Kerusso Daily Devotional

The Apostle Paul wrote that believers are in a spiritual battle all the time against forces that are wickedly strong. He also maintains that we have the power of God with us in these battles, and this New Testament promise is an echo from the days of Joshua, the fearless Israelite commander in ages past. This mindset is a model for all of us. 

Dick Winters was a 27-year-old first lieutenant when he jumped into Normandy, France, in 1944 with other paratroopers during the invasion of Europe. Once the Allies began moving inland, Winters’ unit was given the objective of taking a key French town from the Germans.

As Winters and his men approached, machine gunfire pinned them down along a road leading into the town; they had nowhere to go. All of a sudden, Winters stood straight up and began shouting orders at his men. Stunned at first, they looked up and decided that if he could do it—so could they. 

The entire force leaped to their feet and charged the German position. That was the last day Nazi forces controlled the current in France. The next day, Winters was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross. 

This is precisely how we can overcome great odds, great challenges. When circumstances threatened to overwhelm us, we can fight back with confidence in Christ. He’s the one leading us along dangerous roads. 

Psalm 27:3 offers encouragement for life’s battles, “Though an army besiege me, my heart will not fear; though war break out against me, even then I will be confident.” 

When the army of God is with you, who can stand against you? 

Let’s pray. 

Father, only you can lead us in the battles of life. You are all we need. We believe that no enemy can stand against you and your army. Your strength holds us up above the danger and sets us on safe ground. Thank you, Lord, for your eternal faithfulness. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Change your shirt, and you can change the world! Save 15% Off your entire purchase of faith-based apparel + gifts at Kerusso.com with code KDD15.

Have you ever been in such a dark place that you wondered if God cares about you, or if He even exists? Maybe it’s all some cosmic joke, right?

We’ve all been there. Humans doubt. We doubt ourselves, we doubt product labels, we doubt our kids. We question everything.

But the worst one is trying to figure out where God is in the middle of life’s great difficulties. Sometimes the world is just flat-out mean, and it seems like it’s an entity that’s trying to break you in half.

And that‘s the very moment God’s ancient and eternal words come to us.

Isaiah 41:10 says, “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”

Honestly, it doesn’t get better than that! Jesus lives so that you will live forever. And in the interim, He will walk with you and carry you when necessary. He never fails, and what’s more, His willingness to never leave us has been proven over and over again, in a billion different ways.

If you need Him right now, don’t doubt Him. Call out to Him. Your circumstances might seem impossible and impossibly unique. Don’t believe it. Believe Him instead.

Let’s pray.

Lord, you promised that you would never leave us. We know that’s true, but help us with our faith in our weak moments. God, make us believe. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Change your shirt, and you can change the world! Save 15% Off your entire purchase of faith-based apparel + gifts at Kerusso.com with code KDD15.

When Hurricane Katrina destroyed the church and home where E.J. Scott had pastored for 20 years, he and his wife found themselves living a bit like refugees in Dallas, Texas.

After years of being strong for his flock, Pastor Scott needed something to strengthen his own faith. He was devastated.

Joshua 22:5 says, “Love the Lord your God, walk in all his ways, obey his commands, hold firmly to him, and serve him with all your heart and all your soul.”

When we walk with God through a storm, we are told to hold onto Him with everything we have. In this way, we are exercising our faith. We’re putting our trust in Him, because honestly, no one else can help us.

Pastor Scott says today that he learned to focus on how God would raise him up, rather than the terrible circumstances he was in. His faith was strengthened, and hope sustained him.

We all need to exercise our faith, so that we can stand in times of crisis. God is our refuge from the storms.

Let’s pray.

Lord, thank you that you stand for us in times of trouble. While the enemy wants us to focus on terror, your Word teaches us to focus on your provision. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Change your shirt, and you can change the world! Save 15% Off your entire purchase of faith-based apparel + gifts at Kerusso.com with code KDD15.

Have you ever wondered what it would have been like to be one of the original settlers in America? As a person leaving the safety of England to come to the New World and start over?

Those people came here for religious freedom and risked it all. And when they landed in New England, they literally put down roots as they built and planted the beginnings of an amazing experiment that is still ongoing.

Colossians 2:6–7 says, “So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.”

Our ancestors were definitely strengthened in their faith as they faced challenges and danger. But the payoff was worth it.

Maybe you’re going through something similar. You’ve moved to a new place. New job. New social circle. You want to find a church! Just tell Jesus you need help with all these things, and He’ll be right by your side.

Let’s pray.

Lord, forever you have walked with us, and forever you will keep us close, making us strong in the faith. God, thank you for your faithfulness to your mission. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Change your shirt, and you can change the world! Save 15% Off your entire purchase of faith-based apparel + gifts at Kerusso.com with code KDD15.

In all the world, there are almost countless ways people try to find God. Some are drawn to the mystical, while others chase after the practical. 

Does it work?

God knew we would all look to fill the void in our spirits—the one put there when man first sinned. He also already knew what our escape route would be, the path back to Him.

Romans 10:9–10 says, “If you declare with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.”

The so-called “Roman Road” is in reality a face-to-face with the Living God. Jesus Christ Himself is our aim, and our benefactor. He loved us so much that He offered Himself as a sacrifice for sin. It’s very simple. God accepted the sacrifice and raised His precious Son from the dead. And now it is there, waiting for us to accept that great and priceless gift.

