"Prayer Changes Everything" Devotion for Today

July 03, 2025 Daily Devotion: "A Grateful Heart" Psalm 119:62-64 New Living Translation 62 I rise at midnight to thank you. for your just regulations. 63 I am a friend to anyone who fears you— anyone who obeys your commandments. 64 O Lord, your unfailing love fills theearth; teach me your decrees. How do you feel about the darkness? Have you ever found yourself all alone in the middle of the night? We can usually keep things together during the daytime, but there's something about the nighttime that breaks down our defenses. The psalmist had the answer for finding joy during the darkest of times. Whatever has you feeling down and swallowed in darkness, there's joy to be found. You still have reasons to rise and give thanks. God's Word is a light, and it shines in the darkness in away it never could in the light (Psalm119:105). We have only to open our eyes and look for it (Psalm 119:148). At some point, we'll all find ourselves in a dark place that we would never have chosen. Even then, if we open God's Word, He can shine His light (Psalm 119:130) and reveal places of joy. 

July 02, 2025 Daily Devotion: "THE PRAYER" Mark 11:23-24 New Living Translation 23 I tell you the truth, you can say to this mountain, ‘May you be lifted up and thrown into the sea,' and it will happen. But you must really believe it will happen and have no doubt inyour heart. 24 I tell you, you can pray for anything, and if you believe that you've received it, it will be yours. How do you approach the practice of prayer? Are you hopeful or hesitant? Do you think it would be nice if God heard you, or are you certain that He does? James was very clear that the doubtful person could expect to receive nothing from the Lord (James1:6-7).Jesus also had something to say regarding prayer. To unleash its full power, we should pray for specific things. Is there a mountain in your way? Follow Jesus' instruction and command it to move. Don't be afraid to list everything you need to take place. We need to believe that God loves us enough to hear us and answer. We can find joy in knowing that if we're asking within God's will (1 John5:14) we can believe that we've received the thing for which we've asked (Mark11:24). We can delight in ourprayers knowing that God delights in hearing them (Proverbs 15:8).

July 01, 2025 Daily Devotion: "THE CROSS" Colossians 2:14 New Living Translation 14 He canceled the record of the charges against us and took it away by nailing it to the cross. All of us have that person who remembers us “when.” They know the mistakes we've made: the lies, the poor relationship choices, and the downright bad decisions. It's safe to say that none of us would want to read a record of all our wrongs. No matter how much we wish it weren't so, we all have charges against us (Romans 3:23). The offenses are great, and the enemy wants to hold us accountable for each and every one of them. Though we're all guilty, for. those in Christ, there's still reason to rejoice. When Jesus saves a person, they don't become a better version of themselves; they become someone completely different (2 Corinthians 5:17). We can have joy knowing that He's cancelled the debt and paid the penalty, and we can walk in freedom as though we'd never sinned. That's the power of the cross.

June 30, 2025 Daily Devotion: "Home" Hebrews 12:2 New Living Translation 2 We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. [a] Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God's throne. Something about home just brings joy to a person's heart. And nothing is more thrilling than knowing you're on your way home after you've been gone for a time. Not all of us canphysically return to our childhood homes. Perhaps you wouldn't even desire to do so. But, as Christ followers, we are all making our way to our heavenly home. Jesus knows what it's like to be far from home. He also knows the joy of heading home. The author of Hebrews said that Jesus was able to endure the brutality of the cross because of the joy set before Him. What was the joy set before Him? It was accomplishing His purpose of offering salvation to humankind. Jesus knew that after the cross came the crown. He was heading home, it was pure joy. Whatever you are facing in the moment, you can have joy knowing that you are only passing through. In the blink of an eye, God will swing the gates of heaven open and say, “Welcome home.”

June 29, 2025 Daily Devotion: "Equal Creation, Unequal Circumstances" Proverbs 22:2 New Living Translation 2 The rich and poor have this in common: The Lord made them both. The most joyful people are those who refuse to separate others into categories-that is, the haves and have-nots. They refuse to set themselves either above or below the rest of the human race, or to see things in terms of “us” versus “them.” They understand, often because of the difficulties they've suffered in their own lives, that the bank president or the senator is only a hair's breadth-one unhappy circumstance-away from the homeless man in the soup kitchen line. If God's given you financial security, a lucrative career, harmonious family, or lovely house, guard against overlooking others or seeing them as less important. Everyone has a story, as they say; take an interest in those stories, and you'll find that you enjoy hearing them. Find joy in people, regardless of their status or background. Don't ever stop seeing other human beings as priceless, or you'll miss out on some rewarding relationships. As the old hymn says, “The ground is level at the foot of the cross.”

June 28, 2025 Daily Devotion: "God's Love Demonstrated" Romans 5:8 New Living Translation 8 But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners. Have you ever thought that someone loved you only because they had to or because you did something for them? Do you ever worry that you're one mistake away from someone no longer loving you? It's a terrible feeling to be insecure in someone's love. On the other hand, it's a whole different feeling to know someone loves completely and unconditionally. This kind of love has been proven over time and in difficult seasons. The love has endured when you weren't at your best and when you had nothing to give in return. God left no doubt as to which type of love He had for His people. When God says He loves you, He's speaking about a love that came to you when you weren't even capable of loving Him in return. To know that you're loved in such a lavish way will cause you to live joyfully in that love.

June 26, 2025 Daily Devotion: "The Source of Joy"Genesis 21:6 New Living Translation 6 And Sarah declared, “God has brought me laughter. [a] All who hear about this will laugh with me. Joy is a gift from God; therefore, we can say with certainty that human beings were created for joy-and that includes the sort of joy that's lively, contagious, and sometimes evenloud. Since all humans are created by God (and therefore made to experience joy), even those who don't know Him will exchange high fives with perfect strangers at the Super Bowl, laugh with abandon with friends, and reveling a good belly laugh during a silly movie. Sometimes people mistakenly assume that Christian joy should be a quieter, more well-mannered version of“real joy,” but there's a glaring problem with this theory: it's the joy that comes from God that's truly pure, complete, and the real thing, just as the only pure and complete form of love is that which comes from God. So what's the conclusion of the matter? Don't squelch that delicious feeling of joy in yourbelly. Embrace each humorous, delightful, or pleasurable moment, even when it's a bit boisterous. God is probably laughing right along with you.

June 25, 2025 Daily Devotion: "Success Through Obedience" 1 Chronicles 22:13 English Standard Version 13 Then you will prosper if you are careful to observe the statutes and the rules that the Lord commanded Moses for Israel. Be strong and courageous. Fear not; do not be dismayed. Fear is an instant joy-killer. Think about it: you simply can't feel joy and anxiety at the same time. Those two emotions don't mesh. Give in to fear, and your joy will disappear like sparkling water out of a cracked pitcher. Follow the Lord'sinstruction when He says, “Fear not” and you'll be delightfully surprised at how much more room there is inside your heart! You might be shocked when you realize how much energy and time you've wasted on fretting-and how much of thatenergy and time is now freed up for Christ like emotions such as joy, compassion, and contentment. Sometimes we don't realize how much we're investing in negative emotions until they're gone. Are you exhausted? Do you feel as if you've lost that spark lately and you don't know how to get it back? Take an honest look at how much energy and time you're spending on the wrong emotions. Then choose joy.

