Kerusso Daily Devotional

There’s a reason the Bible uses so many metaphors. The wisdom God has for us lends itself well to short narratives, as we learn much from stories.

A famous passage from Isaiah we’ve been discussing this week uses a powerful mental image to convey deep truths from God.

Isaiah 40:31 says, “Those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.”

The sight of a majestic eagle, flying high above the ground…well, it can just make us feel good. It inspires. Gliding on the wind, the eagle dominates the place we’d like to be.

This gorgeous creature is exactly where God wants it to be. Free and sure of its place in the world, the eagle uses its extraordinary eyesight to see the big picture.

This is the place God wants you to be, and why He uses this verse in Isaiah to let us know our aspirations are not limited to the ground, not dependent on gravity.

Like the majestic eagle, let God free you to fly in every area of your life.Let’s pray. 

Lord, your beautiful creation inspires us. Put us to flight so that we can go to the place that you have prepared for us. In Jesus’ name, amen.

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Does the future scare you? If it does, that’s understandable, from a human standpoint. After all, so much is unknown.

And yet, God gave us His Word as a guidebook. The Bible tells us certain specific things that can bring us great comfort.

Colossians 1:17 says, “He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.”

For the most part, we know the past. We are navigating through the present. But the Word tells us that Jesus is standing there at the end, bringing all things to their proper conclusion. In Isaiah and Revelation, we have virtually identical verses that promise Jesus will make all things new one day. There will be no more tears, pain, or suffering. He won’t allow it!

If the future scares you, focus on the truth of Scripture. Jesus isn’t intimidated, or moved, or unsure about anything, and that includes what is to come.

Whatever your future holds, make sure Jesus is at the center of it!

Let’s pray. 

Lord, you stand above time. Outside of time. You know everything that’s happened, and what is to happen. And God…we can rest in that. Thank you. In Jesus’ name, amen.

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Part of God’s unchanging nature is that He is sovereign and does things His way. In Isaiah 55, we read that God’s ways are not our ways, and His thoughts are not our thoughts. In other words, He’s infinitely more powerful than we are, especially when it comes to perspective. 

We read in the Old Testament that sometimes other nations mocked the Israelites when they were exiled from their homeland. Really, they were mocking God because it was said that maybe He couldn’t keep His promises after all. This after the Assyrians and Babylonians conquered Israel. Neighboring pagan nations remembered that God had promised to give the land to the Israelites. But did that mean God had lied, and was in reality no more powerful than man? No, not at all. 

Numbers 23:19 says, “God is not human, that he should lie, not a human being, that he should change his mind. Does he speak and then not act? Does he promise and not fulfill?” 

In fact, God tells us clearly that He does exactly what He wants, when He wants. We see this in Isaiah 46. When God led the Israelites out of Egypt, but they were then confronted at the Red Sea by Pharaoh’s army—did that mean God had lied when He promised to lead them out of slavery? Of course not. In fact, it was then He performed one of history’s greatest miracles. 

In Psalm 16:10, we read that God would not allow your holy one to rot in the grave, and this is a reference to Jesus. Yet, when Jesus died on the cross, many assumed that God had either lied or was powerless to stop Jesus from being entombed. We know how that story ended, and the triumph of life over death. God did raise Jesus from the dead. His body did not decay in the grave. So it’s a matter of perspective, then. 

Humans, with their limited understanding, think from time to time that God cannot keep His promises, but He keeps them all the time. All promises fulfilled—100% of the time. He cannot lie. 

Let’s pray. 

Father God, you alone are powerful and you are our strength. You are perfect in all of your ways and have demonstrated that time after time. Help us let others see that—those who might doubt you. In Jesus’ name, amen. 

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We often hear that it’s harder to raise kids today than ever before. That isn’t true, of course. All eras down through history have been challenging. We live in a world scarred by sin, after all, and children grow up among all sorts of temptations. That’s why the role of a parent is something to take seriously, as a sacred duty.

