The Up Devotional

I once heard John Ortberg make an analogy. He said that when people envision their future, they picture themselves standing before a series of doors. Let's say there are ten doors. Which one will we choose? If there's only one correct door, that can make us stressed. After all, we have a 90% chance of choosing … Continue reading God's Plan A for your life

This is Holy Week. It's the week where Christians all over the world remember and celebrate Jesus' final days before his torture, trial, crucifixion and resurrection. When Jesus arrived at Jerusalem he rode on a donkey. At first, this might seem like a random or unimportant detail. However, it was packed with meaning. One of the most … Continue reading The true and eternal King

There is a direct relationship between the physical realm and the unseen realm. As I often say to the congregation where I pastor, details matter. Take, for example, Daniel 10. That's where we learn how he was mourning and fasting for three weeks: “I ate no delicacies, no meat or wine entered my mouth, nor did … Continue reading The physical realm and the unseen realm

[Note: New podcast episode and blog -- link in footnotes.] ~ Peter Wagner writes: “Without holiness we can expect very little power in spiritual warfare. The opposite of holiness is worldliness…”*I'll be honest. In an earlier chapter of my life, I would have grimaced at a statement like that. What in the world is he … Continue reading Holiness and worldliness

In the past hundred or a hundred and fifty-years or so, many Christians have started believing and doing things which have impacted how many of us live—or don't live—as followers of Jesus.First, a significant tradition has emerged which treats the Bible exclusively as a historical document. And don't get me wrong, it is most certainly … Continue reading Have these 2 things weakened your faith?

In Daniel 10:12 he was given this angelic message: “Fear not, Daniel, for from the first day that you set your heart to understand and humbled yourself before your God, your words have been heard, and I have come because of your words.”In this verse we are specifically told that God heard Daniel's prayer. But … Continue reading From the first day you humbled yourself before God

Perhaps the biggest challenge facing most Christians today is not that they won't spend eternity with God but that they don't spend today with God. Here's what I mean.If you trust in the risen Jesus—in who he is and what he has done for you on the cross—your sin is forgiven. You are given eternal peace … Continue reading The biggest challenge facing most Christians today?

John Ortberg has a clever way of describing the ABCs of faith.He says we must Abandon our old life, Believe God's promises are trustworthy, and Commit to a new journey. The reason I like this is because it's biblical. First, in 2 Corinthians 5:17 Paul writes: “if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The … Continue reading The ABCs of faith

Hello! This is just a quick reminder that The Up Daily Devotional is on pause this week. It returns in full on March 23, 2026 to your email inboxes, social media feeds, and podcast platforms.But since you're here, let me offer a quick word of help and hope.In James 4:7-8, Jesus' half-brother provided these instructions: “Submit … Continue reading Pause reminder (and a quick word on James 4:7-8)

[Notice: Pause alert - see details in the footnotes.] ~ What does it mean to be the hands and feet of Jesus?When I ask that question, what first comes to mind? Do you think about praying, feeding the poor, going to church, or loving your neighbour? Those are all good things. But I recently came across … Continue reading What happened to the hands and feet of Jesus

While reading the prophet Jeremiah, Daniel came across a very important detail. The exile of his people was about to come to an end.In response, this is what he did: “Then I turned my face to the Lord God, seeking him by prayer and pleas for mercy with fasting and sackcloth and ashes” (Daniel 9:3).This … Continue reading Pleas for mercy—with fasting

In Daniel 9:18-19, this inspiring man of single solitary devotion gives us an example of the ideal attitude we should have in prayer.This is what he says: “For we do not present our pleas before you because of our righteousness, but because of your great mercy. O Lord, hear; O Lord, forgive. O Lord, pay … Continue reading The right attitude in prayer

Promises shape the character and direction of our lives.Some promises are small. “I'll pick you up after soccer practice, I promise.” Others are big, like the ones people say during wedding ceremonies. “For better, for worse, in sickness, and in health…”However, over time it is easy to get cynical about promises. We sometimes hear campaign … Continue reading The words of men are unstable things

“Be still, and know that I am God” (Psalm 46:10).In an essay in 1963, literary critic and author C.S. Lewis said something about how to avoid God:“Avoid silence, avoid solitude, avoid any train of thought that leads off the beaten track. Concentrate on money, sex, status, health and (above all) your own grievances. Keep the … Continue reading How to avoid God (by C.S. Lewis)

“Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life” (Revelation 2:10).In the previous devotional we asked how Daniel was able to manage all of that hardship.He was sent into exile as a young man. He had most of what he had known and loved taken from him. He was forced to … Continue reading Faithful and true, no matter what

Lately, we've been spending time studying Daniel.Over the past few weeks, we have considered all the difficulty he had gone through. As a teenager, he was taken captive to serve in a foreign land. His home was most likely burned. Many of his family members and friends would have been killed. He was probably castrated … Continue reading Prayer and perseverance

John Eldredge is an author and therapist. Recently in an interview he said: “The war for the human heart is the epicentre of the war in the world.”*That made me stop and think. I hope it makes you stop and think as well.First, it reminds us that there is in fact a war for the … Continue reading The epicentre of the war in the world