June 24, 2025 Daily Devotion: "Rejoice with Those Who Rejoice" Romans 12:15 New Living Translation 15 Be happy with those who are happy, and weep with those who weep. Be honest: When someone you know is blessed, do you feel joy? Or is your first emotion jealousy? A joyful person is quick to rejoice not only when he or she succeeds or experiencessomething wonderful, but when others do too. The joyful person understands the phrase It's not all about me. He doesn't feel slighted when his colleague receives the salesperson of the year award. She doesn't pout when her sister gets an acceptance letter college. There's no need for a Christian to act like a spoiled child who demands the biggest piece of cake because there's only so much to go around. God will never run out of blessings, and His love is infinite. The word rejoice sounds like joy for a reason. You simply can't rejoice without feeling joy. Sometimes we forget that one of the greatest benefits of rejoicing with those who rejoice is that when we do, our joy is multiplied. Let's learn to respond with kindness and enthusiasm every time God blesses one of His children. 

June 23, 2025 Daily Devotion: "To Live Is Christ"Philippians 1:18 New Living Translation 18 But that doesn't matter. Whether their motives are false or genuine, the message about Christ is being preached either way, so I rejoice. And I will continue to rejoice. If you pay attention, you'll discover that the people who consistently experience joy in their lives are those who see the good and positive in virtually every circumstance. Paul was an expert at finding the silver lining. In this verse, he explained to his readers that the upside of certain people preaching the gospel out of less-than-perfect motives (such as self-promotion) was that the good news was being spread. And for this he rejoiced. What do you do when things don't go as planned? Do you naturally give into self-pity and complaining, or do you adapt and make the best of it? Some people are able to acclimatizequickly which brings Joy in spite of uncomfortable circumstances. When an ice storm takes out their utility pole, they light a kerosene heater, bundle up the kids, and pile into the bed together for a slumber party. What one person callsmajor in convenience, another calls a chance for a family adventure. Let's learn from Paul to extract every bit of good out of our troubles.

June 16, 2025 Daily Devotion: "Discernment for Purity" Philippians 1:10 New Living Translation 10 For I want you to understand what really matters, so that you may live pure and blameless lives until the day of Christ's return. Have you ever looked back on a situation and realized it wasn't worth the emotional energy you put into it? Not only did you waste time worrying and fretting, you also missed out on more productive activities. Most likely none of us can think of a single time we looked back and thought, I'm so glad I worried about that. When Paul wrote his letter to the Philippians, it was important to him that they were able to discern whatreally mattered in life. This is also a key element in our efforts to live joyfully. When we love well and seek wisdom (Philippians 1:9), we can focus our energies on things that truly matter. How can we know we're being distracted from what is excellent? Things that don't matter drain our joy. Whenwe're doing the things that God deems important, we'll experience the joy of being obedient.

June 15, 2025 Daily Devotion: "Restore the Joy of Salvation" Psalm 51:12 New Living Translation 12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and make me willing to obey you Have you ever felt as if your joy tank was just about empty? What did you do to try to refill it? We may try any number of things to restore our own joy. We may plan a night out withfriends or a weekend away by ourselves. Perhaps we turn to a hobby that has brought us pleasure in the past. Here's the problem: only God can restore the kind of joy our souls need. David knew what to do when his joy was beginning to wane. He simply made his request to the One who is able to fulfill our need for joy. James may have been referring to wisdom when he said to ask “God, who gives generously” (James 1:5), but God's generosity has no limits. If there is a need for joy in our lives, let's ask Him for it. Fill me with Your joy, Lord. There is nothing else that cheers my heart like the joy of Your salvation.

June 12, 2025 Daily Devotion: "Success through Obedience and Courage"1 Chronicles 22:13 New Living Translation 13 For you will be successful if you carefully obey the decrees and regulations that the Lord gave to Israel through Moses. Be strong and courageous; do not be afraid or lose heart! What represents a courageous act for one person may not look the least bit daunting to the next, and vice versa. For example, Jane Doe enjoys public speaking, while John Doe isnauseated at the thought. When God calls John to change careers, he's thrilled, but Jane, who likes predictability, has to summon a great deal of courage to say, Yes, Lord. God calls His children to leaps of faith, and in the same breath He says, “Be strong and courageous” (Joshua1:6). The passionate Christian won't be satisfied unless he's following God in a way that requires courage; that's what we're all built for, and anything less will eventually make usrestless. Each new challenge from God calls us to new heights and reminds us that the Christian life isn't for cowards. And each challenge is cause for great joy: what an honor to be called by the Lord!

June 10, 2025 Daily Devotion: "Focusing on the Good"Philippians 4:8 New Living Translation8 And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that areexcellent and worthy of praise. The human brain is beautiful and complex, sending signals at a rate as high as 268 miles per hour. Each day, the average person entertains roughly seventy thousand thoughts. That's more than forty-eight unique thoughts every minute! No wonder our thought lives are so crucial regarding who we are, what we do, and how we feel. Doesn't it make sense that if we fill our minds with negative, sinful, or empty thoughts, we'll accomplish little of value and struggle with fear, sin, depression, or all the above? Conversely, when we think about what's pure and noble, such as how to love our spouse well, serve our community, or raise children of character, we'll realize the dreams God puts in our hearts, and we'll have joy. Each day holds a multitude of opportunities to concentrate on bad news, engage in gossip, surrender to pessimism, and so forth. It also holds a multitude of opportunities to focus on the things that please God. What will you fill your mind with today?

June 09, 2025 Daily Devotion: "The Guidance of God's Word" Isaiah 30:21 New Living Translation21 Your own ears will hear him Right behind you a voice will say, “This is the way you should go,” whether to the right or to the left. Some people have a terrible sense of direction. They'll tell you they feel as if their internal GPS is broken. They can lose their way while driving to the store even though they'vebeen there a dozen times. Other people could be dropped into the woods at midnight with no compass and find their way out by daybreak. The “directionally challenged” are in awe of those who always seem to know exactly where they are and how to get to where they're headed. But when it comes to life, we're all in the same boat: none of us can find our way on our own. We must keep our eyes on Jesus at All times if we're going to navigate life as intended. Surrendering to God's lead is liberating: the moment we do so, we're able to give ourselves to the joyful journey that is life. We can trust Him to guide us completely. Proverbs tellsus, “Give Him the credit for everything you accomplish, and He will smooth out and straighten the road that lies ahead” (3:6 voice). What a wonderful promise!

