Kerusso Daily Devotional

Since prayer is, by nature, personal, we often want to know how things are going to turn out, even before we start praying. We wonder if God will actually answer our prayer. Maybe not as dramatic as some stories, but still if we’re honest, we would like an answer to our prayer. Why else ask? 

Luke 18:1 says, “Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up.”

The fact is, of the 650 prayers in the Bible, 450 of them were answered, at least as the accounts were recorded. Others might have been answered later, but there are indications that, no, God does not always answer a prayer. And this is where our human perspectives can hamper our ability to see the full picture.

Isaiah 55:8 says, “‘For my thoughts are not your thoughts. Neither are your ways my ways,’ declares the Lord.”

From our limited perspective at this moment in time, we might not understand how or if God is answering our prayers. Remember Job and his friends prayed, and tried to figure out for some time just what God was up to in this suffering man’s life. 

The most interesting takeaway from the Book of Job is that, in the end, when God addresses Job, He never once tells him why he suffered. He basically puts Job in his place by saying that He, God, knows and understands everything, and we obviously do not. 

It’s worth noting that in Job’s case, God restored everything to him and more. As we read in Luke 18:1, part of our responsibility in praying is perseverance. We’re not supposed to act like children and throw a fit if we don’t get our way.

In those times when we think God is slow in answering us, it’s necessary for us to have some patience. Nowhere are we promised a quick answer or even an answer at all. Sometimes we just have to have faith that God will work everything out for us. 

Let’s pray. 

Father God, like Job, we want to trust you no matter what. Even if an answer to our prayer is slow, we love you anyway, and we thank you that you love us for eternity. In Jesus’ name, amen.

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Truett burst through the front door with exciting news one afternoon, anxious to share his latest find. “Mom! I found a praying mantis. Can you believe it! They’re pretty rare around here.”

It was certainly one of the biggest bugs they’d seen in the fields around their home. The beautiful emerald green insect crawled from hand to hand, curious about its new environment.

Considered a symbol of peace, contemplation, and prayer, the word “mantis” in Greek literally means prophet or seer. The prayerful pose we recognize in these insects is not actual prayer or meditation of course, but a pose designed to help them capture prey. The “prayers” of this fascinating creature are actually part of an intricately designed plan for their survival.

Matthew 6:33 says, “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”

There are many things in this life that distract us from seeking what matters most. Technology. Financial stress. Family discord. Health concerns. Sin. The miraculous thing is when we quiet our hearts and minds and seek God first, He helps us clear away the clutter of this world, and blesses us with the things we need to take the next right step. With God, we can not only survive, but thrive. 

And you know what else? God will provide for all our needs. How poetic that a prayerful pose is a matter of survival for us as believers, too.

Let’s pray.

Lord, your incredible creation is filled with reminders to turn to you in all things. We thank you for that, and we love you. In Jesus’ name, amen.

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Communism kept half of Europe locked up for much of the 20th century. For 75 years, the oppressive system took most freedoms away from its ordinary citizens. The political system, responsible for tens of millions of deaths, seemed almost indestructible. 

Then, almost suddenly, the system built on restricting freedom just collapsed. The end came so quickly that all the most experienced analysts and diplomats were caught off guard. 

How did that amazing turnaround happen? 

It didn’t happen with guns and tanks and planes. Not a single missile silo was opened. Instead, it took the strategic efforts of a religious leader, a Polish labor union activist, and countless regular citizens in countries like Hungary and East Germany, among many others, to expose evil and demand a better way of life. 

In a similar way, God defeats evil by showing us a strategy that might go unnoticed at first. 

2 Corinthians 10:4 states, “For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds.” 

Only a reliance on God and continual prayer will win the day. 

The battles you are fighting cannot depend on vengeance or worldly efforts. We’re fighting spiritual battles and conventional weapons just won’t work. As believers, we’re called to duty, called to minister to others, to tell others of His Word, His love for us, and His actions to help us overcome. 

There are many examples in the Bible of people relying only on God for their victory. Not once did they lose. We won’t either if we lay aside our own perceived strength and trust completely in His divine power. 

Let’s pray. 

Father, help us see that our own plans are often wrong. We get into a battle and become blinded by our own strategies or a thirst for our own kind of victory. But the time to fight must come with a commitment to trust in your infinite power, to rely on the victory that only comes through Christ, and to tell others about our Lord and Savior. Bring this to our minds when the battle rages. In Jesus’ name, amen. 

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Jenna stopped in her tracks, sighing in frustration as she bent down to pick yet another rock out of her shoe. “Why on earth am I suddenly picking up rocks every time I walk the dog,” she wondered. 

They finished their usual route, and at home, Jenna slipped off her shoes and discovered the problem: she’d worn down those old slip-ons for so long that she wore a hole right through the soles of both shoes!   

Philippians 4:6 reminds us, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.”  

Sometimes our prayer lives are like Jenna’s old shoes: we take them for granted, setting aside a daily prayer habit and coming back when it’s convenient—putting off prayer until we can find the time, or in a time of trouble or desperation, when we really need God to intervene.  

But prayer isn’t meant to be a sometimes thing.   

We cultivate a healthy prayer life when we communicate with God often—daily, or even more than once a day. When we let our communication with the Lord wear thin, we’re missing out on the blessings of His listening ear. He wants to hear from us: both our praises and our problems!  

Don’t tuck your prayer life away for later, like an old pair of shoes in the back of the closet. Pray throughout the day whenever you have a quiet moment to reach out to God, and build regular prayer into your day to ensure there are no holes in your communication with your Heavenly Father.  