Let’s pray.

Lord, we complicate things sometimes, but your salvation is a simple choice, and it is free. Blessed be your name forever and forever! In Jesus’ name, amen.

Change your shirt, and you can change the world! Save 15% Off your entire purchase of faith-based apparel + gifts at Kerusso.com with code KDD15.

From earliest times, God has commanded His people to see their national home through His holy eyes. In other words, countries around the world are to follow the Lord. Of course, many don’t.

Jeremiah 30:22 says, “So you will be my people, and I will be your God.”

Many great civilizations have risen, but few last beyond a couple hundred years. Although history is debated, the foundations of America see a people who wanted to live holy unto the Lord. Modern America is still an ongoing experiment, but our Pledge of Allegiance, adopted in 1942, used the phrase “Under God.”

Lincoln used it for the first time during his Gettysburg Address, when he told the people that from that point on, we would be one people, united under the Living God.

This is something to celebrate, and we should! Our nation is always stretching to do better, and fulfill an ideal that is more than just some slogan. It is our calling to be this way.

Under God.

Let’s pray.

Lord, thank you that Christ has been proclaimed in freedom in our nation! Help us continue this sacred calling. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Change your shirt, and you can change the world! Save 15% Off your entire purchase of faith-based apparel + gifts at Kerusso.com with code KDD15.

Have you ever wondered what it would have been like to be one of the original settlers in America? As a person leaving the safety of England to come to the New World and start over?

Those people came here for religious freedom and risked it all. And when they landed in New England, they literally put down roots as they built and planted the beginnings of an amazing experiment that is still ongoing.

Colossians 2:6–7 says, “So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.”

Our ancestors were definitely strengthened in their faith as they faced challenges and danger.

But the payoff was worth it.

Maybe you’re going through something similar. You’ve moved to a new place. New job. New social circle. And you want to find a church! Just tell Jesus you need help with all these things, and He’ll be right by your side.

Let’s pray.

Lord, forever you have walked with us, and forever you will keep us close, making us strong in the faith. Thank you for your faithfulness to your mission. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Change your shirt, and you can change the world! Save 15% Off your entire purchase of faith-based apparel + gifts at Kerusso.com with code KDD15.

Do you sometimes feel your job is just too much for one person to handle?

Then let me introduce you to Franklin Roosevelt.

“FDR” was the 32nd president of the United States. By a quirk of history, he found himself leading the free world during a crippling economic meltdown…and a world war! His story is important, as we explore faith in God and country this week.

No one understood more than Roosevelt the sacrifice needed to defeat evil on the battlefield. He said, “Those who have long enjoyed such privileges as we enjoy forget, in time, that men have died to win them.”

He had to send young men and women into harm’s way, all over the world.

John 15:13 says, “Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends."

More than 400,000 Americans died in World War 2. From the South Pacific to Europe, soldiers looked after each other, and in many cases died so that others could live.

We should never forget that.

Let’s pray. 

Lord, we thank you for those who protect us. We will never forget them. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Change your shirt, and you can change the world! Save 15% Off your entire purchase of faith-based apparel + gifts at Kerusso.com with code KDD15.

We as Americans relish our history…famous eras and the glory of battle and all that. Americans love the beautiful land that we’ve been blessed with, as well.

But the Bible tells us the true source of our blessings. It points us to the One who made all things possible.

Psalm 115:1 tells us, “Not to us, LORD, not to us, but to your name be the glory, because of your love and faithfulness.”

We are incredibly blessed in America for a lot of reasons. From sufficient food to freedom to make our own choices, we have so much. But do we always acknowledge the source of our blessings?

Our forefathers did.

George Washington’s tomb at Mt. Vernon has Scripture etched into the stones. The Father of our country knew his heavenly Father!

The Bible tells us that we should glory first in our great God. He is the one we owe our lives to. Every breath we take. We owe our Savior, Jesus, our eternal lives.

It is to Him that all honor and glory belongs. As proud Americans, we stand on our faith. Of our almost limitless blessings, that is number one.

To God be the glory!

Let’s pray.

Lord, your mercies are available to us each day. As we get ready for a new day, help us to remember that You are our source. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Change your shirt, and you can change the world! Save 15% Off your entire purchase of faith-based apparel + gifts at Kerusso.com with code KDD15.

Do you ever stop and think about the routine things you do every day?

Buying detergent so that you can wash your family’s clothes. Fixing a couple of boards on your deck. We even grind through staff meetings at work. All this of course, mixed with life, laughter, and love.

But do you think about why you can do these things in our country?

Primarily it’s because of the sacrifices of our fallen soldiers—those men and women who have defended the homeland since colonial times.

Joshua 1:9 commands 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.”

We are privileged to live in a land of the free precisely because fellow citizens took a different road. They walk a path of danger so that we can have the freedom to live as we choose. So many of them fight with the faith they’ve lived with all their lives, and it is our duty to thank them and be thankful for them.

Remember them when you want to complain about daily chores made possible by their sacrifice.

Let’s pray.

Lord, keep our warriors safe, keep them in your loving arms. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Change your shirt, and you can change the world! Save 15% Off your entire purchase of faith-based apparel + gifts at Kerusso.com with code KDD15.