June 08, 2025 Daily Devotion: "Abiding in Christ: Joy's Promise"John 15:11 New Living Translation 11 I have told you these things so that you will be filled with my joy. Yes, your joy will overflow! What if someone discovered the secret to living joyfully? Would you want them to share it with you? That's a silly question. It's safe to say we would all want in on such a secret! Bring on the joy, right? One of the beautiful things about Jesus is that He doesn't keep secrets from us. There is a way to live joyfully, and He is more than willing to share it with us. “If you keep My commands,” Jesus says, “you willremain in My love” (John 15:10 HCSB). He goes on to explain that He is telling the people this so that they may be filled with His joy. The secret to joy is obedience. We can obey the Lord's commands regardless of our financial situation, social standing, or marital status. We can live joyfully even in the midst of disappointments, bad news, and rainy days. Let's live obedient, joy-filled lives.

June 07, 2025 Daily Devotion: "The Pursuit of Happiness: Finding It in Wisdom" Proverbs 3:13 New Living Translation 13 Joyful is the person who finds wisdom, the one who gains understanding. You're probably familiar with the saying “Ignorance is bliss.” It's tempting to live that way, isn't it? While it's sometimes better to be in the dark and not have to deal with the drama of a situation, Scripture says that it is actually wisdom and understanding that bring happiness. Happiness comes when we gain the wisdom needed to make our way in this world. The Bible contains all the wisdom we need to handle any situation we may encounter or to navigate the most complicated of relationships. Happiness also comes when we understand who we are in Christ. We were created by God and in His image. We have good works to do and have been given the gifts necessary to do them. We are so loved that Christ laid Many people wander because they are lost; they don't understand who they are or why they're here, and their lack of understanding is far from blissful. We don't have to live that way. Let's beseekers of wisdom and people of understanding; this is the way to happiness.

June 06, 2025 Daily Devotion: "Good Gifts from Above"James 1:17 (New Living Translation)  17 Whatever is good and perfect is a gift coming down to us from God our Father, who created all the lights in the heavens. [a] He never changes or casts a shifting shadow. Do you ever begin to feel sorry for yourself? We've all been guilty of throwing a pity party or two in our day. What we often discover is that, when it happens, it's because we'vebegun overlooking or taking for granted the blessings of the Lord. It doesn't matter if it's a leather-bound journal or a piece of scratch paper, there's a lot to be said for literally counting your blessings by recording them. If you've never done thisexercise or if it's been a while, you might struggle at first. But you'll be amazed at how God will open your eyes once you've made gratitude a habit. You'll begin to find joy in freshly washed linens, the smell of a new candle, or a piece of pumpkin pie. (Anything pumpkin should always make the blessings list!) When Satan tries to steal your joy-and he will try-you can go to your journal or notebook and remind yourself of how much you have been given. 

June 05, 2025 Daily Devotion: "Not A Spirit of Fear but A Spirit of Power" 2 Timothy 1:7 New Living Translation 7 For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline. What scares you? Most people could come up with a few fears pretty quickly. Are you afraid of sky scrapers, smallspaces, or spiders? Perhaps you fear being alone, being insignificant, or never quite finding your purpose in life. Whatever it is that causes fear to enter your spirit, there is one trait That is common tothem all: if it causes you fear, it isn't from God. Perhaps that's why the psalmist declared that he would not fear (Psalm118:6) and why every gospel includes a command from Jesus to not fear (Matthew 10:26; Mark 6:50; Luke 12:4;John 14:27). Peter, when writing to those in exile, encouraged them to not be afraid (1 Peter 3:14). For many of us, it's a constant battle. Each day, we must make a choice; we must choose joy over fear. Living unafraid is a huge step to living joyfully.

June 04, 2025 Daily Devotion: "Rejoicing in the Proclamation of Christ" Philippians 1:18 New Living Translation 18 But that doesn't matter. Whether their motives are false or genuine, the message about Christ is being preached either way, so I rejoice. And I will continue to rejoice. How easily are you distracted? The fact is that there are many distractions in our world. There are even faith-related things that can cause us to lose focus. It's easy to get caught up in someone else's methods or motives and forget the ultimate goal. Imagine Paul sitting in his prison cell knowing that people were preaching Christ out of envy and rivalry (Philippians 1:17). One would think that would make a guy a little bitter,right? Paul was able to see the bigger picture. He understood that Christ was still being preached and, in that, he was able to rejoice. The purpose of any trial is to proclaim the name of Christ. We, like Paul, can rejoice in any trial as long as it's serving to advance the gospel. Do you want to live joyfully? Askyourself, “How can Christ be proclaimed in this situation?” Then let the rejoicing begin. No matter what comes my way, Lord, I will rejoice in knowing that Your name will be proclaimed. through it all.

June 03, 2025 Daily Devotion: "Different Gifts, Same Grace" Romans 12:6 New Living Translation 6 In his grace, God has given us different gifts for doing certain things well. So if God has given you the ability to prophesy, speak out with as much faith as God has given you. What activity brings you the most joy and makes you feel the most fulfilled? Chances are that your spiritual gifts are somehow connected to that activity. We'll never feel true joy until we're doing what God intended us to do. It's tempting to begin comparing our talents with those of other people and considering someone else's gifts more valuable. There are no better or worse gifts; none of us got stuck with the leftover one. We all have differing gifts, and there's every expectation that we use them. It's essential that we develop those gifts in order to live joyfully. Your gifting is connected to your purpose, and you'll discover true joy in living out your purpose. How are you going to use your gifts today?

June 02, 2025 Daily Devotion: "Pain With a Purpose"Philippians 1:12 New Living Translation12 And I want you to know, my dear brothers and sisters, [a] that everything that has happened to me here has helped to spread the Good News. How do you feel when you look back on painful experiences? Some things you're probably just thankful to have survived. Then there are those experiences where you're able to see the bigger picture and discern some purpose behind the pain. Maybe a tragedy brought some healing to broken relationships or caused someone to seek God. It changeseverything when you can see that your suffering wasn't in vain. Paul's letter to the Philippians is often called the “joy letter” because of its emphasis on rejoicing even in trials. How was Paul able to issue this call to rejoice after all he had endured? It was because he saw the greater purpose. Paul knew thateverything that happened to him caused the gospel to be spread, and that brought him great joy. You, too, can rejoice in the midst of pain knowing that your God can use it for His glory. Nothing you endure is ever in vain if you allow it to make His name known. 

June 01, 2025 Daily Devotion: "The Blessed Day of Rest"Genesis 2:3 New Living Translation 3 And God blessed the seventh day and declared it holy, because it was the day when he rested from all his work of creation. Are you a little grumpy when you're tired? A lot grumpy? It's okay; we're all friends here. The fact is that exhaustion doesn't bring out the joy in people. Things that wouldn't even faze us on a good day can bring out the crazy in us when we've been too tired for too long. Everything God does has a purpose. When we read about something He did or said, we should really take note. During creation, for instance, He made a point of resting. Why would He do that? God wasn't weary from all the work (Isaiah 40:28). He wasn't about to take a nap (Psalm 121:4). God rested so that His people would follow His example (Exodus 16:30). It's okay to take a break and be refreshed. If you find yourself missing the joy and wondering when you became so irritable, carve out sometime to rest. It was important enough for God to set the example; let's follow it. Joyful people know how to rest.

