Kerusso Daily Devotional

When trouble is on the horizon, it can be hard to trust in God’s promises, and to believe He has a plan for us.

The book of Judges in the Old Testament gives us an awesome example of trusting God in the story of Gideon.

God called Gideon to lead Israel into battle with the Midianites, who had a sizable army of 135,000 men. Gideon gathered an army of 32,000 men to battle with the Midianites, but despite odds in favor of the enemy, God told Gideon there were too many men in his army. Through a selection process, God whittled the Israelite army down to just 300 men.

Though Gideon was afraid, he trusted God to fulfill His promise. And God told Gideon they needed a smaller army so people would know God won the battle, and not some large army.

The night of the battle, Gideon and his servant snuck into the camp of the enemy and overheard the telling of a dream. The two Midianites interpreted the dream to mean that Gideon’s small army would wipe out their larger army.

Reassured, Gideon returned to camp to begin the battle. The Midianites were so frightened, many of them began fighting and killing one another, thinking that Gideon’s army was all around them.

Proverbs 3:5 says, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding.”

Gideon trusted God’s plan, even when he didn’t understand. Because of his faith, God helped Gideon and the Israelites to conquer the Midianites with an army a fraction of the size of the enemy’s.

Let’s pray.

Lord, you are mighty to save. Help us to trust you in every battle. We love you, and believe you have a plan for us. Give us courage to face the challenges in our lives, knowing you are here with us, and you have a good plan. In Jesus’ name, amen.

In an age of technology booms and information-sharing, it’s amazing how lonely we’ve become. Everything and everyone is connected, but does all that connection ever leave you feeling disconnected in real life? Do you feel alone?

If you do, you are listening at the right time this week as we are reminded that God’s timing is always perfect.

Ecclesiastes 3:11 says, “He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end.”

Did you catch that? Here God is talking about and to the individual. He is talking to you. And guess what? He has made you beautiful, a truly unique creation. God has also placed you at the right place in history, right where you are.

God made you in his image. His Son, Jesus, went to the cross for you. If you still feel alone after all that, go back and read our verse for today. Read it again and again.

Our God loves you so very much. His Word says so directly—all over the place. Let that be the backdrop for your day today. 

Let’s pray.

Lord, thank you for loving each of us infinitely. Thank you for saving us. In Jesus’ name, amen.

This week we’ve been talking about loneliness. We've discussed the difference between being alone and feeling lonely, ideas for getting rid of the feelings of loneliness, and how even the greatest leaders in the Bible experienced loneliness.

You may be thinking, “Well, this is great, but I’m a bit of an introvert, I like to be alone. But why do I feel this lonely feeling sometimes? How can I be wired to want to be alone but also have this strange feeling inside?” 

Emily Dickinson, one of the greatest of American poets, attended seminary for a while, and then she went back home to Amherst. For the rest of her life, she lived mostly in seclusion. It’s kind of weird, right? Maybe not. 

You see, God made each of us with a distinct personality. Sometimes it’s actually unhealthy to try and fit a square peg into a round hole. It hurts. We get more stressed out. Emily Dickinson lived a full life. Her relationships were in correspondence, a whole lot of letters. And guess what? She wasn’t unhappy. 

If your aloneness has gotten under your skin, don’t stress about it. If you’re fulfilled with limited relationships, that’s okay. Figure out what works for you. And remember what the Bible says in Proverbs 18:24, “There is a friend that sticks closer than a brother.” 

Let’s pray.

Lord, You made us to have relationships with You first. So if we’re not the outgoing type, help us rest in that. Help us enjoy the life we have and be fulfilled by having right relationship with You as our priority. Thank You for never leaving us and for giving us the very best companionship. In Jesus’ name, amen.

When the Apostle Paul was under house arrest in Rome, he wrote to the church at Philippi, a wealthy city on an important trade route. The citizens there had little need of any outside help, but Paul’s wisdom alerted them that trouble comes to every life.

He had suffered many hardships as he preached the Gospel through the Roman Empire. Paul knew very well what poverty and loneliness were.

Philippians 4:19 says, “But my God shall supply all your needs according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.”

The bottom line is, God will meet us where we are and provide what we need. He’s proven that over and over again!

No doubt you can remember these times of provision in your own life. Someone in your life today might just need to hear they are not alone.

Let’s pray. 

Lord, we are so limited in what we can do for ourselves. You are our source for everything great and small. In Jesus’ name, amen.

It’s been said that being alone and being lonely are two different things. 

Being alone is not necessarily bad, and can often be a blessing. The Bible says Jesus would withdraw to desolate places to pray from time to time. Feeling lonely, though, especially for extended periods of time, is usually not good. Not good for the soul. 

To spot the difference, be intentional about self-awareness. 

Ask yourself, do I feel like this all the time? If the answer is yes, you should take a look at your surroundings. Have you unconsciously isolated yourself? Are you letting pain and hurts from the past rob you of joy in the present? Being self-aware can be the beginning of a journey to bring balance to your life. 

Let’s pray.

Lord, you made us for relationships. Help us to recognize the happy balance between healthy solitude and engaging with others. Father, make us self-aware and allow us to pursue you with intention. In Jesus’ name, amen.

This week, we’re talking about loneliness. 

