Devotionals

Galatians 2:20

Back in 1958 when I was a young marine stationed on the island of Okinawa, I became closely associated with a man I deeply admired. His name was Bob Newkirk. 

I didn't know what it was exactly that first drew me to Bob. More than anything else, I guess, there was something refreshingly unpretentious about him. He was devoted to the things of the Lord, no question, but it was never on parade, never for the purpose of public display. And I loved that. 

Psalm 27:8; Psalm 91:1

The psalmist said, "He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty" (Psalm 91:1). 

Do you have a place of shelter where you seek only His face? Do you spend time in that secret place? 

Have you given prayer the priority it deserves? And when you pray, do you remember that it is the Lord's face you seek? 

Genesis 6

The longer we walk with the Lord, the more we realize that we really don't know what each new day may bring. A phone call can come in the middle of the night shattering our joy. Suddenly everything changes. It's amazing what a knock at the door can bring or what the opening of a letter can do. 

I don't say these things to conjure up fear in our hearts, but simply to remind us that God alone knows our future. And there's no safer, no better, no more rewarding place to be than in the nucleus of His will, regardless of where that may be. 

Lamentations 3:25-29

If you want to trust God to remember you, stop running and start waiting! "The LORD is good to those who wait for Him" (Lamentations 3:25a). Stop running! Wait patiently.

Next, start seeking Him. "The LORD is good to those who seek Him" (v. 25b). So, instead of ignoring Him, return to His open arms and start seeking Him again.

Psalm 119:66

Many Christians complain that God doesn't speak to them when they're in need of guidance. For some reason they have forgotten the first and most basic way God leads His children—through His written Word!

As the psalmist said, "Thy word is a lamp to my feet, and a light to my path" (Psalm 119:105). Whenever you see the scriptural phrase "This is the will of God," you know for sure that's His will. You also know that to disobey is to break His Word. Other clear indications of His leading are the precepts and principles in the Scripture.

Colossians 3:2

While we think we may be immune to the endless litany of television commercials, newspaper ads, our friends' gadgets and gizmos, the constant admonition to spend, spend, spend, we Christians need to be alert to how Satan tempts us with the temporal. I'll mention a few ways to avoid the magnetism of the cash register or the credit card. 

Doctrinal danger...substituting the temporal for the eternal. Don't let physical and earthly "things" get between you and the things that are above. 

2 Corinthians 4:10-11, 16-18

I have found great help from two truths God gave me at a time in my life when I was bombarded with a series of unexpected and unfair blows (from my perspective). In my darkest hours, these principles still become my anchor of stability, my only means of survival. 

Because they worked for me, I pass them on to you. Memorize them. Write them on a card and carry it at all times. 

1 Timothy 6:6-20

Contentment is something we must learn. It isn't a trait we're born with. But the question is how? In 1 Timothy 6 we find a couple of very practical answers to that question. 

A current perspective on eternity: "For we have brought nothing into the world, so we cannot take anything out of it either" (v. 7). 

A simple acceptance of essentials: "And if we have food and covering, with these we shall be content" (v. 8). 

Both attitudes work beautifully.

Psalm 27

I love memories. Today I've been remembering a perfect Monday evening from years back....

The smell of homemade clam chowder greeted me as I walked through the front door. After kissing the kids and hugging the cook, I settled into my favourite chair, loosened my tie, and kicked off my shoes—just in time to watch the beginning of the game. 

2 Corinthians 4:10-11, 16-18

Americans like things to be logical and fair. We operate our lives on that basis. Meaning this: If I do what is right, good will come to me; and if I do what is wrong, bad things will happen to me. Right brings rewards and wrong brings consequences.