May 31, 2025 Daily Devotion: "Created for Good Works"Ephesians 2:10 New Living Translation 10 For we are God's masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago. Have you ever known someone who struggled with discovering his purpose in life? It could be a young personchoosing a career or a college. It might be an older person trying to figure out what to do after retirement. It doesn't matter who they are or at what stage of life they are in, people want to know why they are alive and what they're meant to do. Every person was created by God with a purpose. No one ever draws a single breath without good works beingplanned in advance for her to do. People who live knowing they have a purpose are joyful people. God doesn't always give us the details of His plan for our lives, but we can live knowing that there is one. And it's good! As we wait for His timing, we simply do the next thing. Long before our hearts were beating, we existed in the heart of God. There is a part of His grand plan that only you can play. He has a unique plan for every other person as well. Each plan has a purpose-and a plan with purpose brings us great joy. It's so exciting.

May 30, 2025 Daily Devotion: "The Trumpet Call and Transformation" 1 Corinthians 15:52 New Living Translation 52 It will happen in a moment, in the blink of an eye, when the last trumpet is blown. For when the trumpet sounds, those who have died will be raised to live forever. And we who are living will also be transformed. Few things are as striking as a lovingly crafted piece of repurposed furniture, for example, a dinner table made of wooden pallets or a kitchen island built from an old dresser. More and more, people are gravitating toward these sorts of pieces to adorn their homes not just because they're resourceful but because the finished pieces are lovely to look at. To have the skill to bring new life and meaning to something that appeared old, rickety, or even worthless-something that the next person would have taken to the dump-is a true gift. God is the greatest Creator of all. The good news for us, His most precious creations, is that when we're “old and rickety,” He doesn't just repurpose us, He completely transforms us. He re-created us at the moment we were born again into the kingdom, and when our earthly lives are through, He'll give us not just are furbishment, but perfect, new bodies. What a day of jubilation that will be!

May 28, 2025 Daily Devotion: "The Eternal Perspective"1 John 2:17 New Living Translation 17 And this world is fading away, along with everything that people crave. But anyone who does what pleases God will live forever. Have you ever felt as if you were missing something? Day after day your life slips by and you're certain there must be more. The surest way to live a joyless life is to live outside ofGod's will. Our hearts will never be at peace and our souls will never be satisfied until we're doing what we were created to do. It's easy to get caught up in what school to go to, what career to choose, and where to carry out our lives. Ultimately, none of the major life decisions we make will bring us joy if they're not made with God's will in mind. But what is God's will? We are to seek justice for the oppressed (Isaiah1:17). Christ followers, as a whole, should be known for kindness (Colossians 3:12). Humility should be evident in our lives (Numbers 12:3). We'll begin living joyfully when all of our life decisions are based upon God's will.

May 27, 2025 Daily Devotion: "Restoration and Guidance" Psalm 23:2-3 New Living Translation2 He lets me rest in green meadows; he leads me beside peaceful streams. 3 He renews my strength. He guides me along right paths, bringing honor to his name. Do you get the winter blues? Scientists say that the cold and often dreary weather of winter does indeed affect many people. If you're one of those who suffer mild depression in the winter months, never fear: spring will come! The trees and flowers-along with your joy-will blossom forth! The trials and tribulations of life can and often do affect us in a similar way. Both the weather and life's trials can make us feel overwhelmed, lonely, and discouraged, which canresult in the “blues.” Remember, however, when trials strike you like winter blizzards, you can know that, in many thousands of years of winters, spring has never failed to come! Psalm 23 tells us that God will make you “lie down ingreen pastures”, and there He'll “restore soul.” When life's trials as sail you, why don't you allow God to take you by the hand and lead you through the trial to the “spring” of refreshing, restoration, and joy?

May 26, 2025 Daily Devotion: "The Comfort of God's Justice" Psalm 10:17-18 New Living Translation 17 Lord, you know the hopes of the helpless. Surely you will hear their cries and comfort them. 18 You will bring justice to the orphans and the oppressed, so mere people can no longer terrify them. Did you grow up without a father or mother? Have you had to suffer many trials, tribulations, and sorrows? Rejoice! Why should you rejoice in the face of heartbreaking troubles?Because the Lord, your God, is your own faithful Defender. What more could you ask than to have the most powerful, tireless, and effective Advocate in the entire universe? These words from Psalm 10 specify that God has a particularly warm spot in His great heart for the one who grew up without one or both parents, or who has suffered, or is even now suffering. God sees what we're going through. Don't forget, Jesus walked the earth as both fully God and fully man, and He felt every pain we experience. He knew physical pain, rejection, cold, heat, hunger, thirst, loneliness,frustration, torture - He experienced it all. Is it any wonder that He stands as our Advocate, ready to defend us and to bring justice? What joy we can take from that knowledge!

May 25, 2025 Daily Devotion: “The Gift of God and The Futility of Earthly Wealth” Ecclesiastes 2:26 New Living Translation26 God gives wisdom, knowledge, and joy to those who please him. But if a sinner becomes wealthy, God takes the wealth away and gives it to those who please him. This, too, ismeaningless—like chasing the wind. Have you ever wondered how you could have just a portion of the joy that you see in certain people? If so, Scripture has good news for you. Joy doesn't go to the best or the brightest. You don't have to outwork and out last all of the others. Joy is a gift from God to all those who are pleasing in His sight. How can we be pleasing in His sight? Scripture tells us that all the Lord asks of us is that we do what is right, that we show mercy, and that we walk humbly with Him (Micah 6:8). Thatis what the Lord asks of us: justice, mercy, and humility. We are pleasing in His sight when we exhibit these qualities. Then He gives us wisdom, knowledge, and joy. When we feel ourselves a little lacking in joy, let's ask God to reveal ways we can be pleasing in His sight.

May 24, 2025 Daily Devotion: "The Hope Found in Scriptures" Romans 15:4 New Living Translation 4 Such things were written in the Scriptures long ago to teach us. And the Scriptures give us hope and encouragement as we wait patiently for God's promises to be fulfilled. Just as layering clothes in the winter helps protect your body against the ravages of the cold, “layering” the Word of God by daily Scripture reading will help protect your soul againstthe ravages of sin. The most effective weapon we have to keep us from falling prey to the evil in the world and the temptations fired at us by Satan is the Word of God. Even Jesus, when He was tempted in the desert for forty days, used Scripture as His weapon (Matthew 4:1-11). The Bible itself reminds us numerous times to study the Scriptures. In Ephesians 6:11, we're told to “put on the full armor of God” in order to protect ourselves from “the devil's schemes”; and this armor includes the Word of God, the Bible. If we're fully protected each day from the evil of the world and the schemes of the enemy, we'll have the fullness of joy.

