Today Daily Devotional

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. . . .

— Proverbs 3:5

The other day, my niece gave me a little card that she had made in school, and on the cover it said, “I love you with all my heart.”

Since ancient times our heart has been associated with our emotions, even though it isn’t actually the source of our feelings. The Bible often uses “heart” to refer to the central place of one’s being—where one’s whole mind, soul, and spirit operate. So the heart was what guided a person to make sense of the world, and it was where one’s emotions flowed from.

What does it mean, then, to “trust in the Lord with all your heart”? This means that you can put your trust in God with absolutely everything you’ve got—your emotions, your under­standing, your strength, your intelligence, your whole personhood.

In other words, “Trust in the Lord with your entire being.” Don’t let any piece of you fall away or fail to depend and rely on the God who created you.

Lean on the Lord, because he knows how to make your paths straight.

Loving Father, help me today to submit my whole self into your hands. Guide me along the way I should go, and help me to lean on your wisdom and understanding. Amen.

Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart.

— Proverbs 3:3

I remember hearing a popular Christian speaker ask his audience if their lives would look any different if they had “Christian” tattooed on their foreheads.

Similarly, what if you had a scarf around your neck that had “Love” and “Faithfulness” written on it? Or a T-shirt with those words on it? Would it change anything about the way you lived?

Scripture does not shy away from urging us to keep the commands of God in focus. Moses taught the Israelites, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart . . . soul and . . . strength. These commandments . . . are to be on your hearts. . . . Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates” (Deuteronomy 6:5-9).

Humans are incredibly forgetful, and the Spirit knows how often we neglect to focus our hearts and minds on the Lord. We often seek the wisdom of the world before we seek the wisdom of God.

Galatians 5 lists love and faithfulness with the fruit of the Spirit, who calls us to live like Jesus. Jesus always showed these characteristics. As we engrave love and faithfulness on our hearts, we will grow more open to being led by the Spirit before being led by anything else.

What might help you today as a symbol or reminder of God’s love and faithfulness?

Spirit of God, guide me to write your virtues and your will on my heart, that I may follow Jesus. Amen.

If you call out for insight . . . and search for it as for hidden treasure, then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God.

— Proverbs 2:3-5

In every life stage we learn to ask questions and seek understanding in order to be “successful.” In school we ask questions when we don’t under­stand. At work we gain experience and learn to do our jobs well. To own a home, we figure out how mortgages and interest rates affect our ­finances.

It seems intuitive to seek wisdom in every area of our lives, and yet we often ignore the wisdom of God. Maybe that’s why Proverbs includes lots of phrases like the ones in our reading for today. We are called to actively search for insight and wisdom from God so that we can know the Lord.

Jesus encouraged us in a similar way: “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field” (Matthew 13:44).

Scripture urges us to make the knowledge of God the most important knowledge that we can gain—more important than any other type of insight or wisdom. The knowledge of God and his wisdom helps us see everything else more clearly. By the wisdom of God, we have greater wisdom and insight to do our tasks here on earth with a kingdom focus.

How might you need God’s wisdom in your life today?

God of all wisdom, inspire me by your Spirit to search for wisdom from you. Guide me to long for your insight so that I may know and love you more fully. Amen.

“Repent at my rebuke! Then I will pour out my thoughts to you. I will make known to you my teachings.”

— Proverbs 1:23

Not many of us like to hear the word repent, because it tends to have negative connotations. But here in Proverbs, when the voice of wisdom cries out that everyone should “repent” at her rebuke, it’s for the sake of offering them a great gift.

Here Wisdom is pictured as a person who wants to “pour out” her thoughts and make known her teachings. “Repent,” she is saying, “so that I can give you more of myself.” A more literal translation of the text here says, “I will pour out my spirit on you. . . .”

In some other Bible passages, God speaks the same words through his prophets, promising to make known his thoughts and mysteries. Perhaps the best known of those passages is Acts 2:17, where the apostle Peter declares, “‘In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams’” (see also Joel 2:28).

God has always desired to give us more of himself, to encourage us toward a humble and contrite posture so that we can receive him. And Jesus, who is fully God, became human, just like us, so that we can receive God’s wisdom and have new, full life. We cannot receive his thoughts and teachings (and become more like him) if we have not opened ourselves to recognize that we need his help.

Lord, help me today to hear your voice of wisdom. Encourage me to come with an open, contrite heart to receive your Spirit. Amen.

Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.

— Ephesians 4:32

In a world that has felt upside down for a while, it has become easy to get grumpy and less patient with others. Feelings of bitterness and unforgiveness have marked people’s behaviors, and when we read the news, we shake our heads wondering.

The words of Paul in Ephesians 4 strike a chord with us. He knew and experienced the same kinds of behaviors in the early church. His words challenge us to live fully into who God has called us to be. God has given us every gift through Jesus so that we can walk in a manner worthy of our calling. As Paul instructs us in this chapter to be tenderhearted, forgiving, and kind, he emphasizes that we must keep on living this way.

Kindness and compassion go hand in hand. We are called to be aware of others around us and how we might encourage and help. Think of all the good we can do if we simply ­imagine, “How can I add value to someone else’s life today?” It’s about relationships, and our relationship with God is the most important one in life.

As we imitate Christ, we learn that kindness is not optional for believers. It is a call to obedience. When we live fully in kindness to one another, we are saying thank-you to God.

Dear God, thank you for your example in how you have treated us with great mercy and kindness. Help us to model your gracious kindness to others. Forgive us when we fall short, and remind us to try again. Amen.

Always [give] thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

— Ephesians 5:20

This passage of Scripture gives us a moment to think about using our time well.

Have you figured out the best way to use your time?

