Our Daily Devo

Psalm 46:10 "Be still, and know that I am God" Sometimes the pace of this world and our ever-growing to-do lists, can keep us from having the relationship that Our Heavenly Father wants and that we deserve. It is interesting because when we find ourselves of constant go and hurry is when we often feel depleted and empty. This is not the wish of our Father, even He took rest during the creation of our world. It is important to have periods of stillness in our lives so that we can connect and find peace. Busyness is a tool of the devil to keep us from having that relationship with God. If the devil can't make us sin, he often keeps us busy. So, if you find yourself on the hamster wheel of life and it is disguised as productivity and accomplishment, be careful and remember the words of the psalmist "Be still, and know that I am God".

Hebrews 10:22 "Let us come near to God with a sincere heart and a sure faith, because we have been made free from a guilty conscience, and our bodies have been washed with pure water" Today's scripture reminds us that we have been made, by God, to be free from a guilty conscience. he doesn't want us to live a life burdened by sin. At the same time, He knows that we aren't perfect, that we do make mistakes. So for that, He has given us the redemptive power of Jesus to wash our transgressions away. He doesn't want us to abuse this power though. In this verse, He tells us to come near to Him, to walk in righteousness, with a sincere heart, and sure faith. And when we do we can become free from the burden of guilt and sin. So, if you find yourself carrying weight you shouldn't, something you're not proud of, give it to God. He understands. Draw close to Him and walk upright. Look to the cross for forgiveness and be washed clean.

Romans 13:10-11 " You can't go wrong when you love others. When you add up everything in the law code, the sum total is love. But make sure that you don't get so absorbed and exhausted in taking care of all your day-to-day obligations that you lose track of time and doe off, oblivious to God" Today's scripture is both a prescription and a warning. The prescriptive piece tells us to love others, that in our lives the measure of a good life is how much love we create and how much love we leave behind. The cautionary piece tells us to be careful and not to let the distractions of this world stand in the way of living a life of love. So today may we make time to love our Heavenly Father and to love our brothers and sisters in Christ.

Matthew 7:7-8 "Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened." When you ask God for guidance and strength you continually invite your Creator to reveal Himself in a variety of ways. Jesus made it clear to His disciples that they should petition to our Heavenly Father for their needs, and so should we. Genuine heartfelt prayer creates powerful changes in ourselves and in our world. When we lift our hearts to God, we open ourselves to a never-ending source of divine wisdom and infinite love. If you have questions about your future or needs that can't be met on your own, ask Him for direction, protection, and strength. Whatever your need, no matter how great or small, pray about it and never lose hope.

Proverbs 16:9 "People may make plans in their minds, but the Lord decides what they will do" If you're like most people you like being in control. You want things to happen according to your wishes and according to your timetable. But sometimes, God has other plans and He always has the final word. If you are struggling with something that hasn't gone as planned, it's time to make peace with life. It's time to forgive, if necessary, to accept the unchangeable past, to embrace the priceless present, and to have faith in the promise of tomorrow. It's time to trust God completely. And it's time to reclaim the peace - His peace - that can and should be yours. If your plans have not worked as you planned or as you wished, find comfort in knowing that your Creator is both loving and wise and that He understands his plans perfectly, even when you do not.

Romans 8:26 "In the same way, the Spirit comes to help our weakness. We don't know what we should pray, but the Spirit himself pleads our case with unexpressed groans" Have you ever been lost for words? There are times when we feel like we just don't know what to say. This feeling can put our prayer life at risk and we can be left unfulfilled. Think about some of the most intimate relationships in your life, perhaps that of a parent, spouse, best friend, or sibling. How is it that they know you without expression of word? Well, they know you! In the same way, Our Heavenly Father knows you except 10X! He has a direct connection to your heart! He knows your every thought, emotion, and need! So if you feel at a loss for words, don't be ashamed. Quiet yourself, study His word, look, and listen for the cues He is placing along your path. Recognize He is always listening, even if you're not quite sure what to say.

Psalm 106:1 "Praise the Lord. Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; his love endures forever." Sometimes in our rush to get things done, we simply don't take the time to pause and give thanks to our Creator for the countless blessings He has placed in our lives. Be when we do slow down and express our gratitude, we enrich our own lives and those around us. Thanksgiving should be a habit, a regular part of our daily routine. God has blessed us beyond measure and we owe Him everything, including our eternal praise. May we praise Him today, tomorrow, and throughout eternity.

The Book of Wisdom or Wisdom of Solomon 7:26 "She's the brightness that shines forth from eternal light. She's a mirror that flawlessly reflects God's activity. She's the perfect image of God's goodness" I love to gaze at the brightness of the moon and stars at night. They are a reminder of God's great creations but they are also a reminder of the power of reflection. The moon and stars have no power unto themselves but rather give off beauty and direction in reflection of the Sun. Jesus said "I am the light of the world" so if He is the Sun we, as His Christian followers, are the moon and stars. Remind yourself of that purpose, that inner light that reflects within you. It is a reflection of Our Heavenly Father and of the love of Jesus. Let your light shine! This world is full of wayward travelers lost in darkness, looking for direction. Drown out that darkness, be the reflection, and show them the way.

Isaiah 43:18-19 "The Lord says, "Forget what happened before, and do not think about the past. Look at the new thing I am going to do. It is already happening. Don't you see it? I will make a road in the desert and rivers in the dry land" Not only is Our Heavenly Father a forgiving father but He is also a giving father. In today's reading, we are reminded to not dwell on the past. Our faults and indiscretions of yesterday have been forgiven. God understands that we are imperfect people. This is why He gave us His only Son, to forgive our sins. Instead, He tells us to focus on the goodness that He has in store for us, the good things that lie ahead. He asks us to look around and take notice of the blessings He has already placed in our lives and have faith that there is more to come.

1 Corinthians 12:26 "If one part suffers, every part suffers with it." in today's reading Paul reminds us that as God's creation in a community when one of us hurts, we all hurt. There was quite a bit of hurt and discord in Paul's time but He witnessed a man that brought people together, which gave them hope, and gave them healing. Even and especially the least. That man was of course Jesus. Today we still see hurt and discord among us and Paul's message still resonates. As Christians and Jesus followers, we are called to heal the wounds among us through Christ-like humility and service. When one suffers we all suffer but when one heals we begin to make a Christ-like difference.