Archived Daily Devotionals

Learning is finding out what you already know. Doing is demonstrating that you know it. Richard Bach

Scripture:
And I will bring the blind by a way they knew not; I will lead them in paths that they have not known: I will make darkness light before them, and crooked things straight. These things will I do unto them, and not forsake them. Isaiah 42:16

As a child, did you ever get lost? One day out shopping our out with family and friends, somehow you became separated from your parents? Parents, has one of your children ever gotten lost?

Several years ago, my youngest son became lost while out with some friends at the Detroit Auto show. I was not there but received a call on my cell phone to let me know that he had gotten lost but was safe.

When I arrived to pick my son up, as the police officer walked him to my car, I noticed that my son was not crying nor was he upset. As a matter of fact, he seemed to be taking the whole thing in stride.

As we rode home and I asked what happened, he told me how he had become separated and what he did. He was in a car and somehow, when the older boys had gotten out of the car they didn't notice that he was no longer with him. Since my son no longer could see his companions or their father, he did what he had been taught to do. He went up to someone who was working there and told them he was lost. They told my son he wasn't lost, the people he had come with were lost, because he knew where he was.

Saints of God, sometimes in our lives we too lose our way and become lost. Or so it seems to us. We too will need help to find our way home to our Father. The key is recognizing that we are lost and need help to find our way home. We recognize that wherever we may be in our journey doesn't look familiar to us. Or somehow we have become separated from those with whom we have made the journey with.

The key is identifying someone, one of God's angels, who can help us find our way home.

Be Blessed

Prayer:
Father, sometimes as we journey through this life, we become lost. We find that we have somehow become separated from You. We look around us and nothing looks familiar, or we recognize that the things around us are not of You. We don't know how to find our way back to You because we don't know how we got to this place. But Lord, You have told us time and time again, that You are just a prayer away. Thank You Lord, for the power of prayer. Father, help us to recognize those times when we find ourselves in a far country, far away from Your grace and mercy. Help us Lord, to recognize Your angels who will help us to find our way home. Father, we thank You for Your under-Sheppards who You have given charge over us. Because there have been times when we didn't even recognize just how lost we have been, but You have sent them out to bring us back into the fold. Now Lord, we ask that You would continue to touch our brothers and sisters in Christ as well as our unsaved families members and friends. So many need so much. We don't know the need of each individual but we know You do. Bless us Lord in the area of our lives that we have need of. Father God, our hearts are overflowing with Your love. Thank You Lord, for that love. We come before the throne of grace once again, just to give You honor, glory and praise. Bless the name of the Lord. Glory to Your name Lord. Thank You for loving me enough to sacrifice Your only begotten son, Jesus Christ, it is in His name we pray, Amen.

Bad Things do happen; how I respond to them defines my character and the quality of my life. I can be immobilized by the gravity of my loss, or I can choose to rise from the pain and treasure the most precious gift I have - life itself. ~ Walter Anderson

Scripture:
For the LORD your God is a merciful God; he will not abandon or destroy you or forget the covenant with your forefathers, which he confirmed to them by oath. Deuteronomy 4:31

Saints, Things happen in life that seem overwhelming. It may be a car accident, a robbery, a fire or the loss of a job. Sometimes when these things happen, we have a tendency to want to dwell on the "what could have happened". We could have been killed, we could have been home, we could have been gone. They could have kept me and put me in another job.

Well my brothers and sisters let me tell you what did happen. Yes, you were in a car accident, but you walked away. Yes you was robbed at gunpoint, but you walked away. Yes you loss some furniture and have to make some home repairs, but you are still here to talk about it. Yes, you lost your job, but you still have a roof over your head and food on the table.

When bad things happen, they are defining moments in our lives. How we react to our situations, both good and bad are what defines us all as individuals. Saints, bad things will happen in your life. It's just a part of living. Stuff Happens!

But rather than dwell on your losses, praise God for your victories!

Be Blessed

Prayer:
Father, Thank You for my victories. Thank You for allowing us to walk away from situations where we could have died. Thank You Lord, for placing Your hedge of protection around us. Thank You Lord for saving us in situations when we didn't even realize that we were in harms way. Lord, I ask that You would continue to keep each and every saint that is represented here, in perfect peace. Lord, today someone will be faced with a difficult decision. I ask that You would give them a spirit of discernment. Someone will have to let a loved one go. We ask that You would comfort them and allow their loved one to leave in peace. Father, give us the courage to stand on our faith, to let go and let You take control. Lord we love You. We praise and thank You for our victories, both large and small. We ask that You would magnify Your power and Your presence in our lives today and that You would continue to bless each and everyone of our brothers and sisters. In Jesus name, Amen.