May 21, 2025 Daily Devotion: "The Righteousness and Kindness of the Lord" Psalm 145:17 New Living Translation  17 The Lord is righteous in everything he does; he is filled with kindness. Have you ever been the recipient of someone else's random act of kindness? We can al agree that it feels pretty good. The person receiving the kindness is blessed, but the onebeing kind is equally blessed. Taking the time to be kind is one of the simplest ways to add joy to our lives. We can know many things about God through His Word. He's faithful and forgiving. He's mighty and merciful. He's loving and long-suffering. Yet sometimes we forget that He's kind. The psalmist declared that His every work is one of kindness. We miss out on joy when we fail to recognize the many kindnesses of the Lord. He didn't have to create waterfalls or beautiful, purple sunsets. He didn't have to make birds that sing and leaves that rustle. God's kind works are everywhere. We can live joyfully when we learn to see them.

May 20, 2025 Daily Devotion: "Embracing Today" Matthew 6:34 New Living Translation34 “So don't worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today's trouble is enough for today. It's confession time: raise your hand if you're a worrier. If you're like many people, you raised your hand, so let's talk about It. Worry isn't a fruit of The Spirit. This means that, when we choose worry, we are saying, “No, thank You” to the Spirit's fruit, which happens to include joy. Let's be honest-no one sits around worrying about tomorrow with a heart full of joy. Worry and joy do not Co exist. Let's choose to live joyfully by choosing to focus on today. God is already handling tomorrow, next week, and next year. We don't have to worry about them. Through Christ, we haveeverything we need to handle today with peace, patience, and joy. When we pick up the burden of worrying about tomorrow, we are choosing to set aside the joy for today because we can't carry both. Surely you would much rather have joy. Let's focus on the joys of today and trust God with the worries of tomorrow.

May 19, 2025 Daily Devotion: "The Fruitfulness of the Good Soil" Luke 8:15 New Living Translation 15 And the seeds that fell on the good soil represent honest, good-hearted people who hear God's word, cling to it, and patiently produce a huge harvest. Patience always frees up room for joy. No one ever said, “I love lessons in patience!” but it's a discipline that should be learned, and most of us would agree that it produce good things. Elisabeth Elliot once said that restlessness affects nothing but our joy and contentment. In other words, we can forfeit peace and joy by giving in to impatience, even though it's powerless to change a single thing. For example, imagine you're eager for a certain change to take place, such as a job promotion or retirement or college graduation, but you've got three months to wait until the dream becomes reality. Whether you spend those three months wringing your hands with impatience or good naturedly making the best of your time, they won't expand orshrink one iota. Three months consists of roughly 131,500 minutes, no matter your attitude. You might as well spend the time calmly and joyfully. Your life will be far better for it.

May 18, 2025 Daily Devotion: "A Song of Steadfast Hope" Psalm 59:16 New Living Translation16 But as for me, I will sing about your power. Each morning I will sing with joy about your unfailing love. For you have been my refuge, a place of safety when I am in distress. I can do it!” bellows your toddler as you start digging a trench in the garden, so you seize the teachable moment and let her try, even though you know the job is too big for her. She'sa determined one, often able to do what she sets her mind to do, but this time the chore is too much. Finally she asks you to help, and as you take the trowel from her hands, she relaxes, never giving it another thought. Author Corrie ten Boom wrote about how to handle our own powerlessness: turn to the power of Jesus. We, like children, can relinquish control and relax into Jesus' ability when faced with an impossible task. We might still have to involve ourselves in the situation, but admitting our incompetence and placing it all in His hands will restore our joy. If you've been banging your head against the wall, let Jesus take over your dilemma, and refuse to fret about it any longer. Be confident in His ability, and your joy will be renewed.

May 17, 2025 Daily Devotion: "Guided by Your Word"Psalm 119:133 New Living Translation133 Guide my steps by your word, so I will not be overcome by evil. One of the quickest ways to snuff out joy is to allow a “little” sin into your life-you know, the sort that's easy to ignore most of the time because it's nowhere near as serious as stealing or adultery, but it plagues you when things get quiet. You go about your business all day without giving it a second thought, but when you lie down at night-bam-there it is, nipping at your heels like a small but very annoying dog. You try to reclaim the joy you used to feel, but something's wrong. Your conscience has been sullied. No one's ever been saved by being good enough to deserve salvation. But we're called to live in a way that pleases God, and when we do, we experience the joy that comes from a life of integrity. When we insist on our own way because it's fun, we feel the loss, and joy evaporates. Determine today to never forfeit joy for temporary pleasure.

May 16, 2025 Daily Devotion: "The Lord Hears the Cry of the Afflicted" Psalm 10:17 New Living Translation 17 Lord, you know the hopes of the helpless. Surely you will hear their cries and comfort them. Are you having to endure affliction? Perhaps it's poverty, illness, abandonment, or anxiety. You are not alone! The Lord hears your cries for help, mercy, or a reprieve. Listen for Hisvoice. He's promised to encourage you. He knows your heart, He understands your deepest desires. And He will answer. Our God is the only CEO whose “office door” is always open. He never sleeps, never puts up a Do Not Disturb sign, and never leaves His post. Instead, He's always alert and alwaysavailable. Unlike our friends, who might weary of hearing about our troubles, God wants us to take them to Him-again and again and again if necessary. So great is His love that He never tires of hearing from us. And no problem is too big-or too small-for Him to handle. In your afflictions, turn confidently to the Lord, knowing that He's delighted to hear from you, and that He's able to solve any problem you might have. And then rejoice! Lord, You're the great problem-solver. Help me to trust You with all my problems. 

May 15, 2025 Daily Devotion: "The Promise of Resurrection" Isaiah 26:19 New Living Translation 19 But those who die in the Lord will live; their bodies will rise again! Those who sleep in the earth will rise up and sing for joy! For your life-giving light will fall like dew on your people in the place of the dead! Sometimes we feel as frail as the dust from which we came. The hurts and heartaches of this world drive us to our knees, and for a moment the dirt of the earth is all we're able to recall. We make ourselves at home in the ashes, and everything seems suddenly fragile. Yes, like Paul, we have those days when there seems to be no rest for body or spirit (2 Corinthians 7:5). Morning brings exhaustion, and evening brings affliction. Then ten little words change everything: “I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength” (Philippians 4:13NLT). Suddenly we're more than a people of the dust. We're apeople who can rise up from the ashes and dance in the dust. No matter the trial or tragedy, we can say, “I can do everything.” Though we were formed in the dust, we also carry the God-breath inside of us. The world would have us broken, forever aware of our fragility, and fearful of ever rising again. ButGod desires much more for us. He calls to us through our pain and gives us permission to rise from the dust and shout for joy. Lord, I won't lie defeated and discouraged in the dust. I'll rise, praise Your name, and shout for joy.