So—why don’t we pray right now?  

Lord, thank you for being available to us through prayer. God, we are so grateful for your love for us, and your desire to hear from us, your children. Remind us to keep the lines of communication open. 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 “prayer” appears for the first time in Numbers 5:22.

Since prayers are 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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In the book of Romans, Paul tells us the evidence for the existence of God is so numerous in nature that anyone can believe in God. Surely one of the most compelling examples is in our night sky. When we look up at the heavens, it takes our breath away. The twinkling lights are like our own personal message from God.

All those stars…

Philippians 2:15 says, “Shine...like the stars in the sky.”

Astronomers tell us that each star is as unique as we are. We can see some burning dramatically, others are smaller but no less beautiful. All those infinite numbers dot the black backdrop, causing even the most cynical of us to marvel.

God has always intended for you to share your faith. Like a message written with stars, your story will resonate with people who wonder why you have joy in a crazy world. They will stop and consider what you have to say, because the light of Christ shines from the inside out.

That is a message worth sharing!

Let’s pray. 

Lord, would you give us the courage to tell our stories, to share the Good News of what Christ has done for us! It’s in Jesus' name that we pray, amen.

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When we look at the amazing diversity all around us in nature, we see that no detail escaped God’s attention. He created all things to live in harmony.

That includes our individual physical bodies. He intends for us to be healthy and whole—mind, body, and soul.

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.”

In order to fully serve God, we can’t neglect anything. So that we can be a faithful witness of His love and sacrifice, we gotta take care of ourselves, including our health.

You will not be able to effectively witness for Christ if you don’t take care of yourself. One of the easiest ways to do that is to take a walk each day. Make a real effort to walk in the fresh air, to strengthen your heart of love for a hurting world.

Get out there!

Let’s pray.

Lord, you direct our steps. Help us to be at the top of our game, including physically. In Jesus’ name, amen.

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Have you ever spent time out in the country? If you’re used to the noise of city life—neighbors coming and going, traffic, dogs barking...then spending a few nights in the country can feel almost too quiet.

A brilliant sunrise without buildings to block the view, the most stars you’ve ever seen shining across the night sky, and a unique feeling of peace can all be found in the country, if you get the chance to enjoy these simple pleasures.

Matthew 6:33 says, “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”

Sometimes God’s blessings come in bold strokes, and sometimes He shows His love for us in sweet, simple ways...warm sunshine; a soft breeze; fragrant blooming flowers; quiet countryside views.

Every good thing in life comes from our Heavenly Father, and there are so many reasons to smile, and so much joy to be found, if we keep our eyes open to all the blessings God bestows.

Will you pray with me?

Lord, thank you for the quiet beauty you’ve created for us to enjoy in nature. God help us to seek you first, and to count our blessings. In Jesus’ name, amen.

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We live in an amazing world of rich diversity. In nature, we see almost countless stunning animal species. We linger on pictures of beautiful landscapes. And different cultures give us amazing experiences.

There are also many different religions. Some of them offer a measure of peace. Some have reflections that can help us be better people. Today we’re talking about salvation, and that is one thing only Jesus offers. That’s a harsh thing to say in this day and age, but if we are true to God’s Word, we affirm it.

Ephesians 2:8 says, “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God.”

Founders of other religions can’t save you. God tells us in Scripture that He alone saves, through the sacrifice on the cross by his Son, Jesus Christ. Maybe you’ve been offended by that seemingly exclusive offer, but what could it hurt, really, to reflect on it?

Choose to do that today. Privately, tell Jesus that you want to know Him. 

He’ll answer. 

Let’s pray. 

Lord, your world is beautiful but flawed. The world to come that you’ve prepared for us will be perfect and without end. Thank you for that. In Jesus’ name, amen.

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Have you ever talked to someone who doubted the existence of God? Someone who says God couldn’t have created everything in our world? 

Watch that same someone stare in wonder at a mountain range like the Rockies, the delicate bloom of a flower, or a sunset on a beach in Greece. It’s pretty hard to deny God in such a moment. 

In fact, all throughout scripture, we’re told that God’s majesty is seen in our natural surroundings. He made everything. Literally—all matter. He created the conditions for a waterfall, the light of the moon and the stars, and the horses that gallop across a prairie. 

There’s infinite beauty in our world, and He made it.

Amos 4:13 says, “He who forms the mountains, who creates the wind, and who reveals his thoughts to mankind, who turns dawn to darkness and treads on the heights of the earth, the Lord God Almighty is his name.”

The Prophet Amos had seen the beauty of the land, from golden deserts to lush pastures. He’d also seen the power of God even in earthquakes and storms. He knew it was possible to worship God without limitations, and the splendor of nature He’d created. 

We have the same opportunity. Just stand in a favorite spot and meditate on the power and majesty of the living God. Take a walk in the fresh air to revive your spirit. There’s something healing about connecting with your Creator in a spot that highlights just how much beauty is in our world.

The next time you hear someone question the existence of God, or if you encounter someone who’s feeling a bit down, get them out in nature. Take time to soak it all in. Reflect on His wondrous works. It’ll have a positive effect.

Let’s pray. 

Father, thank you so much for creating a world that we can enjoy. We’re aware of you and know you made the lakes, and the valleys, and the mountains—all of it. You filled it with amazing animals and fresh air. We praise your name for all of this, Father. In Jesus’ name, amen.

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