If you are reduced to God being your only hope, you are in a good place. ~ Jim Laffoon

Scripture:
We wait in hope for the LORD; he is our help and our shield. In him our hearts rejoice, for we trust in his holy name. Psalm 33:20-21 (New International Version)

Many people believe that hope is a useless emotion. They believe that hope is a thing that fairytales are built on. Hope is the innate ability to believe that something can happen out of nothing. Hope is defined as to want or expect something: to have a wish to get or do something or for something to happen or be true. It is a feeling that something desirable is likely to happen. What I have learned is that hope is necessary part of our existence.

Hope; like the air that we breathe and the water that we drink sustains us so that we can live to fight another day. Where there is no hope, the people perish. Hope is akin to faith. Neither can be seen but that doesn’t lessen the importance of either in our lives. Hope like faith is our ability to see beyond the natural and trust in the supernatural abilities of God. Hope like faith is the knowledge that there is something greater than what we can see, hear, feel and taste. Hope and faith are both roads that lead to God.

When the world says, "Give up," Hope whispers, "Try it one more time." Hope begins in the dark; the stubborn hope that if you just show up and try to do the right thing, the dawn will come. Hope is faith holding out its hand in the dark.

The bible is a book of hope. It teaches us that no matter what you are going through, God is still in the midst of it all. It teaches us to see beyond the natural and to lift up our eyes toward the heavens where He resides.

Remember, Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord and has made the Lord his hope and confidence.

Be blessed

Prayer:
Father, there were times this past week that I became weak. Forgive me. I doubted Your word and Your promises. Forgive me. I allowed satan to deceive me with his lies. Forgive me. I wanted to give up, but You wouldn't let me. Thank You Father, for keeping me once again. Lord, I come boldly before Your throne of grace. Your word says that You give strength to the weary, so I ask that You would strengthen me Lord, for I am weary. Bless me Lord with Your presence, that my heart might be encouraged. Help me remember Your faithfulness and Your love that I might stand in faith against the issues that face me. I bind the schemes of the enemy to tear me down, and I rebuke the spirits that have been assigned to harass me. I ask You Lord to minister fresh strength and joy to me. I agree with Your word, that says, Your plans for me are to give me hope and a future. Father, protect Your saints against the spirit of depression during these perilous times. Let it be so Lord Jesus, according to Your will. I pray in Your mighty name, Amen!

Do not fear the winds of adversity. Remember: A kite rises against the wind rather than with it. ~ Unknown

Scripture:
O people of Zion, who live in Jerusalem, you will weep no more. How gracious he will be when you cry for help! As soon as he hears, he will answer you. Although the Lord gives you the bread of adversity and the water of affliction, your teachers will be hidden no more; with your own eyes you will see them. Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, "This is the way; walk in it. Isaiah 30:19-21 (New International Version)

The Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines the word adversity as a state, condition, or instance of serious or continued difficulty or adverse fortune. The powers that be describe it as an economic downturn. We here in Michigan recognize it as a way of life.

You see adversity in not new to us. We have been struggling with “adversity” for a number of years. Almost everyone I know here in my home state has been touched by it or we know someone else that has been touched by it. We live with adversity on a daily basis.

Unfortunately, it is just now that others across this great country are beginning to experience our world. Many people believe that we did it to ourselves. And that the financial crisis we are experiencing is born out of greed and our inability to budget our money. What they fail to realize is that when if one part of the body is crippled, the whole body is affected.

However, there is something else that I have noticed about our great state, the resurgence of the church. People have begun turning back to God. Gone are the excuses that we used to make about why we aren’t in church. “I worked too many hours this week, I’m tired.” “Why do I need to go to church? I’m already blessed.” Or one of my favorites; “What does it matter, I don’t need to go to church, I’m fine just the way things are.” Ever heard or used any of those excuses?

Saints of God, we are in a bad place when we think we don’t need God, or when we don’t take time for God. It’s ironic that when we are doing well, we feel as though we don’t need Him. But the moment things start going wrong, we are all up in church telling God all about our troubles and begging Him to help us.
Now the good thing about our God is that He will listen to us and even help us when we are sincere in our prayers. And sometimes the winds of adversity have to blow through our lives to get our attention and bring us back to the one who will supply all of our needs.