Xu Yonghai was imprisoned in China because he was working for the legalization of house churches. Here in North America we might take this sort of thing for granted. But over there it is very serious (and dangerous) business. Not only was he imprisoned, but he was sentenced to be executed. His last stop was a … Continue reading What God is doing in you, not just around you

Have you ever wondered what the voice of Jesus must have sounded like?Jesus would have spoken Aramaic. He would have known Hebrew and Greek as well. As a boy he would have received the standard education for his day, been raised in the synagogue, and learned the language of commerce when apprenticing under Joseph.Unfortunately, we … Continue reading The psalms and the personal voice of Christ

“Hold loosely to the things of the world, and hold tightly to the things of God.” That's something my colleague William Min says.What does he mean?The “things of this world” are fleeting. They won't last. If you have a house or apartment, you probably spend a lot of money on it. Me too. But we … Continue reading Hold loosely to the things of the world

Daniel had a series of visions about the end of days. It's big stuff. At one point he sees four dreadful creatures. “And four great beasts came up out of the sea, different from one another” (Daniel 7:3).The first was like a lion with eagle's wings. The second was like a bear with ribs in … Continue reading The kingdoms of the world

When reading the Bible, we can get so focused on the verse-by-verse details of a story or teaching, that we can sometimes forget to step back and consider the bigger picture of what is happening. The specific in-the-moment details are critically important, of course. But looking at the broader narrative can also be instructive for … Continue reading Delay does not mean defeat

Having a baby is at the same time exciting and scary, painful and joyful, dangerous and life-changing.Let's think about a pregnancy. The longer it goes, the more discomfort there is for the mother. After all, there's a human growing inside of her; it's getting bigger. Toward the end of nine months, labour begins. Contractions get … Continue reading The beginning of the birth pains

When someone uses the word “strict,” what comes to mind?Maybe you think about a “strict” parent—someone who has lots of rules and doesn't want their kids to have any fun. Some people think about God like this as well. But this simply isn't true. Let me highlight one of the uses of the word “strict” in the … Continue reading The surprising detail about “strictly” following God

A regular habit of prayer shapes you. Let me explain.In the sixth century B.C., Darius passed a law that no one could “petition” any man or god except himself for 30 days. It was most likely an act designed to consolidate political loyalty across the new empire. If anyone broke the law, he would be … Continue reading Marching to a different beat—through prayer

Today, let me offer this definition: True bravery is kneeling before God while facing the lions. It is inspired by Daniel in the lion's den. It's one of the most famous Bible stories—and for good reason. Daniel had served in a foreign court for nearly 70 years. At this point, he was in his early 80's. … Continue reading The definition of true bravery

Today is Ash Wednesday. It marks the beginning of Lent, the forty-day period (excluding Sundays) leading up to Easter. The word itself, Lent, was chosen for convenience. It traces to an old English word for “springtime,” lencten. More literally, it means “lengthen,” which is a reference to the lengthening of days after a long, dark winter. … Continue reading Lent and the significance of “forty days”

Today is known as “Shrove Tuesday.” It's the day before Lent begins on Ash Wednesday.What does it mean?The name comes from a practice in England to “shrive” on this day—meaning confessing our sins and seeking God's forgiveness.Since many people fast during Lent, there was a custom of using up fatty foods on this day to … Continue reading Shrove Tuesday, “Shriving,” Sin and Mercy

When I ask people about their favourite Bible verse, many point to Matthew 11:28. That's where Jesus says: “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”He goes on to talk about his “yoke” which is easy, and his burden which is light. A “yoke” was shared with … Continue reading Come to me, and I will give you rest

Have you ever had someone say to you that all religions are basically the same, and that none is better than the other? I answered this question in a recent podcast episode. You can listen to my full response below. For today's devotional, however, I'd like to give you a shortened version of my response because … Continue reading Aren't all religions basically the same?

In Daniel 5 the king was perplexed by some mysterious writing on a wall. Since Daniel had developed a reputation as a wise man, he was summoned to help. In exchange for this help the king would give him rewards and status. In response, Daniel said: “Let your gifts be for yourself, and give your rewards … Continue reading Our God is never not on the move

“Then the king commanded, and Daniel was brought and cast into the den of lions. The king declared to Daniel, ‘May your God, whom you serve continually, deliver you!'” (Daniel 6:16)When you picture Daniel in the lion's den, what do you see? A young vibrant man full of vigour and prayerful bravery?As I often tell … Continue reading God uses faithful servants—no matter their age

“We ought always to give thanks to God for you, brothers, as is right, because your faith is growing abundantly, and the love of every one of you for one another is increasing” (2 Thessalonians 1:3).What if you are someone's answered prayer even though yours feel unanswered?You've probably heard the first part of that statement … Continue reading Being someone's answered prayer (when yours feel unanswered)

