Kerusso Daily Devotional

Spring is the season of new life. As we finish up our series on the Psalms, we come to the most famous one of all.

Psalm 23:1–2 says, “The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he refreshes my soul.”

This psalm contains some of the most famous words ever written. It has everything: beautiful language, a man’s raw honest heart for God, and a universal theme of love that God has for all people.

It echoes in the universe.

Think of the picture that God is painting here for us.

We are bone weary, but He has actually made a place for us to rest in a garden. We hear the flowing water. We are refreshed inside and out. And He is with us.

Do yourself a favor this spring. Memorize every line of the 23rd Psalm. Put it in your heart so that when you’re in that dark valley, you will remember that the one true God loves you absolutely and completely.

Goodness and mercy follow you. Close your eyes and sit in the cool grass. He is with you.

Let’s pray.

Lord, you are the Great Shepherd who provides a sanctuary for us. Thank you, thank you for making a place of safety for us as we go through life. In Jesus’ name, amen.

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One of the things that sets God apart from all others is His ability to tell us what is going to happen. We read about this in Isaiah 46, where He says only He knows the end from the beginning.

An amazing example of this is found in Psalm 22, and it’s almost surprising how many people are not aware of it.

Psalm 22:11 says, “Do not be far from me, for trouble is near and there is no one to help.”

If you read the entire chapter carefully, you begin to realize that this is a conversation that Jesus had on the cross.

This psalm was written a thousand years before that world-changing event!

It describes a man being mocked on the cross. A man who is so thirsty his mouth feels like a piece of dry pottery. He even mentions that his tormentors are casting lots for His clothes. All these things are described in the New Testament, and even some of the language Jesus used on the cross is seen here in this psalm for the first time.

God is in charge of all things, all the time. And that includes your situation. He raised Jesus from the dead, and He will provide life eternal for you if you call on Him.

He knows the end from the beginning.

Let’s pray.

Lord, you know all things. No one else does. That alone should give us confidence that you will be with us always. It’s in Jesus’ name that we pray, amen.

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From the time he was a young shepherd in the wilderness, David had deep relationship with God. He escaped enough dangerous situations to know that God was always with Him, and was his deliverer.

Psalm 91:1–2 says, “Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, ‘He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.’”

This psalm is famous for its descriptive language. We can see a picture of this in our minds. And the specific things listed in this passage are very personal for each of us.

We are not to fear.

When we call on Him, He hears.

His angels watch over us.

One of the most beautiful images in the Bible is found in this psalm, as God, like a strong eagle, covers us with His wings so that we are protected.

Remember the words of Psalm 91 and call on Him day or night.

Let’s pray.

Lord, your protection for us is just one of the things that separates you from anyone or anything else. We are grateful for your wings that draw us near and cover us. In Jesus’ name, amen.

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Nothing is more basic to life than creation itself. The Bible tells us that God alone has the power to truly create, and the beauty of language in Psalm 139 explains this fully. Some believe the psalmist was writing in part about the creation of Adam.

Psalm 139:1–3 says, “You have searched me, Lord, and you know me. You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways.”

The writer of the Psalms marvels at the ways in which God understands each of us intimately, and is present everywhere

Are you aware that God loves you with a supernatural love? He created you to be a singular presence in the world…what we call “unique.” You might feel sometimes that you are worthless, or that no one cares. But that’s not so.

The Creator of the Universe, in that vast space, took time to make only one of you. You are precious to Him and you should never forget it, even when things look depressing.

God sees you when you sit in that chair and when you get up. He knows what you’re thinking and what’s in your heart.

You are on His mind.

Let’s pray.

Lord, it’s comforting knowing that you are with us in each moment of our day. Help us to live in that moment. In Jesus’ name, amen.

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One of the greatest gifts God has given us is the collection of songs and poetic works known as “Psalms,” originally written as music for worship— especially in the Temple in Jerusalem.

Today, we celebrate them as prayers for the most part, and they give us a beautiful picture of who God is.

Psalm 1:6 says, “For the Lord watches over the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked leads to destruction.”

Traditional authorship is assigned mostly to King David, who loved to worship God with music and even dancing. His heart was open to God, and this inner life could be seen by anyone; this earthly king worshiped the King of kings.

In this introductory psalm, we read about the contrast between those who love God and those who don’t. And we are encouraged to meditate on His Word every day.

Our God is the great God, and loves each of us more than we can even imagine. And that love is a song we can carry in our hearts.

Let’s pray.

Lord, your love for us is eternal and we are so blessed to receive it, as David did, all the days of our lives. In Jesus’ name, amen.

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God chose Jesus, His Son, to make the greatest sacrifice mankind has ever known. The Son of God became a son of man, experiencing humanity in full as He was born, nurtured by Mary and Joseph, and ministered to and healed people He encountered.

The miraculous birth, life, death, and resurrection of Jesus is the foundation of our Christian faith. It is powerful to consider that our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ shared our human experience. 

Jesus was chosen by His Father to pay the ultimate price for the sins of all mankind, in order to save our souls for all eternity. None of us can fathom how it would feel to be in that position, but the Bible tells us in Hebrews that Jesus suffered anguish as He pondered God’s plan for Him. 

Hebrews 5:7 says, “During the days of Jesus’ life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with fervent cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission.”

Jesus could have refused His calling, leaving us to bear the punishment for our sin, but instead, He obeyed His Father and gave His life in exchange for our redemption. What an incredible gift His grace is for us. 

