June 6, 2025 · 6:19 AM

Wholehearted Devotion

When Elijah was standing on Mount Carmel in 1 Kings 18, he asked the nation how long they would waiver between two opinions. He asked them to choose God or Baal. We’re all susceptible to being non committal, but James says that a double minded person is unstable in all their ways. God wants our whole heart so that we will serve Him with our whole life. We can’t just serve Him on Sunday and live how we want the rest of the week. Wholehearted devotion to Him puts Him first in our life above all else.

Here are some Bible verses on serving God wholeheartedly:

1. Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.

Proverbs 3:5-6 NKJV

2. “With my whole heart I have sought You; Oh, let me not wander from Your commandments! Your word I have hidden in my heart, That I might not sin against You.

Psalms 119:10-11 NKJV

3. You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart.

Jeremiah 29:13 ESV

4. But be very careful to obey all the commands and the instructions that Moses gave to you. Love the Lord your God, walk in all his ways, obey his commands, hold firmly to him, and serve him with all your heart and all your soul.

Joshua 22:5 NLT

5. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength.

Deuteronomy 6:5 NKJV

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June 5, 2025 · 5:30 AM

Understanding Spiritual Principles

I read recently that you can understand almost every spiritual principle through understanding farming. I grew up hearing that you reap what you sow, but there’s so much more. There’s faith that when you plant it, things are growing where you can’t see. There’s understanding the right soil and the right season to plant in. The list goes on and on. The more I learn and understand the concepts of farming, the better steward I can be with the spiritual realities God has entrusted to me. These concepts were obvious to people until we became a modern society where we get our produce from a store.

Think back to Genesis 3. Adam and Eve took the fruit from the Tree of Knowledge. They had access to everything, but they squandered it. What was Adam’s punishment? Verse 17 says, “And he said to the man, ‘You listened to your wife and ate the fruit which I told you not to eat. Because of what you have done, the ground will be under a curse. You will have to work hard all your life to make it produce enough food for you’” (GNT). What if his punishment was really about teaching him and us how to better manage and appreciate spiritual principles? Instead of leaving him in the dark, God created a way to understand Him better through having us work the land.

What lesson has God been trying to teach you? What concept has He been trying to get you to understand. I’m pretty sure you can better understand it through farming. Most of Jesus’ parables were about some form of farming. God wants us to learn more about Him and to understand spiritual realities better so He can entrust more to us. Take some time today to ask God to open your eyes to see what He’s showing you. God wants you and I to grow closer to Him and He’s given us the blueprint. We need to seek better understanding from Him so He can help us to be better stewards of all He’s entrusting to us. Don’t shy away or try to take the easy route. Lean in and learn from Him and His Word.

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Throwback Thursday is a feature I’m using to help build some margin into my schedule to pursue other ventures. Each Thursday I’ll be bringing you a previously written devotional that still speaks encouragement to us from God’s Word.

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June 4, 2025 · 5:30 AM

Making Room

Before Jesus ascended into Heaven, He addressed the disciples. In Luke 24:49 He said, “And now I will send the Holy Spirit, just as my Father promised. But stay here in the city until the Holy Spirit comes and fills you with power from heaven” (NLT). There were 120 of them who went to the Upper Room to wait on the gift of God. Ten days later, on the day of Pentecost, the Holy Spirit entered the room with the sound of a mighty rushing wind, tongues of fire appeared over their heads, they began speaking in other languages and they received the power to be witnesses. On that day, the Church was born. Just as the disciples went to the Upper Room, we too must make room for Him in our life.

In 2 King 4, a Shunammite woman invited the prophet Elisha into her home to eat. From then on, any time he passed that way, he would stop by. She knew he was a man of God and wanted to make room for him in her home and life. In verse 10 she told her husband, “Let’s build a small room for him on the roof and furnish it with a bed, a table, a chair, and a lamp. Then he will have a place to stay whenever he comes by.” She wanted a place where the presence of God could dwell with her. That room became the birthplace of miracles in her life. Elisha gave her the promise of a son, and years later he was raised from the dead in that very room. I believe God is asking us to make room for the Holy Spirit in our life so He has a permanent place of power in our lives.