“Keep me as the apple of your eye…” (Psalm 17:8)There is a deep human tendency to over-value our achievements. For example, in the movie Rocky, the hard-working boxer's girlfriend asks him why it is so important for him to “go the distance” in the ring. “Then I'll know I'm not a bum,” he replies.In the … Continue reading You are more than what the world says you are

Lucy Maud Montgomery was the famous author of Anne of Green Gables. In her journal entry from Christmas Eve 1909 she left a record about how much anguish she was feeling at that point in her life: “I feel shrieking at [God] defiantly, ‘Why did you create me to suffer like this?'”*She was certainly being … Continue reading Talking to God—when you want to scream

[Note: New podcast episode link below.] ~ In Daniel 4, we learn about a king who has become proud and arrogant. He has a troubling dream. Since Daniel has developed a reputation for successfully interpreting dreams, he is summoned to help.Daniel says that the king will be humbled. He will be driven away from the … Continue reading Advice for a king—and for all of us

In the previous devotional I raised the topic of humility. In Daniel 4, the pagan king was full of himself. But God taught him a lesson and punished him for seven years. He was made to live like an animal and even eat like one.When he finally acknowledged God and was restored to his former … Continue reading Humility: weakness to the world, greatness to God

“Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others” (Philippians 2:3-4).In the eighteenth century there was a very heated debate between two theological heavyweights—George Whitfield and John Wesley. It was … Continue reading Humility—even when things get heated

“And after he had taken leave of them, [Jesus] went up on the mountain to pray” (Mark 6:46).Towards the end of last year, I went away on a silent retreat. It was a peaceful time to read, pray and sing the psalms.I'm an introvert, so the silence wasn't difficult. Other than the worship and a … Continue reading When getting things done isn't the point

This week we have been exploring the bravery and faith of Daniel's three friends, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. We have been using their experience to ask important questions about our own faith today.These three young men refused to bow down to the king's statue. But why?In the Ten Commandments God says: “You shall have no … Continue reading Loyalty matters in more ways than you think

Daniel's three friends were told to bow to the king's statue. If they did, they would live. If they didn't bow they would burn. They refused. “…even if he does not [rescue us],” they said, “…we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up” (Daniel 3:18).Let me share … Continue reading Glorifying him or denying him

In yesterday's devotional we talked about having an “even if” kind of faith. This was based on the words of Daniel's three friends. They were told to bow down to the king's statue. If they didn't, they would be thrown into a fiery furnace. They had two options: Bow or burn. But they said No. “If … Continue reading Prepare for big moments by starting small

It was a ruthless time. Daniel's three friends—Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego—were threatened with death. If they didn't bow down to the king's statue they would be thrown into a fiery furnace. The king gave them one last chance—bow or burn.In response, this is what the young men said: “If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, … Continue reading Having an “even if” kind of faith

“For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope” (Romans 15:4).Theologian J.I. Packer makes the following observation:“In 1963, J.A.T. Robinson's ‘Honest to God' was heralded by an article in one of England's national newspapers entitled “Our Image of … Continue reading Giving God a makeover?

In Daniel 2, the king of Babylon has a puzzling dream. God reveals the meaning to Daniel, who then explains it to the king. In short, the king has seen a big statue made of different materials: gold, silver, bronze, iron, and clay.At the end of the dream, a stone (or rock) hits the image and … Continue reading When governments and kingdoms let you down

In Daniel 2, the Babylonian king issued a death order. Since some of his “wise men” couldn't tell him his dream or it's interpretation, he wanted to kill them all. Yikes! It was literal insanity.Since Daniel and his friends were among the class of wise men, they too were in danger. After learning what was … Continue reading Pray—as a first resort

“…he [God] knows what is in the darkness, and the light dwells with him” (Daniel 2:22).The darker the dark, the brighter the light. Imagine being in a well-lit room in the middle of the day. There are a lot of windows. You hold up a torch. It will definitely bring extra light. After all, it's a … Continue reading The darker the dark, the brighter the light

The presence of darkness does not mean the absence of God. Let me explain.Lately I have been spending a lot of time studying Daniel. As a young man, he endured horrible things. His nation was attacked and capital city was besieged. Many of his friends and family members would have been killed. Picture homes and property … Continue reading Short-sighted-ism and the presence of darkness

We live in a time in which we have incredible access to information. This includes information about our faith. If we want to know when the Exodus happened, where Nazareth was, or what verses talk about angels, we can look them up in one of a thousand different resources.We can also research end-times theories, in-depth … Continue reading The relational nature of our faith

In the autumn of 445 B.C., the governor Nehemiah had finished rebuilding the wall of Jerusalem after it had been destroyed. After exile, the people had gathered for a festival. Nehemiah 8:8 says: “They read from the book, from the Law of God, clearly, and they gave the sense, so that the people understood the … Continue reading Being proactive about sermons and Bible study

The book of Daniel tells us that Daniel and his friends were exiled to a foreign nation, Babylon, after Jerusalem was besieged. The text tells us that they were young. We find this in Daniel 1:3-4: “Then the king commanded Ashpenaz, his chief eunuch, to bring some of the people of Israel, both of the … Continue reading Being faithful, or fitting in?