of one such person.

Joshua 1:9 says, “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”

Joshua was an especially passionate and courageous leader. A born leader. God used him during a time the Israelites were ‘going all wobbly,’ as a political leader once said.

The Israelites had seen it all. A plague in Egypt. An army bearing down on them. Mass hunger. Homelessness for years.

But Joshua played it all with a chip on his shoulder. An edge of anger, really that caused him to never be afraid. In his community, he was boss—and everyone knew it. God made him that way.

In your own community—your family at home, your church family, a group of scared coworkers—be a Joshua. Be strong and courageous. Set your feet so that your legs don’t go wobbly, and then tell your people that God has this.

He is with you, wherever this situation goes.

Let’s pray. 

Lord, Joshua is our human example of courage. Help us keep others safe and calm in the midst of crisis. In Jesus’ name, amen.

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Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were three young men from Judah who found themselves in a heated situation.

They were brought into the court of King Nebuchadnezzar II, and ordered to bow before the king’s golden image. The alternative was a one-way ticket to the fiery furnace.

The king’s command would have been easy for these guys to follow, but their own King of Kings had already commanded them to place no other gods before Him, and to stay away from the evil of graven images. They may have been wary of the king’s wrath, but their faith in God was stronger.

They replied in Daniel 3:16–18, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter...Our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us from your hand, O king. But if not, let it be known to you, O king, that we do not serve your gods, nor will we worship the gold image which you have set up.”

Rather than violate their commitment to obey God, these men put their lives in His hands. They didn’t know whether God would intervene to save them. They knew God could, but they didn't know that He would. Regardless of the outcome, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego chose to live for the Lord, and if necessary, they were willing to die in obedience to the Lord.

Romans 14:8 says, “If we live, we live for the Lord; and if we die, we die for the Lord. So, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord.”

As an example of His power, God intervened to spare their lives. Even though He allowed them to be tied up and thrown into the furnace, the blazing heat didn't affect them at all. They walked out unharmed.

In the midst of our own challenges, we know God can and does show up for us. He asks us to trust Him with the obstacles we face every day, and even with our very lives.

Let’s pray.

Jesus, it’s unlikely anyone will threaten to throw us into a fiery furnace, but sometimes it sure feels like our feet are put to the fire. Remind us to trust you...with every dilemma, every shortcoming, and every situation. We give you our challenges and our lives. In Jesus’ name, amen.

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Are you the kind of person everyone looks at and assumes you are strong and you have it all together?

You too, huh? Many of us look fine on the outside, but the human condition is often much different on the inside.

Proverbs 31:25 says this of a godly woman: “She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come.”

But the thing is, God did not make us to have a spirit of fear. He never planned for us to suffer from depression or anxiety.

Look, life happens. Sometimes we are rocked by circumstances. But God’s Word says that we don’t stay there. We keep our eyes on Him, and He is our strength. It’s not even our job to find the strength to breathe and go about our day!

The person who endures a cancer diagnosis isn’t doing it on her own. When Christ dwells in you, He takes the burdens and promises that in the end, we will be healed.

If you look like a confident statue on the outside, but you’re about to lose it on the inside, take time to tell that to Jesus. Give Him your fears and doubts.

Let’s pray.

Lord, we are not in this alone. Your grace is sufficient for all our needs, every day. In Jesus’ name, amen.

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