I love that this woman provided a table and chair for Elisha. These represent a place of meeting and fellowship. The Holy Spirit doesn’t just want to dwell inside of you, He wants to meet with you and have fellowship. She also provided a lamp for him. Just as a lamp brings illuminates a room and chases out darkness, the Holy Spirit wants to reveal more of who God is to you. He will illuminate the Scriptures, bring His light into our life and cause us to burn brighter for Him. That leads us to the last thing she provided, which was a bed. The Holy Spirit wants to give you rest and renewal. Our lives are so busy that we lack these things He provides. Imagine what would happen if only we would make room in our prayer time, our heart, our mind and our life for Him. As we approach Pentecost Sunday, I challenge you to do just that in your life. Ask the Holy Spirit where you need to give Him more room. I believe that space in your life will be the birthplace of miracles.

Photo courtesy of Copilot

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June 3, 2025 · 6:00 AM

God Of Breakthroughs

In 2023 there was a young lady in Ohio who got accepted into the school of her choice. The problem was that she couldn’t afford to go there. She tried, but was unable to secure any scholarships to help pay for it. She prayed all summer about it. As the deadline was approaching, she was preparing herself to reject the offer. That’s when she got a letter stating that she got a full ride scholarship from a Christian organization she had never heard of. A month or two before she had mentioned it at youth camp. Someone heard and submitted her for the scholarship. God made a way just as she was about to give up.

In 2 Samuel 5, David had just become king when the Philistines came to challenge him. They spread out around the city he was in and surrounded it. David went into the stronghold and began to pray. He asked God if he went out to fight, would He give him victory. God told him yes, so he and his men went to fight the army that was surrounding them. They won a swift victory. Verse 20 says, “So David came to Baal-perazim, and he defeated them there, and said, ‘The Lord has broken through my enemies before me, like a breakthrough of water.’ So he named that place Baal-perazim (master of breakthroughs)” (AMP). Just like water breaking through a dam, God showed up and gave them victory at the right moment.

Isaiah 43:19 says, “Listen carefully, I am about to do a new thing, Now it will spring forth; Will you not be aware of it? I will even put a road in the wilderness, Rivers in the desert.” I’ve learned that God answers on His time and not mine. I’ve also learned that His breakthroughs come swiftly and decisively. You may be standing in a desert right now wondering where God is as the time runs out on your situation, but keep standing and believing. He will burst through and give you rivers in that desert. He is the God of breakthroughs and breakthroughs start with surrender to His will, His timing and His way.

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June 2, 2025 · 5:44 AM

Turning To God

Where do you turn or what do you do when everything seems to be going wrong? Many of us turn to some sort of coping mechanism. You may close yourself off to the world, look for comfort in food or drink, sleep excessively or something else. Usually our human nature finds an unhealthy way to deal with it. Sometimes we use God as our last resort when He should be our first place to turn. While stress deprives us of strength and energy, the Lord renews our strength, give us peace in chaos and offers wisdom to all who ask.

In 1 Samuel 30, David and his men had been living in the land of the Philistines to hide from Saul. David had found favor with the king there. When they went to war with Israel, David was expected to fight, but the other kings disapproved.He and his men were sent back home. As they were nearing their city, they saw smoke. A raiding party had captured their families, looted their homes and burned the city. David’s men turned on him and wanted to kill him. Verse 6 says, “David was now in great danger because all his men were very bitter about losing their sons and daughters, and they began to talk of stoning him. But David found strength in the Lord his God” (NLT). Instead of panicking, David turned to the Lord, found answers, chased down the raiders and recovered everything and everyone.

Psalm 46:1 says, “God is our refuge and strength, always ready to help in times of trouble.” I love this promise of God. He is our safe place, our rock and our strength when everything is going wrong. He is our shelter when the storms of life hit hard. He is always ready to help in your times of trouble, but you must turn to Him instead of unhealthy coping mechanisms. David and his men had no idea that Saul was about to die and he would be king after that battle. Sometimes things are hardest just before we receive our breakthrough. Don’t give up or give in. Find your strength in God as David did. Turn to Him for direction when you don’t know what to do next or where to turn. He will not fail you or abandon you.

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May 30, 2025 · 5:11 AM

No More Condemnation

The voice of condemnation paralyzes so many people. It says that you are wrong, unfit, guilty and unworthy. It uses our past to keep us from our future, and it points to our failures in order to bring shame. The only way I have found to defeat it is by the truth of God’s Word. Jesus said that if we would abide in His Word, we would know the truth and the truth would set us free. The Truth says that He is our righteousness, He paid for our sins and that there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ. You do not have to be ruled by condemnation anymore. You have been forgiven and set free. Walk in that freedom from now on.