May 14, 2025 Daily Devotion: "Rejoicing in God's Steadfast Love Amid Distress" Psalm 31:7 New Living Translation 7 I will be glad and rejoice in your unfailing love, for you have seen my troubles, and you care about the anguish of my soul. Maybe you've gone through a trying time and thought, no one understands. Have you ever felt invisible in your pain? The truth is that we'll all go through seasons where other people truly don't know how we feel. The trial seems more intense when we feel unnoticed and misunderstood. Regardless of what friends or family recognize or don't, we can be glad and rejoice knowing that God sees us in the midst of our affliction. Not only does He see what's taking place, He's also very much aware of the condition of our souls. Nothing takes place in our lives without the watchful eye of our God seeing and taking note of it. There's something about being seen (Genesis 16:13) and having our pain known (Psalm 56:8) that makes it all alittle more bearable. It's the only way we're able to live joyfully in the midst of painful circumstances. I can endure with joy, Lord, knowing that Your eye is always on me and my pain never goes unnoticed by You.

May 13, 2025 Daily Devotion: "The Owner of All Creation"  Psalm 50:10 New Living Translation 10 For all the animals of the forest are mine, and I own the cattle on a thousand hills. How often do you lose sleep because you're worried about finances? Maybe you're dealing with an unexpected bill or a job loss. Perhaps a need has arisen within the community to which you feel called to contribute, but you don't feel you have enough to give. When it comes to money, Satan wants us to either feel scared or stingy. We can live joyfully no matter how much or little is in our bank account. The trick is to remind ourselves that it's all God's anyway. Understanding that God owns everything prevents two common worries. First, knowing it's not ours prevents us from being stingy and being tempted to cling too tightly to money. Second, knowing everything is His prevents us from being scared because we're reminded that He's able to meet any need that comes our way. Are you in need? Rejoice, because your God owns the cattle on a thousand hills.

May 12, 2025Daily Devotion: "Awakening to the Light"Ephesians 5:14 New Living Translation14 for the light makes everything visible. This is why it is said, “Awake, O sleeper, rise up from the dead, and Christ will give you light.” What wakes you up in the morning? Is it a morning jog, spending time in your Bible, or a hot cup of coffee on the front porch? For some, the key to waking up is to open all thewindow blinds. Nothing wakes them up and fills their hearts with joy quite like the sun shining on their faces! Paul warned the Ephesians to not have anything to do with the works of darkness. People who live in the dark walk around as if half-asleep and do “fruitless deeds” (v. 11). If you have ever done something in secret that you wouldn't want others to know about, then you are very aware that there is no joy in living that way. God invites us into the light so we can live with joy. But we have to wakeup and choose to open the blinds of Ephesians 5:14.

May 11, 2025 Daily Devotion: "The Eternal Assurance: The Unfailing Word of God" Matthew 24:35 New Living Translation 35 Heaven and earth will disappear, but my words will never disappear. In our world today, the Bible is no longer revered as the inspired, trustworthy and infallible Word of God. In fact, some view it as being outdated, discriminatory in content and intolerant towards the ways people want to live their lives. But, no matter the beliefs of men or how many attempts have been made to discredit the Bible, surely it has with stood the test of time and we can have full confidence thatit is the infallible Word of God. The Bible or “Word of God” is the only reliable authority on earth when you need a guide for morality and a compass for godly living. This everlasting, trustworthy foundation of truth is our only real direction for our paths through the maze of life. It alone tells us how to be saved and to become reconciled with the Creator. In John 17:17, Jesus prayed for His disciples that God would sanctify them through His Word, which is the truth. This is the only truth that is known to Him. Unlike the rest of the world, we know that the Bible is the inspired Word of God and as such, we are to anchor our faith and confidence in the fact that God's words are true and it isimpossible for Him to lie. In Matt. 24:35, Jesus declared that “Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will never pass away.” Having confidence in God's Word means knowing that God “hangeth the earth upon nothing" (Job 26:7). Job wrote this passage long before the era of astronomy and space travel. The scientists of Isaiah's day did not know the topography of the earth, but Isaiah wrote, “It is he that sitteth upon the circle of the earth..." (Isaiah 40:22). The word for “circle” in this context refers to a sphere or a globe. Having confidence in God's Word means knowing that the Bible is not a book ofthe month, year or century. But it is the Book of the Ages. In 1 Peter 1:25 we are told, "The Word of the Lord endureth forever. And this is the Word which by the gospel is preached unto you.” History records that there has never been any other book that has received such opposition as the Bible. We have read of men who laughed at it, others who have scorned it, those who have burned it, ridicule and enacted laws to stop it from being read in schools. Nevertheless,the Bible has survived every. test, and it is still the only accurate and trustworthy, God inspired Word that have today.

May 10, 2025 Daily Devotion: "The Divine Inspiration: Word of God" 2 Peter 1:20-21 New Living Translation 20 Above all, you must realize that no prophecy in Scripture ever came from the prophet's own understanding, [a] 21 or from human initiative. No, those prophets were moved by the Holy Spirit, and they spoke from God. The word infallible signifies "incapable of making mistakes or being wrong." If something is faultless, it is never wrong and in this manner completely reliable. Similarly, the word inerrant as applied to Scriptures signifies "free from blunders." In other words, the Bible contains no errors. The Bible is the infallible Word of God that was written by men, as God divinely inspired them. Additionally, we see faultless expounded in 2 Timothy 3:16-17, "All Scripture is God-breathed" and has the impact of creating servants of God who are "thoroughly prepared for each great work." God "breathe" Scriptures guarantee that the Bible is trustworthy, for God cannot breathe out errors. The Bible is completely perfect and factual from cover to cover. Moreover, the Word of God is alive and active. Hebrews 4:12 declares that, “The Word of God is quick, received and read the Scriptures than the Apostles' account of this voice from heaven. Moses and the prophets were persuaded more powerfully than the miracles observed orexperienced.     Our faith should be firm because we have a sure word of prophecy. All the prophecies of the Old Testament are more and certain to us who have the history of the most exactaccomplishment of them. The Apostle encouraged us to search the Scriptures. Further, he informed us that we do well if we take heed to them, that is, apply our minds to understand the sense, and hearts believe in the truth of this sure word; and to be bended, molded, and fashioned by it.