We’ve been discussing the best practical guide for living: the Bible. Nowhere is this truer than in its practical wisdom for raising successful children.

Although we all have the freedom to make our own choices—and your kids certainly will make their own decisions—they benefit greatly from a loving father or mother who also loves the Lord.

Proverbs 22:6 says, “Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it.”

This isn’t the kind of thing you hope for—this is scripture, the Word of God, and can be relied on to bring about the promise made. The Lord will honor your commitment to raising children that love their Creator.

One way to do that is to be bold in your discussions with your children, who likely hear anti-God stuff from school, and entertainment. For example, talk with them as if you believe the Bible is really true. Then point out that the book of Exodus commands all of us to value our parents.

Exodus 20:12 says, “Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the Lord your God has given you.”

It doesn’t hurt to point out the bonus: long life.

Make sure that you also share with your children the wonderful practical tips from the Bible. Much of it will save them a broken heart down the road.

For example, Proverbs 18:24 says, “One who has unreliable friends soon comes to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.”

This is repeated in the New Testament in 1 Corinthians 15:33, which says, “Do not be misled: Bad company corrupts good character.”

God’s Word promises us a sound mind. This state of being will help your children in everything they do from completing school assignments to caring for elderly relatives. A child who knows the Lord, and prays consistently, will become a human being you can be proud of.

Let’s pray.

Father God, children are a gift from you. They are a sacred treasure—entrusted to us for a little while. Remind us daily of our role in shaping their lives, so that they are healthy, and content, in the world that you made for them. In Jesus’ name, amen.

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Truth makes an appearance in the Bible right at the start, and it sets the stage for everything that comes after it. 

The opening scene, if you will, takes place in the Garden of Eden. Adam and Eve have been placed there in a perfect setting. No worries. Every need is taken care of. It’s hard to imagine that kind of harmony now, but it once existed…briefly. We’re told that a once beautiful being, Lucifer, had become corrupted through his own pride. The angel had become jealous of God, and he held human beings in contempt. They would become a way for him to try and undermine the purpose of God. 

He was there when Adam and Eve sinned by eating from the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil. God had warned them not to do that. Lucifer, sort of in costume as a serpent, came to Eve and asked a famous question, ‘Did God really say you couldn’t eat from any tree in the garden?’ You see, that’s not what God had told them. He told them they could eat from all trees except one. But Lucifer lied to Eve by twisting the truth. It led to sin entering the world. And from there, truth is a dominant theme. We see it come up when Nathan is brave enough to tell David that his sin with Bathsheba is unacceptable. 

But the most famous conversation about truth came when Jesus was being tried before Pilate. The Roman governor, realizing the frenzy over Jesus was out of control, questioned his prisoner. At one point, he asked Jesus, “What is truth?” That question has echoed over time, and each person has to deal with it. Jesus had just said to Pilate, “In fact, the reason I was born and came into the world is to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me.” This is one of those exclusive claims that is a hallmark of the faith, and the Bible does not shy away from it. 

Let’s pray. 

Father God, you are truth. You are reality, and every good thing. We thank you that the Word reveals how we can know what is real and what isn’t. In Jesus’ name, amen. 

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We look for things and stuff to make us happy, don’t we? Especially in the United States, 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 begin to 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.

How about you? Are you tired of your empty pursuits? Has the excitement over a new career or a new car worn off? If you’re listening and nodding, or maybe you’re not even sure, do this today: tell Jesus what’s in your heart and what’s in your mind. 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.

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As humans, we tend to have a problem asking for help. I think we can chalk that up to our proud hearts. Often, when we are really up against it, that’s when we resist seeking help.

Jesus does away with all that.

Matthew 7:7, “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.”

Ask yourself: is my pride keeping me from asking for help? If so, mull that over. And then, take a step toward the Lord and ask for what you need.

God opens doors when we ask Him to. And sometimes what we find on the other side isn’t what we expected. When that happens, we choose patience. And we remain open to His good plans for us.