Here are some Bible verses on being free from condemnation:

1. This, then, is how we will know that we belong to the truth; this is how we will be confident in God’s presence. If our conscience condemns us, we know that God is greater than our conscience and that he knows everything.

1 John 3:19-20 GNT

2. “But I promise you, no weapon meant to hurt you will succeed, and you will refute every accusing word spoken against you. This promise is the inheritance of Yahweh’s servants, and their vindication is from me,” says Yahweh.

Isaiah 54:17 TPT

3. He canceled out every legal violation we had on our record and the old arrest warrant that stood to indict us. He erased it all—our sins, our stained soul—he deleted it all and they cannot be retrieved! Everything we once were in Adam has been placed onto his cross and nailed permanently there as a public display of cancellation.

Colossians 2:14 TPT

4. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.

John 3:17 NKJV

5. So now the case is closed. There remains no accusing voice of condemnation against those who are joined in life-union with Jesus, the Anointed One.

Romans 8:1 TPT

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May 29, 2025 · 5:30 AM

Psychological Warfare

Psychological warfare has been used for thousands of years to help win wars. If you remember the first night of Desert Storm, we used shock and awe to overwhelm the Iraqi army. It was a show of strength to win the battle of the mind. I’ve seen army’s drop pamphlets behind enemy lines to disrupt their belief of what they think the truth is. If they can get the people to believe their own government is lying, they’ll fold. I’ve also seen where they used speakers to blast messages 24 hours a day trying to get into their minds. Psychological warfare is real, and it’s intended to influence emotions, thinking, attitudes and behaviors. If those are manipulated, victory is easier.

In Isaiah 36, Jerusalem was surrounded by Assyria. They were the toughest army of the day and they were undefeated. When they showed up in full force, their psychological ware fare was to make their enemies lose heart. Not only that, they would address the people instead of just the king. They understood psychological warfare. In verse 15, their emperor was talking with Jerusalem’s leaders where all could hear. He tried to undermine King Hezekiah and their faith. He said, “And don’t let him (Hezekiah) persuade you to rely on the Lord. Don’t think that the Lord will save you and that he will stop our Assyrian army from capturing your city” (GNT). He then encouraged them to surrender. Thankfully they continued to trust the Lord and God sent the Assyrian army home.

Our enemy comes against you and I the same way. He speaks lies into our minds to get us to doubt God. He’s done it since the Garden of Eden. James 4:7 says, “So then, submit yourselves to God. Resist the Devil, and he will run away from you.” The key to victory against his mind games and lies that try to get you to quit relying on the Lord begin with submitting to God. Trust that He will not fail you, abandon you or leave you to fight alone. Trust His plan and know that He will work everything out for your good. Then resist the devil’s lies. Combat them with God’s Word the way Jesus did in the desert. When we do that, he has to flee. He has to stop the attack on your life and your mind. Don’t surrender or succumb to the psychological warfare of the devil. God has given you the Helmet of Salvation and the Shield of Faith to resist.

Photo by Towfiqu barbhuiya: https://www.pexels.com/photo/back-view-of-a-boy-covering-his-ear-12449967/

Throwback Thursday is a feature I’m using to help build some margin into my schedule to pursue other ventures. Each Thursday I’ll be bringing you a previously written devotional that still speaks encouragement to us from God’s Word.

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May 28, 2025 · 5:38 AM

Godly Kindness

One of the Fruits of the Spirit that we should be cultivating in our lives is kindness. It’s more than being nice to someone. Kindness is reflecting the heart of God instead of being selfish and seeking your own advantage. Our world is impatient, self centered and prideful. Even when some people appear to be kind, they have a selfish agenda behind the action. Godly kindness is born out of a heart that does what God wants for the person. It reflects His love Hos love for them through words, time and action. God blesses that kind of kindness.

David and Saul are great examples of the difference between Godly kindness and the worldly mindset. In 1 Samuel 26, Saul was chasing David out of his selfish desire to keep the kingdom in his family knowing God had blessed David. One night, David and one of his men snuck into Saul’s camp and found everyone asleep. They walked up to Saul to find his spear and his water jug by his head. His soldier wanted to kill Saul, but in kindness, David allowed him to live putting God’s will above his own. David took the spear and the water jug then went a safe distance before yelling to wake them up. Saul experienced David’s kindness and turned back from hunting David on this occasion while offering him empty platitudes.

