Devotionals

Daniel 4:35

Dawson Trotman, founder of the Navigators, an organization discipling and mentoring ministry leaders around the world, drowned while saving a swimmer from certain death. Eyewitnesses tell of the tears and helpless disbelief in the faces of those who now looked out across the deep blue water of Schroon Lake. Everyone’s face except one—Lila Trotman. Dawson’s widow. As she arrived a close friend shouted, “Oh, Lila, he’s gone. Dawson’s gone!” She replied in calm assurance the words of Psalm 115:3:

Our God is in the heavens,

Luke 12:17–21

Practically speaking, greed is an inordinate desire for more, an excessive, unsatisfied hunger to possess. Like an untamed beast, greed grasps, claws, reaches, clutches, and clings—stubbornly refusing to surrender. The word enough is not in this beast’s vocabulary.

Hebrews 4:15–16

Perhaps you’re fighting an inner battle with a ghost from the past. The spectre of a previous hurt haunts your mind and steals your peace.

Before you surrender your case as hopeless, consider the liberating evidence of freedom offered in the Bible. Take an honest look at men and women whom God used despite their past regrets.

Joshua 1:6–7

Galatians 5:22–23

The rare and remarkable virtue of patience is within the and-so-forth section of Galatians chapter 5. You know how we quote that passage ... “the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, and-so-forth.” That lazy habit has caused a very important series of virtues to escape our notice. Let’s read it together as a refresher:

The Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22–23).

Ephesians 4:3–6

1 Corinthians 15:51–52

The feelings are familiar. Mouth open. Eyes like saucers. Chill up the spine.

“The flash of a mighty surprise” boggles the mind, leaving us somewhere between stunned and dumb with wonder. “Am I dreaming or is a miracle happening?” So it is with surprises. Surprises start parties and end partnerships. They solve murders, enhance birthdays and anniversaries, embellish friendships. Kids at Christmas love ’em. Parents expect ’em. Coaches use ’em. Politicians diffuse ’em.

Numbers 30:2

March 11, 1942 was a dark, desperate day at Corregidor. One island after another in the Pacific theatre had been buffeted into submission. The enemy was now marching into the Philippines as confident and methodical as the big band in the Rose Bowl parade. Surrender was inevitable. The brilliant and bold soldier, Douglas MacArthur, had only three words for his comrades as he stepped into the escape boat destined for Australia: “I shall return.”

Amos 8:11–12

The word hangs like an omen in our heads.

We picture brutal, grotesque images. Cows’ hips protrude. Babies’ eyes are hollow. Bloated stomachs growl. Skin stretches tight across faces. The skull outline emerges. Joints swell. Grim, despairing stares replace smiles. Hope is gone...life is reduced to a harsh existence. Those who have seen it cannot forget it. Those who haven’t cannot imagine it. It’s famine.

James 4:14–16

He was brilliant. Clearly a child prodigy, the pride of Salzburg, a performer par excellence. One of the most brilliant and gifted composers of all time left earth at the young age of 35. The man lived most of his life in abject poverty. He died in complete obscurity!

His official name was Johannes Chrysostomus Wolfgangus Amadeus TheophilusMozart. With a handle like that, he had to be famous.

We call him Mozart.