Max Lucado Daily Devotional

Christians love to sing “Amazing grace, how sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me. I once was lost, but now I’m found. I was blind, but now I see.”

Blind. Blind to the promise of eternal life. Blind to the provider of life. We relate to the words of the was-blind beggar: “One thing I do know. I was blind, but now I see.”

His story is our story. Perhaps that’s why John was in no hurry to tell it. He needed only twelve verses to describe how water became wine, but he dedicated a whopping forty-one verses to depicting how Jesus found and cured and matured the blind man. Now why? Among the explanations is this one. What Jesus did physically for the blind beggar, he desires to do spiritually for all people—to restore our sight.

Remember my friends, you are never alone.

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On April 21st, 2008, Katherine Wolf suffered a massive stroke. She lost her ability to walk, talk clearly, and care for herself. She went from being a California model to a wheelchair-bound patient. God stepped in.

In her wonderful book, Hope Heals, she writes, “I felt a deep awakening of the Word of God, which I had known since I was a little girl. It was my epiphany of hope. I would never lose heart in this situation because my soul was not what was wasting away.”

Don’t try to weather this storm alone, my friend. He is still the great I AM. The next time you pray, “Is anyone coming to help me?” listen for the response of Jesus. “I AM with you in this storm.” Remember my friend, you are never alone.

Read more You Are Never Alone: Trust in the Miracle of God's Presence & Power

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We’d rather be spared the storm. Or if the storm comes, let it be mild and our deliverance be quick. Let the job dismissal come with a severance package and an offer of a better position. Let the marital strife turn quickly to romance. Sometimes it does.

But when it doesn’t, when we are thorax-deep in turbulence, Jesus wants us to know his name and hear him saying, “I am coming.” Such was the experience of the disciples. The moment they invited Christ into their boat was the moment they reached their destination. “So they gladly took Him aboard. And at once the boat reached the shore that they were making for” (John 6:21 Phillips).

Follow the example of the disciples. Welcome Jesus into the midst of this turbulent time. Don’t let this storm turn you inward. Let it turn you upward. Remember my friend, you are never alone.

Read more You Are Never Alone: Trust in the Miracle of God's Presence & Power

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Jesus says to us what he said to the disciples on the stormy sea. “It is I, don’t be afraid” (John 6:20). The literal translation of what Jesus said is, “I AM, don’t be afraid.”

I AM. That’s God’s name. When we wonder if God is coming, he answers with his name, I AM. When we wonder if he is able, he declares, I AM. When we see nothing but darkness, feel nothing but doubt, and wonder if God is near or aware, the welcome answer from Jesus is this: I AM.

Pause for a moment and let him tell you his name. Your greatest need is his presence. Yes, you want this storm to pass. Yes, you want the winds to still. But yes, yes, yes, you want to know and need to know and must know that the great I AM is near. Remember friends, you are never alone.

Read more You Are Never Alone: Trust in the Miracle of God's Presence & Power

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Jesus’ disciples went down to the lake where they got into a boat and set off across the lake for Capernaum. By now it was dark. Jesus had not yet joined them. A strong wind was blowing and the waters grew rough. The disciples were too far from the shore, too long in the struggle, too small against the waves. And Jesus was nowhere to be seen.

Have you ever encountered a dangerous, ominous, seemingly God-forsaken storm? Storms overtake us, and it sometimes seems they will never end. But then the unimaginable happens. John gives no details, just this economical statement. “They saw Jesus walking on the water” (John 6:19). That’s all we need to know. Before Jesus stills the storms, he comes to us in the midst of our storms. And he’ll come and meet you in yours. Remember friend, you are never alone.

Read more You Are Never Alone: Trust in the Miracle of God's Presence & Power

For more inspirational messages please visit Max Lucado.

During World War I, Biddy Chambers, her husband, and small daughter moved to Egypt, where he served as a chaplain. He taught, she transcribed. It was a perfect partnership.

Then her husband’s complications from appendicitis rendered Biddy a widow, and all the dreams of a teaching ministry would have to be abandoned, right? Well, no. She turned her husband’s notes into pamphlets. Eventually, they were compiled into a book, My Utmost For His Highest. This work of Oswald Chambers has sold more than 13 million copies and has been translated into more than 35 languages.

The next time you feel overwhelmed, remind yourself of the one who is standing next to you. Give him what you have, offer thanks, and watch him go to work. Remember friends, you are never alone.

Read more You Are Never Alone: Trust in the Miracle of God's Presence & Power

For more inspirational messages please visit Max Lucado.

Do you face 15,000 problems? Before you count yourself out, turn and look at the One standing next to you. Christ can help you do the impossible. You simply need to give him what you have and watch him work.

John 6:11 says, “Jesus took the loaves.” This is the story of the day that Jesus fed the 5,000 men plus women and children. He didn’t have to use the loaves. He made manna fall for the Israelites. Instead, he chose to use the single basket of the small boy.

What’s in your basket? All you have is a wimpy prayer, give it. All you have is a meager skill, use it. All you have is the strength for one step, take it. God used three nails and a crude cross to redeem humanity. If God can turn a basket into a buffet, don’t you think he can do something with your five loaves and two fishes of faith? Remember, you are never alone.

Read more You Are Never Alone: Trust in the Miracle of God's Presence & Power

For more inspirational messages please visit Max Lucado.

The crowd followed Jesus around the Sea of Galilee. The 15,000 people—5,000 men plus women and children—were hungry. Philip and Andrew counted the hungry people. They counted the money in their bag. They counted the amount of fish and bread.

They did not, however, count on Christ. And he was standing right there! Yet the idea of soliciting his help did not dawn on them. Even so, Jesus went right to work. “Jesus took the loaves, and when He had given thanks, He distributed them to those who were seated…and as much fish as they were wanting, too” (John 6:11). The impossible task of feeding all these people became the unforgettable miracle of all these people fed.

What we cannot do, Christ does. The problems we face are opportunities for Christ to prove his point. Remember friends, you are never alone.

Read more You Are Never Alone: Trust in the Miracle of God's Presence & Power

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When Jesus found the just healed man in the temple, he told him, “See, you have been made well. Sin no more, lest a worse thing come upon you” (John 5:14 NKJV). Stagnant, do-nothingness is deemed as a serious offense. No more Bethesda for you. No more waking up and going to sleep in the same mess.

God is the God of forward motion. The God of tomorrow. The man in John’s story had waited 38 years but something about the presence of Christ, the question of Christ, the command of Christ convinced him not to wait another day. Let’s join him. Ask the Lord this question, “What can I do today that will take me in the direction of a better tomorrow?” Keep asking until you hear an answer. And once you hear it, do it. Stand up, take up, and walk. Remember friends, you are never alone.

Read more You Are Never Alone: Trust in the Miracle of God's Presence & Power

For more inspirational messages please visit Max Lucado.

Believe in the Jesus who believes in you. He believes that you can rise up, take up, and move on. You’re stronger than you think. “’I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future’” (Jeremiah 29:11 NIV).

He certainly gave a bright future to the Bethesda beggar. “And immediately the man was made well” (John 5:9 NKJV). Jesus did nothing but speak, and the miracle was accomplished.

What will God do for you? I cannot say. God’s help, while ever present, is ever specific. It is not ours to say what God will do. Our job is to believe he will do something. It simply falls to us to stand up, to take up, and walk. Remember friends, you are never alone.

Read more You Are Never Alone: Trust in the Miracle of God's Presence & Power

For more inspirational messages please visit Max Lucado.