May 09,2025 Daily Devotion: "The Reliability of Divine Revelation" 2 Peter 1:18-20 New Living Translation 18 We ourselves heard that voice from heaven when we were with him on the holy mountain. 19 Because of that experience, we have even greater confidence in the message proclaimed by the prophets. You must pay close attention to what they wrote, for their words are like a lamp shining in a dark place—until the Day dawns, and Christ the Morning Star shines in your hearts. 20 Above all, you must realize that noprophecy in Scripture ever came from the prophet's own understanding, Have you ever been in a place and was assured that there was a divine presence or encounter? For example, you were distressed or cast down about a situation, and began to praise and worship or pray, when suddenly you felt an overwhelming presence of the Lord and the burden you felt lifted or remained the same. However, you got up from yourknees with courage and strength that you never had before. Or, you had a need and as you read the Scriptures, you found the answer in the Word of God, coupled with unexplainable peace. We can have divine encounters through the preachedword, through a song, or even by a word of prophecy. Some of these encounters are obvious while others are not. Our lives can never be the same after these experiences. Let us reflect on how Paul's life changed after having a divine encounter while travelling on the Damascus road. As we're call, he was the person who persecuted the church and was also responsible for Stephen's death. Now, let us capture the essence of his response. “And he said, who art thou Lord? And the Lord said, I'm Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.” (Acts9:5 KJV). It is clear by Paul's response that not only did he have a divineencounter but also a divine revelation. Therefore, the trajectory of his life was forever changed in a selfless and positive way. You and I can impact our families, workplace, friends and acquaintances, communities, and world. If we shine by lighting our candles, there is no limit to the divine encounters that will be established. Lives are still being positively changed by Paul's encounter. Let us pause for a moment and reflect. What are we doing with the effects of our encounter?

May 08, 2025 Daily Devotion: "A Trustworthy Reminder"2 Peter 1:12-15 New Living Translation12 Therefore, I will always remind you about these things—even though you already know them and are standing firm in the truth you have been taught. 13 And it is only right that Ishould keep on reminding you as long as I live.14 For our Lord Jesus Christ has shown me that I must soon leave this earthly life,15 so I will work hard to make sure you always remember these things after I am gone. As believers, we sometimes have a tendency to be complacent, forgetful, and uncommitted despite knowledgeof the truth. Out of Peter's awareness and concern, he pleaded with the believers to be steadfast in their walk with God and to hold fervently to the truth. He recognized that although they were established in the truth, being reminded constantly was essential. He did not want them to take the death, burial, and resurrection of our Lord for granted but be enthusiastic and devoted as they live for God. Brethren, let us examine our attitudes when we are asked and encouraged to lay aside the baggage of this world and hold firmly to the hands of our savior. We face similar challenges as the Christians of Peter's time, which is, having a roller coaster experience of being on the mountain top followed by being in the valley. It seems to stem from our forgetfulness of who He is and who we are in Him. Many of us can recall divine encounters where we are compelled to make commitments to change, yet we tend to fall short of our commitments. Peter's appeal is relevant to usas we fight the good fight of faith. May God help us to remember where He has brought us from. 

May 07, 2025 Daily Devotion: "Diligent Confirmation of Calling and Election" 2 Peter 1:10 New Living Translation 10 So, dear brothers and sisters, [a] work hard to prove that you really are among those God has called and chosen. Do these things, and you will never fall away. After God has elected you and you are appointed to His office, the work begins! Now you must make decisionsyou have never made before and act in ways that you have never before. Your speech and public display must be different. You now must develop goals and find ways to achieve them. The expectations from your elector are high. As you begin to work in your elected capacity remember “with great power comes great responsibility. "Believe in yourself and your ability to complete your task at hand while keeping in thought that you are elected because you can dothe job. Along the way there will be obstacles and you will feel that what you are doing is useless or that there is no gain. When you begin to feel this way, do not give up, but rather continue to work, being confident that, “He who began a great work in you, called you and elected you will perform it until the end." (Philippians 1:6 NIV) He will not leave you nor for sake you. Do not be cast down, rather, put your hope in God. “Be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.” (Ephesians 6:10 KJV) “Be on your guard; stand firm in thefaith, be courageous, be strong.” (1 Corinthians16:13 NIV) “Do not be weary for in due season you shall reap if you faint not.” (Galatians 6:9 NIV) “...Run that ye may obtain the prize." 1 Corinthians 9:24 (KJV), and as you do so, see the finish line. You have been given a mandate to be steadfast and unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord.(1Corinthians 15:58 NIV) Stand your ground, work as hard as you can for Jesus while being confident that nothing you do for Him is a waste of time or effort. You shall stand because God has promised an expected end.

May 06, 2025 Daily Devotion: "The Call to Diligence and Assurance" 2 Peter 1:10 New Living Translation 10 So, dear brothers and sisters, [a] work hard to prove that you really are among those God has called and chosen. Do these things, and you will never fall away. For us to confirm our calling, we first must know what that calling is and what it entails. As you read today's devotional, ask yourself; what is my calling? Am I fulfilling the requirements of my calling? God has called us out of darkness into His marvelous light. (1Thessalonians 1:4 KJV) To be in darkness means that you are unable to see where you are going. Such path, a path in which you cannot see your way, can often lead to an undesirable end. But, God has called you. He has called you into a marvelous light. In contrast to darkness, a path in which there is light enables us to see where we are going. In addition, we can see any obstacles that we may encounter. At times, withlight we can also see our end goal; the finish line. Now that we are in the light and we can see, where do we go? What do we do? How do we walk in this light? Romans 6:12-13 admonishes us to “Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof. Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin, but yield yourselves unto God.” As God has created us in His own image, He has not only called us, but elected us. As with going through anyelection process, first we must possess the qualities and requirements to meet the demands of the job. For there to be an election, there must first be a calling. We all have a basic calling upon our lives as the Scripture declares,“the whole duty of man is to fear God and keep his commandments.” (Ecclesiastes 12:13) When you walk in your calling God will elect you to fulfill His purpose. God believes in you so He has voted for you because He knows you possess the qualities to get the job done. Sometimes you may feel you are not ready, capable or equipped to walk in your calling or complete the task at hand. However, an election is a two-way process therefore you must choose to fulfill your role. As you do so, “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him and he shall direct thy paths” (Proverbs 3: 5-6 KJV). God has called you, now He has elected you. What do you do with this mandate? I encourage you to confirm God's invitation and His choice of you. Once you do so, you will have your life on a firm footing. If your calling and election is sure, you shall never fall. (2 Peter 1:10KJV)

May 05, 2025 Daily Devotion: "The Fruits of Spiritual Growth" 2 Peter 1:8 New Living Translation 8 The more you grow like this, the more productive and useful you will be in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. Have you ever been determined to accomplish a task or goal no matter what? Think of a time that you made up your mind to do something, and no matter what occurred, you did it anyway. Do you remember your thoughts as you prepared and executed that task? Can you remember the challenges you had along the way and how you overcame them? Today as you listen, your task is to think of a spiritual goal you want to achieve. As you do so, consider how meaningful it is unto you and what you hope to get out of it. Next, determine if these goals align with the will of the Lord for your life. If youare not sure of this, use the following Scriptures to help guide you: Proverbs 3:5-6 “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart and lean not unto thine own understanding, in all thy ways acknowledge him and he shall direct thy paths.” Psalm 37:4 “Delight thyself also in the Lord; and he shall give you the desires of your heart.” An alignment of your goals with the will of the Lord is guaranteed to end successfully. As you encounter challenges and obstacles along the way, you may be discouraged and feel like giving up. You will need to remind yourself to “Be strong and do not give up knowing that your work will be rewarded.” 2 Chronicles 15:7 Habakkuk 2:2-3 summarizes well the process of achieving our goals. “Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables that he may run that readeth it. For the vision is yet for an appointedtime, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry.”