Lots of books, articles, podcasts, and videos have been produced to share the latest and greatest tips on how best to use the time we have in our lives. Some of the ideas are great for building relationships, caring for others, getting an education, working efficiently, and even planning for retirement. As we grow older, many of us realize that we have wasted some time along the way, and we may have regrets about that.

We cannot gain back the hours we have spent, but, in the ­power of God’s Spirit, as we seek to change how we live, we can make the most of the time ahead of us. How we spend our time—with God and with others—matters.

How are we spending our time each day? There’s a cartoon that quips, “We only live once,” and the comeback line says, “We only die once; we live ­every day.” What matters is how we live every day.

Will our lives reflect the ­majesty of Jesus, or lost time? Paul urges us, “Don’t waste the time that you have.” Aim to live with no regrets. Live fully with the life you have been given in Christ.

Dear God, forgive us for the times that we have spent ignoring you and selfishly focusing on what is not important. Help us to use our time wisely, honoring you. Thank you for your grace. Amen.

“Shout aloud and sing for joy, people of Zion, for great is the Holy One of Israel among you.”

— Isaiah 12:6

It was a cold and sunny day in January—perfect for sledding down icy hills. Our church community gathered for a fun afternoon on the slopes and planned to meet afterward at the church for chili and hot chocolate.

Unfortunately, our 11-year-old son decided to go off a ramp with his racer, and he flew off the sled as it proceeded down the hill. He, on the other hand, came to an abrupt stop, face-planted on the hard ground. He lay there longer than he should have, and when others went over to help, they found he had lost feeling below his chest.

After he was brought by ambulance to the hospital with a diagnosis of a broken neck, the mood of the day changed. We spent hours waiting through X-rays and tests and talk of surgery. A prayer chain started up across the city.

After six hours the doctors were baffled and were ready to start the tests over again. At that moment, our son declared that he would play ball again. He was an avid basketball player. When we asked how he knew, he said he could feel God present with him and healing him.

As he walked out of the hospital that night, the doctors could only attribute his recovery to a miracle. We agreed.

Dear God, thank you for the moments when you show your presence to us. May we always look for your hand to care for us, even doing the unexpected. Amen.

This is how we know that we live in him and he in us: He has given us of his Spirit.

— 1 John 4:13

A fun memory on my Facebook page includes ­videos of my grandsons watering the roses in our backyard. The boys have intent looks on their faces as they hold the hose carefully and walk along the line of rosebushes. They water the roses well and enjoy doing this, but then something changes as they realize that what they have in their hand is useful for more than just watering roses. That is usually when you hear a loud noise on the video because my husband is getting watered instead. And there is laughter and delight all around.

Reflecting on those moments, I realize there is space in the garden for nurturing and giving. The gift of life is all around. When we discover God’s love for us and the gift of the Spirit he has given us, we can stop to reflect and be grateful. In that moment we know God loves us. It is the moment we surrender to his leadership and call. It is the moment we discover we have more in our hands and hearts than we have imagined.

Today is a day to turn what we know into action. Today is a day to join God where he is and to share his love and grace with others. Today is a day to bring delight and joy to God and others as we make use of the gifts and resources we have been given.

Father, thank you for giving us your Spirit. Thank you for nourishing us and calling us to live each day in your presence and love. Help us to use the gifts you have given, sharing with others as we answer your call. Amen.

Who is like the Lord our God, the One who sits enthroned on high . . . ?

— Psalm 113:5

When I pray with people, I ­often like to give them words of encouragement in the form of a challenge. For example, I’ll invite them to begin each morning with praise as the first activity of the day. Like the psalmist, they can shout a hallelujah to recognize who God is.

This psalm was often sung just before people took up the first cup of wine at the Passover meal. They were remembering the goodness and faithfulness of God to the people of Israel.

Saying “Praise the Lord” (Hebrew: “Hallelujah”) is also the perfect way for us to start the day, remembering the goodness and faithfulness of God. It helps to set the tone for the day, and it puts our atti­tude in the right place. It also reminds us that God is bigger than our circumstances and that no one else is like the Lord our God.

We can also sing God’s praises before going to sleep at the end of the day. When we praise someone, it means we know something significant about that person and what they have done. The more we experience the fullness of God in our lives, the easier our praise of God will be.

As we practice, morning and evening, to praise God’s name, we are reminded that we have a heavenly Father and a friend who is always with us and provides everything we need.

Dear God, from the rising of the sun to its setting, may your name be praised. Help us to experience your love daily, and as we give you thanks, may we shout “Hallelujah!” Amen.

You became imitators of us and of the Lord, for you welcomed the message in the midst of severe suffering with the joy given by the Holy Spirit.

— 1 Thessalonians 1:6

My three-year-old granddaughter is full of life and joy. Every time she runs into our house or I walk into theirs, she shouts, “Grandma, my ‘mini me’!” She is thrilled as she shouts the good news. No one can miss it. I have often suggested that she might be my “mini me” (since she is a lot like me), but she insists that I am her “mini me.” We share mannerisms and a flare for shopping, and we both tend to be optimistic. We have serious discussions about life, giggle about nothing, and enjoy afternoon naps.

Paul commends the church at Thessalonica that they have stayed strong in faith by following his example and that of other leaders—and ultimately by following Jesus, despite the hardship and suffering in their life. They have set an example of how to serve and live by the Spirit with joy. They have learned to access all the empowerment and energy they need in order to live through the Spirit.

Whoever we are, on any given day we are following someone or leading someone. Our challenge is to follow those who imitate Jesus and to lead those who need to know him.

Lord and God, help us to imitate you. May we live by the joy you have given us. May we be empowered by your Spirit. May someone see you in us today. Amen.