That song, Are You Lonesome Tonight by Elvis was a mega hit. And it’s been around a long time. Why? Because it’s a universal story. Everyone gets lonely sometimes. 

God knew we’d battle loneliness. He knew our world would present a crazy number of challenges, and that’s why He spends so much time in His Word reassuring us of His love and commitment to us. 

The Psalms are largely about David’s loneliness and God’s provision for him in that season. Leaders get lonely too, as we see in the stories of Moses, Solomon, and of course, even Jesus Himself. The word lonely is only used twice in the New Testament, and both times, it refers to desolate places. But God never left any one of them where they were. Jesus’ final words to His apostles recounted in the book of Matthew were, “And behold, I am with you always to the end of the age.”

Let’s pray. 

Lord, when we feel desolate, so alone that nothing seems good, You promise to stay with us and to comfort us. Your promises are true. Help us in those dark moments to call on You with simple, childlike faith and belief. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Are you the enviable sort of person who was born with an innate sense of direction?

Some of us know instinctively whether we are traveling North, South, East, or West. And some of us...would be lucky to find our way out of a paper bag, even with a map in hand.

If you’ve ever been lost on a country road at dusk, no road signs, no one to ask for help, and no idea which way to turn—you know how very useful it is to have directions. 

You’re burning daylight, and you aren’t sure how to get back to civilization. Or maybe you’ve driven to a job interview in a new city. Unfamiliar cross streets, busy traffic, and the sound of blaring horns can be a distressing soundtrack when you’re trying to pinpoint one office building among many.

Romans 14:8 says, “If we live, we live for the Lord; and if we die, we die for the Lord. So, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord.”

When we’re living for the Lord, we have a North Star to guide us on our way. When you aren’t sure which road to take, or which choice to make, remember Who you live for. Ask the Lord to direct your path, to keep you safe from harm, and to be present every step of the way. Country roads, bustling city thoroughfares, and life itself are all so much more enjoyable when we navigate them with Jesus.

Let’s pray.

God, forgive us for those times we prove ourselves aimless on the road of life. Be our guide, and reveal your presence and direction to us on the journey. We are lost without you! In Jesus’ name, amen.

The story of the Prodigal Son is one we can all relate to. The Bible tells the story of a brash young man who leaves his home after asking for his inheritance. His loving father complies, and let’s just say the son learns some valuable lessons on his travels.

Eventually, he humbles himself and comes home; he needs his father and his family. It’s really a story of Jesus and us.

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.”

We screw up sometimes. And maybe it’s so bad we can’t possibly see a way back.

That’s when Jesus stretches out His arms and welcomes us home. He isn’t as concerned with where we’ve been as He is where we end up. His perfect love and forgiveness are the only real healing for our self-inflicted wounds. If you think you’ve screwed up too much, or fallen too far—put that out of your mind, and simply tell Jesus you need Him.

Let’s pray. 

Lord, your willingness to welcome us back is something to behold. We are so grateful for your grace. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Have you ever been lost? 

For the directionally challenged among us, being lost is terrible. 

Imagine a time before Google Maps, before cell phones, and even before boxy little GPS devices for the car. Now imagine a time, way, way back—before every square inch of our world had been mapped. And those who journeyed far weren’t sure what they’d encounter, or whether they’d even make it home again. 

Have you ever felt lost? 

That’s when a life of faith makes a difference. When you’re feeling like you don’t belong. When you have doubts. When you need hope. Look for the signs of Jesus in your life: Love, hope, peace, and joy. 

God provides guidance and direction to the lost. Trust God to safely guide your footsteps, and believe that whatever you encounter, He’ll be right there beside you. Faith is an open invitation to lose yourself entirely in God’s plan for your life. 

So, yes. Get lost…in Jesus. 

Psalm 32:8 says, “The Lord says, ‘I will guide you along the best pathway for your life. I will advise you and watch over you.’” 

Letting God lead takes guts. Courage. Trust. It takes steadfast faith, persistent prayer, and no small measure of redirection when we falter. But it’s worth it. 

Let’s pray. 

Heavenly Father, all signs point to you, God. And we thank you for being the light that guides our way and the voice in the darkness that reassures us we’re on the right path. God, we’re sometimes stubborn and we’re sure we know the way to go, but we rest in the assurance that your way is always the best way. Please make your presence known in our lives, and lead us on the path of righteousness in Jesus’ name, amen. 

Roaming, travel, wandering…all have been part of the human psyche since the beginning. Because we all have that God-shaped hole in us, needing to be filled with Him, we search.

Some find God, and some don’t.

The sense of aimlessness and lack of purpose haunts some. We think of the classic novel “On the Road,” which is the story of two characters traveling the country. At first, the lure of freedom is fun to think about, but the truth is, if people don’t fill that God-shaped hole with God, despair can set in.

We are left rootless in the worst possible way.

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.”

Wherever you put down your physical roots, your spiritual roots are at least as important. In Christ, we are no longer wandering and discouraged. In Him, we live and move and have our being.

If you feel that you’re not anchored to anything, pour out your heart to Jesus. He will keep you close.

Let’s pray.

Lord, your mercies are always in fresh supply. We thank you that you plant us in good soil and hold fast to us even when we wander. In Jesus’ name, amen.