Kerusso Daily Devotional

Do you ever stop and think about the routine things you do every day? Buying detergent so you can wash your family’s clothes. Fixing a couple of boards on your deck. We even grind through staff meetings at work. All of 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’s our duty to thank them—and be thankful for them.

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

Let’s pray.

Lord, would you keep our warriors safe, and keep them in your loving arms. We ask you this as we reflect on Independence Day. We thank you for our soldiers, and we thank you for Jesus. In Jesus’ name, amen.

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From earliest times, God 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’s our calling to be this way…under God.

Let’s pray.

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

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We as Americans tend to relish our history—and most countries do. Famous eras and the glory of battle and all that. Americans love the beautiful land that we’ve been blessed with, as well.

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 just 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. Not to us. 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, and You deserve the glory. 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 country, 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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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. 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. God, thank you for your faithfulness to your mission. In Jesus’ name, amen.

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Have you ever hunted and hunted for something—maybe your car keys, and you finally find them? The old saying goes (and it’s very unhelpful!) that you find them in the last place you look.

There’s a lot of truth to that.

It also is very relevant to our walk with Jesus. Often, we work really hard to solve our own problems, then we give in and ask Jesus for help.

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.”

As with every other promise in the Bible, the really cool thing about this is, it is true. The promises Jesus has made are literally true. So, for example, if you are looking for a solution to an impossible situation, ask Him. It works!

Let’s pray.

Lord, forgive us for not placing our trust in you all the time. You are our sustainer, and we need to remember that. In Jesus’ name, amen.

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The Bible tells us that King Solomon was a very wise man. He ruled over his kingdom from Jerusalem, and built the famous Temple there.

He was also very human.

This son of King David eventually let his wealth and power go to his head, and he began to follow other religions and almost seemed to enjoy sinning. 

And yet God loved him. 

In his later years, Solomon realized how wrong he had been to rely on his own strength. And so scholars believe that’s where the book of Proverbs was born. They come from a man weary of the cares of this life. A man ashamed of the mistakes he had made.

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

Proverbs is packed with amazing wisdom into right living, after perhaps one has been focused on other kinds of living.  

Solomon learned the hard lessons as he fought his way back to a forgiving God whose mercies are eternal. That is a good lesson for us.

Let’s pray.

Lord, your patience with us is humbling, and it is so appreciated. We thank you. In Jesus’ name, amen.

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Do you feel like you’re falling apart today? It’s okay to say yes.

Life is life, and we all have obstacles to overcome. Maybe your issue is ongoing, or maybe it’s a sudden thing. But please think of it this way: Jesus is alive and He knows who you are—and He cares about you and your problems.

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

Jesus is not caught off-guard by problems in your life and most importantly, He truly cares for you and is able to help. Remember what the Bible says: Jesus holds everything together! And that includes you.

If you’re really struggling, tell Jesus. Then drink from the living water He provides. He was here at the beginning, He is present now, and He will be standing at the end of your road to welcome you home one day. Count on it.

Let’s pray.

Lord, you’ve got all our stuff well in hand. God, help us remember that every day. It’s in Jesus’ name that we pray, amen.

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Do you find it hard to trust some people? Do you find it hard to trust anyone? Our society is full to the brim of people who have been hurt, wounded, and devastated. It puts up a wall and we live behind it in silence and fear.

After the fall of Saddam Hussein in Iraq, the people of that captive country were free for the first time to tell their stories. One woman said that she had been driven nearly insane by the dictator’s torture chambers, but when he was gone, someone shared the love of Christ with her. And her mind and spirit were restored.

She said that for the first time in her life, she could now trust. It opened her heart to beauty and friendship and love. And most of all, she now loves her Savior with her whole, healed heart.

Psalm 91:2 says, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.”

Your situation might not be as extreme as our Iraqi sister, but if you have trust issues, take them to Jesus and tell Him with your whole hurting heart that you need Him. He will meet you where you are!

Let’s pray.

Lord, your love heals all kinds of pain. We thank you that your mercies endure forever. In Jesus’ name, amen.

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There is a common metaphor of life being like a road, and with good reason. We are in essence walking a path in life, from beginning to end. For each person, the journey is at different times joyous, grueling, and full of wonder.

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

This week we’re talking about walking by faith, something us as humans find difficult to do—especially when times get tough. Yet that is exactly the moment God uses to ignite our faith, and show us things we couldn’t have seen before!

In the Bible, there are many stories of people on journeys. Abraham, Hannah, Moses, and many more. If you’ve read any of those stories, you’ve noticed that God is with them every step. And sometimes the journey takes a long time…years.

If you find yourself on a really hard road right now, remember that others have gone before you. They learned to trust God in tough times, and walk by faith.

Let’s pray. 

Lord, you are so good to us! You walk with us, and you carry us when necessary. We are grateful. Thank you, 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.