Proverbs 11:17 says, “Your kindness will reward you, but your cruelty will destroy you” (NLT). Saul was being destroyed as he was consumed with selfishness. For years David had every opportunity to seize what God had promised him, but operated out of God’s kindness while waiting for God’s timing. He saw King Saul as God’s anointed even though he carried the anointing himself. He looked for the image of God in Saul and treated him as that instead of as his enemy. Kindness give others what they don’t deserve and that’s why God’s kindness leads us to repentance. Who do you know that needs to experience God’s kindness through you today?

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May 27, 2025 · 5:30 AM

Cutting Corners

I worked for a company that was big on promoting from within. At one point everyone, including the CEO, had started on the bottom level and had worked their way up. I loved that about that company. What happened over time was that some people would get promotion after promotion whether they were ready for the next level or not. If you got promoted beyond your abilities, or if you cut corners, you didn’t just go back one level to where you were last successful. You would get sent back several levels (if you were able to keep your job) and have to work back up. However, that rarely happened because that person then had the stigma that they couldn’t cut it at upper levels. Instead of giving them more training or more time to develop, it became a life sentence.

Instead 1 Samuel 24, David was on the run from Saul. As it happened David and his men were hiding in a cave when Saul came in to use the restroom. David’s men told him that God had delivered Saul and the promised kingdom to him on a platter. David cut the corner off of Saul’s robe to show he could have.immediately he felt remorse. In verse 6 he said, “May the Lord keep me from doing any harm to my master, whom the Lord chose as king! I must not harm him in the least, because he is the king chosen by the Lord!” (GNT) David would not take by force what God had not yet given. He understood that God’s promises must be fulfilled in God’s timing.

Psalm 138:8 says, “You will do everything you have promised; Lord, your love is eternal. Complete the work that you have begun.” God always keeps His Word. You may think you’re ready for that next level or that next step, but wait on God’s timing. God knows when your character and development is ready for the weight of what’s next. He won’t promote you before it’s time. He is working behind the scenes preparing the right time, place and people to complete what He began. David didn’t listen to the people around him about his readiness. Instead He trusted God’s timing. Him cutting Saul’s robe is our reminder not to cut corners in God’s process.

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May 26, 2025 · 5:30 AM

Polished To Perfection

Polishing the blade is one of the most satisfying parts of knife making. It reveals the grain, finish and craftsmanship that was put into it. The polishing process starts with holding the blade against a belt grinder using a coarse grit and progressively moving to a fine grit. Each grit removes the scratches from the previous one until there is a clean reflective surface that reveals the beauty of the steel. Before this polishing, the blade may be fully formed, but there are details and beauty hidden that only polishing can bring out. The polishing process can be slow and tedious. If the artist is too quick or too aggressive, it can damage the blade. The final polish is often done by hand in order to be slower and more intentional with the outcome.

Each of us goes through a process of sanctification when we are saved. I’ve seen some people delivered immediately from a habit, addiction or sin, while most undergo the process of becoming more like Christ as they get to know Him. The Holy Spirit starts with a coarse grit in our life removing the old man and everything that he stood for. While our soul is saved, our flesh and its desires need to decrease while Jesus increases in our lives. As our roots grow down deep into Him, He begins to switch to a finer grit to continue this sanctification process. We take on the mind and attitude of Christ mentioned in Philippians 2. We undergo a change from being led by our flesh to being led by the Holy Spirit. This process continues throughout our life to help us reflect Jesus.

In Philippians 3:12 Paul continues, “I don’t mean to say that I have already achieved these things or that I have already reached perfection. But I press on to possess that perfection for which Christ Jesus first possessed me.” Don’t fall into the comparison trap as you undergo this process. There will always be others whom God is using a finer grit with and others whom He is using a coarser grit with. Allow Him to work in your life at the pace He wants to go. You are being forged into His image for His purpose. Each step along the way, God will reveal more of who God created you to be. Don’t try to jump ahead. He will be faithful to complete what He started in you. Like Paul, you will not achieve perfection in this life, but press on anyway! 

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