Daily Devotionals

James 1:22–25

Want to know God’s will for your life? Let me suggest that you stop, look, and listen. God makes His desires known to those who stop at His Word, look carefully with a sensitive spirit, and then listen to the advice that others give through the lens of Scripture. When we go to His Word, we stop long enough to hear from above. When we look, we examine our surrounding circumstances considering what He is saying to our inner spirit—what we usually call our conscience.

John 14:1–4

What is heaven like? Will we play harps all day? Lounge around on Cloud Nine? Live in enormous mansions with solid gold streets out front? Does it mean we’ll all wear long white robes with matching sandals, glowing halos, and big flapping wings? Heaven is an actual place. A prepared place, designed for God’s redeemed people, those who have accepted God’s free gift of His salvation through His Son’s death on the cross.

Jesus said to His anxious followers:

Hebrews 6:17–19

I confess to you, at times I’ve doubted God’s purpose and promise. I say that to my own embarrassment. When things hadn’t worked as I thought they would, when I received a no instead of a yes as an answer to prayer, when I couldn’t unravel a situation and match it with the character of God...those have been times when I’ve said, “I know down inside this isn’t right.”

Yet in such times there are benefits that come from going back to God’s Word to study it again, putting on your theological cap:

Proverbs 9:10–12

If honest, most of us should admit we live with a serious shortage of what God calls wisdom. How often have you and I “gone it alone” while deciding, planning an event, determining a course of action, or developing a strategy for intervening in someone’s life? I’ve lost track of the times I’ve gone off half-cocked and responded to a difficult situation out of pure emotion rather than a profound sense of sensibility or restraint. Both of those virtues come from God. Put together, they spell W-I-S-D-O-M.

Solomon wrote:

Romans 8:1–2, 5

Only God’s Spirit can take the barrenness of our lives and bring a refreshing spirit renewal and joy.

Genesis 25:5–8

Many years ago, a wise and godly friend and financial counsellor convinced Cynthia and me that we should share our possessions and inheritance before we die. He quoted the old saying, “Do your givin’ while you’re livin’, then you’re knowin’ where it’s goin’.”

He wasn’t just sharing his opinion or delivering a personal preference. He offered to us a principle of handling our financial blessings straight from God’s Word:

Acts 8:26–28, 30–31, 35

Can there be anything more exasperating than calling a customer service number and getting an electronic answer? You know how it goes:

Press one for English. Press two for technical support. Press three for directions and hours of operation. Press four for a callback. Press five to return to the main menu.

It ought to add: press six if you give up!

Why isn’t anyone available?!

Matthew 5:1–5

I love reading biographies of great individuals. I’ve said for years that all of us should be students of great people. I’ve read several volumes in my lifetime on the life and character of Abraham Lincoln. Tucked away in one story of Lincoln and his home life is a wonderful piece of knowledge that few perhaps would guess: Lincoln was a gentle father. Though strong in temperament, determined in his vision for freedom, and often fiery in his leadership style, he carried the mantle of gentleness into his home. I love that!

Hebrews 4:12–13

I recall learning as a boy a little Sunday school song that went something like….

Oh, be careful little eyes what you see,
Oh be careful little eyes what you see!
For the Father up above is looking down in love,
Oh, be careful little eyes what you see!

After all these years, that simple ditty has stayed with me. And so has its message. Be careful where you go and be careful what you look at, because God cares too. He is pleased when your whole life remains pure before Him.

2 Timothy 1:16–18

The virtues God desires to form in us are best modelled in some of the obscure characters in Scripture. In fact, the virtue of generosity is often mentioned but rarely seen or experienced.