The above scripture says; “whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, "This is the way; walk in it.”

And remember; "Always seek out the seed of triumph in every adversity."

Be Blessed

Prayer:
Father God, we come before the throne of grace with praise and thanksgiving on our tongues and in our hearts. We come asking Lord, for peace that passes all understanding. We come asking for strength to stand in the face of adversity. But most of all, we come asking with humbled hearts and minds, that You would hear our prayers and our petitions. Master, we need You to speak to the winds of adversity that are blowing against us, peace be still. We come asking that You hold on to our hands and the storms of life toss us about. We come asking that You would hide us under the wings of Your salvation as the roaring lions draws near in an effort to devour us. Lord, we ask that You would keep all of our families, friends, co-workers and brothers and sisters in perfect peace this and everyday. Bless us right now in the name of Jesus. Our prayers are not complete until we let You know just how much we love You. Our prayers on not complete until we sing songs of praise to You alone. Lord, we lift Your name on high, we give You all of our love, all of our praise and sing songs of praise all the day long. Thank You Lord for one more day. Bless You Lord. Hallelujah, Praise God thank You Jesus, Amen.

Remember, The difference between school and life; In school, you're taught a lesson and then given a test. In life, you're given a test that teaches you a lesson. ~ Tom Bodett

Scripture:
Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you—unless, of course, you fail the test? 2 Corinthians 13:5

How many of you know that every day we have a test? Everyday life can be a test. We are often tested to see what we know. Sometimes we are tested to see if we will do the right thing. If you are a parent, your children will often test your patience. Your boss, your skills, and sometimes, your mate will test your love for them.

In the book of Exodus, the children of Israel were tested by God to see if they could follow his instructions. He provided Manna for their nourishment. They were told to go out and gather only what was needed for the day. Now being that men will be men, some gathered more than was needed and tried to save some for later. But the next day, the Manna that was saved was full of maggots and smelled.

Even though the Israelites had seen God perform great miracles and supply all that was needed, some still couldn't pass the test. Sometimes, we forget what we have learned. When it comes time for our test, we barely get a passing grade.

Sometimes we forget how important our tests can be. Our tests are the things that increase our knowledge and our faith. Our tests are life’s lessons. We have been given all of the answers for our test.

All we have to do is read our Basis Instructions Before Leaving Earth.

And remember, there is to Testimony without the test.

Be Blessed

Prayer:
Father, we come before the throne of grace to thank You for all of our blessings. We thank You Lord, for supplying all of our needs. We thank You for the book of life that teaches us and guides us in all that we do. Thank You Gather for all that we are and all that You are to us. Praise God. Amen.

Remember, We don't see things as they are, we see them as we are. ~ Anais Nin

Scripture:
For we walk by faith, not by sight. 2 Corinthians 5:7

How many of you know people who always see only the negative in a situation? They always manage to find something wrong with anybody and everything. They are usually known as pessimist. A pessimist will usually see the glass half empty, never half full.

As I read the above quote I started looking at some of the people around me. I know quite a few people that no matter what can’t enjoy life because they are always waiting for the other shoe to drop. They usually walk around with a woe is me mentality, spreading gloom and doom in their wake. I even know several Christians who think like that.

Not long ago while talking to a friend, she told me something that really surprised me. She said that when she finds herself feeling sorry for herself, she calls her friend Job. “Job”, I asked. Who is Job? “You are”, was her response.

She told me that she has watched me go from one bad situation to the next, but through it all, I am always talking about how good things in my life are. What she meant by her words were that I am the eternal optimist. I try not to dwell on the things in my life that are going wrong, but rather I try to focus on the blessings that I do have.

Don’t get me wrong, I have gotten discouraged about some things; like being without a job for over six months, having my car repossessed and having to move. But rather than focus on what I don’t have, I focus on what I do have.

I didn’t have a job but still managed to feed me and my sons. My car was repossessed but somehow I got the money to buy another one. I had to move, but I have always had a roof over my head and a bed to sleep in. Even when I didn’t know where my next dime was coming from, somehow God provided.

Saints of God, the one thing that we must always remember is that no matter what you may going through, what you lose, what you don’t have; we always have something to be thankful for.

We are not defined by our circumstances but rather it is He who defines our circumstances!