When you’ve asked God to help and prayers are answered, share the Good News with people you meet. Tell anyone who will listen that the Lord of the universe cared about you and delivered you from a problem no one else could solve.

And if the answer He gave was totally unexpected, and sent you in a different direction—share that, too! Accepting God’s plan when it doesn’t match up with our own best-laid plans is what faith is all about. 

Let’s pray. 

Lord, please give us a heart that seeks you. God, we want to be obedient, and we know that your blessings, whatever they look like, will follow. Thank you. In Jesus’ name, amen. 

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It’s interesting to watch the outcomes of people who refuse to give in to fear.

Many years ago, while America was going through a severe economic depression and a world war, President Roosevelt told Americans that the only thing we have to fear is fear itself.

Those listening over the radio said later that they felt a great sense of relief just from his words!

Psalm 23:4 tells us, “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.”

Our country emerged from a very scary time to become a people determined to embrace the future. Those who survived those dark days were known as the Greatest Generation. And they were, because they decided giving in to fear was not an option. It was a simple choice, honestly. They gritted their teeth and went to work. And prayed like never before.

As individuals, we face our own depression, and our own wars. And any of us can be overwhelmed by the life-altering decisions we must make. Doing all of that while living in fear is very unsustainable.

The Psalmist clearly understood that God would rescue him; and the words that he wrote about it were words of life.

Let’s pray.

Lord, you are great, and your love for us is the only thing that should overwhelm us. In Jesus’ name, amen.

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Today, just stop and consider that we’re talking one-on-one. We’re just talking over coffee. Go with me here. 

You seem like something is really getting to you. Are you about to give up on something important? If so, please listen—just for a couple of minutes.

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

Let’s think boldly for a second. Whatever your problem is, God can fix it. He can. The Bible is full of these fixes, and so is our present day, when story after story of miraculous rescues shows us clearly that God exists, and that He cares for you as a person.

Jesus knows your story, and more importantly, He knows the end of your story.

Victory is waiting for you, but you must not give up. Don’t give in to that voice urging you to stop. Listen to the voice of Love. Tell Jesus what you need. Right now.

Will you pray with me?

Lord, this thing hurts so much right now, but we aren’t going to give up, because you never give up on us. Thank you for that! In Jesus’ name, amen.

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Humans were built for language and communication. 

It’s one of the bits of creative genius God used when He formed His highest creation. And apart from regular communication, whether it’s the written word or verbal, we have a great gift from a loving God: prayer.

Prayer is an intensely personal way to communicate with our Creator, the One who knows everything about us.

Jeremiah 29:12 says, “Then you will call on Me and come and pray to Me and I will listen to you.”

All through scripture, we see that God is available to us all the time. No regular hours or standing meetings. We can talk to Him anytime we want. There are 650 recorded prayers in the Bible, and we read about people praying while sitting, standing, kneeling, with faces to the ground or hands lifted up.

By the way, amen means “let it be,” or “so be it.”

The word appears for the first time in Numbers 5:22.

Since prayer is human communication with God, we see that the first prayers were way back in Genesis 3 and 4 when Adam and Eve, and later Cain, talked with God. In the second exchange, even though Cain was angry and had just killed his brother, he was having a conversation with God.

Jesus famously modeled prayer in Luke 11; and notice that He was talking to God the Father.

It can be a fine line when thinking about how prayer is initiated. Often, thoughts come to our minds, or we’re reminded to pray for someone. However, there’s an indication that God prompts us to talk with Him.

Galatians 4:6, that from our hearts we cry out, “Abba Father,” and that the indwelling spirit of the Lord prompts this in us. Of all the great gifts God has given us, prayer is one of the most special. It’s how our spirits commune with the One who loves us with perfect love. And He’s always ready and waiting to hear from us.

Let’s pray.

Father God, we worship you for who you are. We love you, and thank you for loving us. Thank you for making a way for us to talk with you about the things that lie hidden in our hearts. In Jesus’ name, amen.

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