May 04, 2025 Daily Devotion: "The Blessing of Unity"Psalm 133: 1 New Living Translation1 How wonderful and pleasant it is when brothers live together in harmony! This journey is a walk of faith and it would be detrimental to attempt it alone. Our common enemy loves to see us isolated and divided and he always seeks an opportunity to move infor the kill. He whispers his lies of defeat, crowds our minds with doubt and fear and reminds us of our past. We begin to feel insecure and vulnerable and soon we limp to a halt. But in unity there is strength! If my brother or sister sees me lagging behind, he or she can help me regain my strength with words of encouragement. Ecclesiastes 4: 9-12 reminds us, “Two are better than one... For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow...And if one prevails against him, two shall with stand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken." The church body benefits from consistent unity among its members. We foster an atmosphere of security when we genuinely love and care for each other. Acts 4:32 & 34 gives a beautiful account of sharing in the early church. No one was in needbecause everyone willingly shared their possessions. This happened because "the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul...” (verse 32). Unity also attracts God's attention. Acts 2 recounts the experienceof the 120 persons who waited for the Holy Ghost in the Upper Room. According to verse 1, “They were ALL with one accord...” and in verse 4, “they were ALL filled with the Holy Ghost...” Note that ALL were filled, not some. The groupwas united in its goals and expectations and God responded to that. The state of our horizontal relationships determines the quality of our vertical relationship with God. That is why the enemy vehemently opposes unity, but if we want to touch heaven we must push back against the evil force of division. “But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin." (1 John 1:7)

May 3, 2025 Daily Devotion: “The Quality of Love: A Fruitful Christian Character" 2 Peter 1:7-9 New Living Translation 7 and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love for everyone. 8 The more you grow like this, the more productive and useful you will be in yourknowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 But those who fail to develop in this way are shortsighted or blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their old sins. In 2 Peter Chapter 1, the apostle Peter encouraged the brethren to grow spiritually. God has provided everything we need to become like Him, but the responsibility is on us to yield ourselves to the process. Our calling as disciples includes selflessness and genuine love for one another. Loving each other is not optional but is a command as stated in John 13: 34-35 (NLT) “Love each other. Just as I haveloved you... Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.” Our love for each other is one of our identifying marks as a Christian, so a constant display of selfishness and unresolved feuds will confuse on lookers and at the same time our spiritual growth. One of the goalsof spiritual growth is to impact those who are yet to experience God's love through the way we love. It is no wonder God has a low opinion of the person who claims to love God who he cannot see, but hate his brother or sister who he can see. That person is called a liar. (1 John 4:20). Sometimes it is painful or does not make sense. Sometimes it feels unfair. Our innate desire for self-preservation coupled with our cultural belief that “one bad turn deserves another" dictates that we should be kind to those who are kind to us and retaliate against those who hurt us. One cannot deny that an unkind word or deed, especially undeserved, can cause pain, but this cannot be remedied with carnal reasoning. In Ephesians 4:32 (NLT) the apostle Paul admonishes, “Instead, be kind to each other, tender hearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.” We may be at different points in our journey of spiritual growth but let us not compare ourselves with each other. Instead, let us use the mirror of God's Word to show us our weak points as we strive to love each other as He loves us.

May 02, 2025 Daily Devotion: "From Knowledge to Godliness" 2 Peter 1:6 New Living Translation6 and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with patient endurance, and patient endurance with godliness, Godliness is an inward attitude of utmost reverence and honor towards God that is demonstrated outwardly by our actions as we do the things that are pleasing to Him. Withoutgodliness a Christian will not grow. Godliness is the framework upon which all other virtues are built. On the contrary, ungodliness will result in spiritual dwarfism and other non-progressive characteristics. Spiritual growth isguaranteed when we combine godliness with the virtues mentioned in 2 Peter 1. Paul expanded on the concept of godliness when he said that we will obtain great gain/wealth when we combine godliness with contentment. (1Timothy6:6 KJV).To reverence God is to respect Him, deem Him awesome, all-mighty and all-powerful. Some might argue that one cannot revere/respect a God who cannot be seen or touched. However, we see Him through His works. “The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handy work". (Psalm 19:1 KJV) David was humbled andin awe at the works of His hands when he said in Psalm8, “When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained; What is man, that thou art mindful of him? And the son of man, thatthou visitest him?” How do you acquire godliness? You know you are on track to acquiring godliness when you see God for who He truly is and as a result see yourselves as an unworthy subject. Isaiah had a vision of God and his response was profound: “Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts.(Isaiah 6:5 KJV). There are many morally sound citizens in this world but is morality godliness? A godly person is moral but not vise-versa. Those who are godly will display characteristics that are parallel to Christ's. For example, the apostles were dubbed "Christians” due to the fact that their mannerism resembled Christ's. Additionally, having a "form of godliness” is not godliness. We should aim to be devout men, women and children of God and not settle for being just moral beings or having partial godliness. We want to be fervent, unwavering, steadfast, and committed. May God help us during our time of prayer and consecration to diligently pursue godliness.

May 01, 2025 Daily Devotion: "Empowered Living: The Role of Self Control in Spiritual Growth" 2 Peter 1:6 New Living Translation6 and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with patient endurance, and patient endurance with godliness,Although life is good it has its share of speed bumps, road-blocks and uncertainties. Whatever it is that pushes the pause button on your life can sometimes seem intolerable, especially for a lifestyle that is constantly on fast forward. There is little room for patience. What then is patience? Why is patience a requirement? The usage of the word 'patience' in Latin is associated with calmness and composure.1 Patience is to have the capacity to accept or tolerate delay or problems without becoming annoyed or anxious. 2 We are encouraged to be patient during tribulation. (Romans 12:12 KJV) A negative emotion almost alwaysfollows delays, problems or sufferings. While you have liberty to become angry when things go wrong, is it an acceptable practice to allow resentment to consume you? Ephesians 4:26 (KJV).Ever wonder why God placed our souls in the unpredictable hands of our patience? Luke says, “In your patience possess ye your souls” (Luke 21:19 KJV) Has your patience been tested lately? Are you promised something that you think God has forgotten? Be hopeful. Be prayerful. God will not forget His promises. He said, “...I will not forget you! See, Ihave written your name on the palms of my hands...” (Isaiah 49:15-16NLT). David was promised the throne of Israel years prior to his crowning. During the waiting period he suffered countless mishaps, especially at the hand of his predecessor, Saul, yet he remained patient and wise. (1 Samuel 18:7-12; 23:8; 24:1-15KJV) Everything God has promised you will come to pass at the right time.