Be Blessed

Prayer:
Lord, I once was blind but now I see. We come before You as the blind did in days of old. Asking Lord, that You would restore our sight. Help us Lord to find the path that You have chosen for us. Help us Lord, to develop greater faith. Help us Lord, to see the world through the eyes of Jesus. Father, we come surrendering our lives to You. Help us to learn to lean on You. Help us Lord to learn that it’s not always about what we see but truly about what You are teaching us. Teach us Lord to lean upon You. To depend upon You and not the things of this world. Lord, help us to realize that our circumstances do not define us, You do. You have already told us that You would never leave us nor forsake us. Bless us Lord. Keep us Lord. Restore our sight once again. So that we may lift our eyes towards heaven and see Your divine vision for us. Father, we come praising and uplifting Your name once again. As we ask and pray this and all things in the name of Jesus. Amen.

Remember, Life is a series of experiences, each one of which makes us bigger, even though sometimes it is hard to realize this. For the world was built to develop character, and we must learn that the setbacks and grieves which we endure help us in our marching onward. ~ Henry Ford

Scripture:
Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us. Romans 5:3-5 (New International Version)

I often wonder, why does life have to be so hard? It seems as though we are confronted with one trial after another. We are met with challenges almost on a daily basis. I have come to the realization that how we meet our challenges will help define our true character.

There are people that I know who meet their challenges with anger. They are just mad at the world and they show it in every thing that they do and say. These people could be described as mean or evil. Very seldom do they have anything nice to say and they actions are often contrived and undermining. You could label them as bullies.

Then, there are those who go through life acting as if they are invisible. They don’t want anyone to notice them or say anything to them. When confronted with a problem, they just try to fade into the background. They don’t want to be seen or heard and would be content if the rest of the world would just leave them be.

Another group of folks that I notice, are the fence sitters. They don’t really stand for anything. They sit on the fence and just kinda go with which ever way the wind is blowing. They don’t really meet challenges but rather, just kind of go with the crowd.

But my favorite group of people are those who meet their challenges head on. These are the types of people I like to be around. You see, they realize that in order to become better people, they meet their challenges with a spirit of determination and with the resolve that they will the victors. They realize that God has not given them a spirit of fear but rather a spirit of hope.

A hope that can be found in our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Be Blessed

Prayer:
Father God, sometimes it seems that life is full of grief and sorrow. We look around and see only death and destruction. We see our brothers and sisters forsaken by the powers that be. In the midst of riches, we see the poverty. In a country of abundance, many suffer from hunger. We see arrogance instead of humility. But even in the midst of the darkness that surrounds us, we can still see the light. Jesus Christ, the light of the world. Father God, we come before the throne of grace, seeking Your face, Your grace and mercy. Lord, we seek the comfort of Your loving arms. Lord, help us to always remember that this world will one day pass away. You are not of this world and neither are Your saints. Your Son was sent to save a dying world; we come thanking You for saving us. We realize that weeping will endure for a night, but joy will come in the morning. Thank You Father, for that promise. Now Lord, we ask that You would empower us to help a dying world. Magnify Your light that is within us. Strengthen us so that we may look outside of ourselves and reach out to help others. May Your light so shine within us that others may see it and be drawn to You. Comfort our grieving, strengthen or weak, heal our sick, give us new hope where there is none and unspeakable joy. The joy of the Lord. The joy that the world can't give nor can the world take it away. Thank You Lord, for second chance. I know that I didn't get it all right yesterday, but I thank You for another chance today. I love the Lord, he heard my cry. Thank You for wiping away my tears and giving me new hope in Christ Jesus, it is in His name we pray, amen.

It's not so much that we're afraid of change or so in love with the old ways, but it's that place in between that we fear . . . . It's like being between trapezes. It's Linus when his blanket is in the dryer. There's nothing to hold on to. ~ Marilyn Ferguson

Scripture:
The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Deuteronomy 31:8 (New International Version)

First of all, let me publicly acknowledge that today’s title and message were inspired by my Pastor, Pastor Larry Smith of New ST. Mark Baptist church. As I sat listening to the man of God, I was taught what it means to be in between blessings. In between blessings are periods of time when one thing has ended and you are waiting on something else to begin where difficulties may occur.

The ending might be a job, a marriage, a relationship or simply a season in your life. What Pastor Smith pointed out was that while we are in between, we must hold on to our hope and our faith. He cited several examples in the bible where different people held out hope and held fast to their faith while they waited for their breakthrough or miracle.