Let’s pray. 

Dear Lord Jesus, thank you for giving your life in exchange for our sins. God called you to be born, live a human life, and die on the cross, and you obeyed your Father and gave your life for us. Thank you for loving us that much. In your name, amen. 

Gideon was hiding from the Midianites in a winepress when an angel of the Lord came to him, saying, “Mighty hero, the Lord is with you!” And Gideon… just wasn’t buying it. 

He questioned how the Lord could be with him when his community was under the thumb of the Midianites, and they had never experienced the wonders and miracles their ancestors spoke of in the past. He felt abandoned by God.

Then the Lord Himself spoke to Gideon, saying, “Go with the strength you have, and rescue Israel from the Midianites. I am sending you!”

And how did Gideon respond? Basically, he told God to prove it. 

Judges 6:15–16 says, “‘Pardon me, my lord,’ Gideon replied, ‘but how can I save Israel? My clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my family.’ The Lord answered, ‘I will be with you, and you will strike down all the Midianites, leaving none alive.’”

Gideon asked for not one, not two, but three signs to prove it was really the Lord speaking to him. God accomplished His plans with Gideon’s participation, but his lack of self-confidence continually limited his potential. 

From an outsider’s perspective, we may shake our heads at Gideon’s decision to question God again and again, but if we’re honest, most of us have had times in our own lives when our confidence as Christians was on shaky ground. That’s when the Lord requires us to seek firm footing in our faith. 

Let’s pray. 

God, when we are unsure of your calling and don’t fully understand your plans, please remind us you are our strength, and you will give us everything we need. We can do what you ask, because you say so. Thank you that we can depend on you. In Jesus’ name, amen. 

Isn’t it awesome to wake up on a Saturday morning with the whole day before you? Whether you decide to chip away at a big project, get your grocery shopping done, or enjoy a restful day around the house, your time is your own. 

When the Lord chooses us for His purposes, the timing of His plans may surprise us, big time. But following Jesus means prayerfully obeying His call, even if it’s not part of our personal agenda. 

Esther in the Bible was a hesitant leader, but eventually, she understood that God was blessing her with an opportunity to help her people in their time of need.

Esther won the heart of King Xerxes, but hid her Jewish heritage as she stepped into the role of queen. Haman, an advisor to the king, made a plan to exterminate the Jews. As a brand new queen, she was in a tough spot. 

In Esther 4:14, Esther’s uncle Mordecai says to her, “For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?”  

God’s timing is no accident. Esther took a risk and went before Xerxes, even though seeking an audience with her husband the king—without permission—could have cost her life. She was able to save her people, because she responded to the Lord’s call on His timeline. 

Let’s pray. 

Lord, your timing is not our timing. Give us ears to hear, eyes to see, and a mind open to your calling, whenever and wherever it happens. May your will be done, as you see fit. In Jesus’ name, amen. 

When God chooses someone to be part of His work, sometimes it requires incredible courage to step up to what He is asking. 

God had heartbreaking news in store for Israel: the nation would face military conquest, and the people would be exiled from their homeland for many years, because of their sins. The entire nation would become a wasteland. Imagine delivering life-altering news like that to an entire nation. 

Isaiah 6:8 says, “Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, ‘Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?’ And I said, ‘Here am I. Send me!’”

God needed someone to deliver some of the toughest bad news imaginable…life was about to change in devastating ways for the people of Israel, and someone had to tell them what was coming. 

Isaiah stepped up in a big way, and God empowered him to communicate with the people of Israel in a meaningful way. Through the Lord, we can do hard things—and if He chooses us, He can and will equip us for the task. 

When we feel God’s calling on our hearts it can be a wonderful, exciting time, leaving us filled with joy. Sometimes, though, God chooses us for something painful or difficult, and we may not want to do what God is asking. It is then we must lean into our faith and ask for God’s encouragement. 

Let’s pray. 

Heavenly Father, I ask for the strength and courage to say, “Here I am, Lord,” when you call my name. Give me what I need to answer and follow through with your wise plans, and to trust you fully. In Jesus’ name, amen. 

Throughout the Bible, God chose men and women to serve as part of His plan. Some answered eagerly, with hearts and minds prepared for the Lord’s work. Some were reluctant—hiding from God, or even disobeying Him. They came from all different backgrounds and classes, showing us that God can choose anyone, even you and me, to serve. 

Matthew worked as a publican, collecting taxes from his fellow Jews for the occupying Roman government; as you might guess, he was pretty unpopular in his community. Yet God chose Matthew as one of His disciples, helping to spread Jesus’ message throughout the Middle East and beyond.

Matthew 9:9 says, “As Jesus passed on from there, he saw a man called Matthew sitting at the tax booth, and he said to him, ‘Follow me.’ And he rose and followed him.”

Jesus begins everyone’s Christian calling with this essential step: “Follow me and be my disciple.” As you prepare your heart to hear the Lord’s call, ask yourself: Have you asked Jesus into your heart? Do you need to recommit yourself to faith at this point in your life? Spend time in God’s Word, the Bible, and in prayer, asking God to choose you, and to use your gifts as He sees fit. 

If the desire of your heart is to be called by Jesus, you must begin with this step: follow Him. 

Let’s pray. 

Lord, make me worthy to be chosen by you, to do your good work here on earth. Help me to follow you in mind, body, and spirit, so that I am prepared to answer when you call. In Jesus’ name, amen.