Sarah in the book of Genesis who thought she was too old to bear children; the woman in the book of Mark who had the issue of blood. And what about the lame man who was at the pool of Bethesda for 38 years who never gave up hope that one day, if he could just make it into the pool, he too would be healed. The list goes on and on. These are but a few examples of what it means to hold on to hope and to hold on to your faith.

The quote that I used to day is actually an oxymoron in relationship to today’s message. The line that states being in between is like being between trapezes, there is nothing to hold on to. Personally, I beg to differ. Today’s scripture states that no matter where we travel, what we are going through or where we are, God is right there in the midst with us. He will never leave us nor forsake us.

In other words, things may look bad now, but hold on to your faith. Romans 15:13 tells us; “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Hebrews 11:1 reiterates; “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”

And most of all remember, On Christ the solid Rock I stand, all other ground is sinking sand. Hold on to His unchanging hand.

Be blessed

Prayer:
I will lift up my eyes to the hills from whence comes my help? My help comes from the LORD, Who made heaven and earth. He will not allow your foot to be moved; He who keeps you will not slumber. Behold, He who keeps Israel. Shall neither slumber nor sleep. The LORD is your keeper; The LORD is your shade at your right hand. The sun shall not strike you by day, nor the moon by night. The LORD shall preserve you from all evil; He shall preserve your soul. The LORD shall preserve your going out and your coming in from this time forth, and even forevermore. Lord, we come before the throne of grace thanking You for our miracles. Father we come into covenant agreement and standing in the gap for our brothers and sisters who may be weak. Touch them Lord Jesus. Magnifying Your power and Your presence in their lives. Father, our city and our world is full of stress and strife. Allow Your power and Your spirit to rain down on us this day. Father many of our brothers and sisters may be faced with losing jobs. Have mercy Lord. Lord, and as we have to go through our valleys, to GET to the other side, be by our sides. Keeping us in perfect peace. Lord, use us and allow us to bless someone else this day. We love You Lord. We praise and uplift Your name. We give You all honor, all praise, and all the glory to You alone. Hallelujah, anyhow. Hallelujah in spite of. Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Praise God, Amen.

Remember, only those who will risk going too far can possibly find out how far one can go. ~ T.S. Eliot

Scripture:
Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer. I tell you, the devil will put some of you in prison to test you, and you will suffer persecution for ten days. Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you the crown of life. Revelation 2:10 (New International Version)

As a child, I remember having to say the Pledge of Allegiance each morning before the start of class. I remember that God was held in high reverence and people were actually respectful at the mere mention of His name. I remember that the Christmas holiday was a true celebration of his birth, as families traveled long distances to share in the joy of the season, together. We would go to church as a family and drive around, looking for houses that had been decorated in honor of the season.

As time as progressed, life centered around God started changing. Children are forbidden to say the words UNDER GOD, when reciting the Pledge of Allegiance. Now, prayer isn’t even allowed in school for fear of offending anyone. Christmas has become a celebration of gifts, not God. And nativity scenes are brought under fire and in many cases removed for fear of being sued.

As I reflect upon many of the things that are currently transpiring in today’s world, I often ask; Lord, what have we done by allowing those who supposedly support free speech, to take our Christian voices away. Why are we so afraid to take a stand for what we believe in, namely, You? Why are we being silenced from doing what we were charged with, spreading the Good News of the Gospel.

So many of us who believe in the one true God have been bullied, badgered and persecuted until we have lost the will and desire to stand up for what we believe in. We are unwilling to pray in public, banished from the school houses and giving honor to God for victories, because of those people out there who don’t believe in what we believe in.

When we will say, ENOUGH? I love the Lord and I am not afraid to say it.

Remember, if you don’t stand for something, you will fall for anything.

Be Blessed

Prayer:
Almighty God, whose beloved Son willingly endured the agony and shame of the cross for our redemption: Give us courage to take up our cross and follow Him; who lives and reigns for ever and ever. O Lord, grant me to greet the coming day in peace, help me in all things to rely upon Your holy will. In every hour of the day reveal Your will to me. Bless my dealings with all who surround me. Teach me to treat all that comes to throughout the day with peace of soul and with firm conviction that Your will governs all. In all my deeds and words, guide my thoughts and feelings. In unforeseen events, let me not forget that all are sent by You. Teach me to act firmly and wisely, without embittering and embarrassing others. Give me strength to bear the fatigue of the coming day with all that it shall bring. Direct my will, teach me to pray. Lord, You are to be blessed and praised; all good things come from You: You are in our words and in our thoughts, and in all that we do. AMEN!