Tag Archives: devotional on

December 3, 2025 · 5:31 AM

Combating Shame

I’ve talked with a lot of people lately who are struggling with shame and condemnation. Shame says, “You are bad because of what you’ve done.” Condemnation says, “You are guilty and should be defined by this failure.” Neither of these are from God. They are lies from the enemy to keep you from growing and guilting you into minimizing communication with God and others. These lies dig roots down into your life to make you ineffective as a Christian. Just like any lie, it must be confronted with the truth of who you are in Christ and by who God is. It’s not easy to break their power over your mind and life, but it must be done.

In Luke 15 Jesus told the story of a son who shamed his father and his family by asking for his inheritance early. When he got it, he took off to be far away from his father to waste his inheritance. About the time the money ran out, there was a famine in the land. Shame and condemnation would want to keep him there away from his father. Then it says, “When he finally came to his senses, he said to himself, ‘At home even the hired servants have food enough to spare, and here I am dying of hunger!’” (NLT) He returned with the plan to use shame and condemnation’s words, “I’m not worthy to be your son.” However when his father heard it, he called for the family ring To be put in his finger, sandals to be put on his feet and for a robe to be placed around him. The father rejected those lies and showed him that his heart is for his children.

Romans 8:1 says, “So now there is NO condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus.” If you are hearing the voice of those lies, know they are not from God. I love the parable of the Prodigal Son because it proves this verse. Had the son done those things? Yes, but God did not define him by those actions. Instead he reminded him and everyone else of his sonship. You are not what you have done in the past. Don’t stay in a foreign place while God is waiting for you to come home. God gives conviction to point out sin with the purpose of seeking forgiveness the way the prodigal did. He defines you as His child and is ready to restore you to where you belong. Quit listening to the lies of shame and condemnation. Speak the truth and walk in the freedom God gives.

Photo by Ali Naderi on Pexels.

10 Comments

Filed under Uncategorized

Tagged as , , , , , , , , , , ,

December 1, 2025 · 5:43 AM

Trust The Process

One of the lessons in life we have to learn is that everyone will go through difficult times. In Matthew 5:45 Jesus said that God causes it to rain on the just and the unjust. So hard times are not just part of life, they’re part of God’s plan for you. It matters how we respond in them, how we trust in them and how we grow in them. Honestly, it’s hard to see God’s hand when we are going through a difficult time, but I’ve learned that He’s always there in them guiding me and shaping me through them. When you get further away from them and look back, it’s easier to see His hand at work during those times. That’s why how we respond in them matters.

In Genesis 37, Joseph was a young boy who did things that made his brothers hate him. Being his father’s favorite didn’t help. When God gave him dreams about his brothers bowing down to him, it set off a chain of events that saw his brothers beat him up, sell him as a slave, he was falsely accused and sent to prison where he was forgotten. He trusted God through years of difficulties knowing that somehow God would use these circumstances to fulfill the dream. It’s hard to hard to look ahead when times are hard, so Joseph simply trusted God’s plan. In one day he was freed and placed second in command of Egypt. It may have seemed like it suddenly happened, but it was years in the making as God grew and shaped Joseph. When his brothers arrived and bowed down, he didn’t gloat. Instead he forgave.

In Genesis 50:20 Joseph told them, “Even though you intended to hurt me, God intended it for good. It was his plan all along, to ensure the survival of many people” (TPT). Joseph was able to see God had caused it to rain in his life, not because he had done anything wrong, but so that others could be saved as a result of his suffering. When you look back at the hardest times of your life, what do you see God doing? I can see Him repositioning me and reshaping me. If you’re feeling forgotten right now or going through the hardest time of your life, keep trusting God’s plan. You may not get the perspective right away to see what He’s doing, but if you trust Him and the process, He will make sure that all things work together for your good and the good of others.

Photo by Kristjan Kotar on Unsplash

3 Comments

Filed under Uncategorized

Tagged as , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

November 28, 2025 · 5:40 AM

God’s Covenant With Us

One of the first things I was taught about the Bible was that the word “testament” means covenant. The Bible is divided between the old covenant and the new covenant. In the old covenant, man couldn’t keep his portion of the covenant, so God created a new one where He would do what we could not. All throughout Scripture though we read where God makes individual covenants with people as well. It’s a great reminder that God is active in our world and in our lives. Not only will He make a covenant with you, He will keep it no matter what. Even when we fail to keep our end, he will be faithful to do what He promised.

Here are some Bible verses on God’s covenants:

1. Yet I will remember the covenant I made with you when you were young, and I will establish an everlasting covenant with you.

Ezekiel 16:60 NLT

2. When the rainbow is in the clouds and I look at it, I will [solemnly] remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is on the earth.

Genesis 9:16 AMP

3. Then taking the cup of wine, he gave thanks to the Father, he entered into covenant with them, saying, “This is my blood. Each of you must drink it in fulfillment of the covenant. For this is the blood that seals the new covenant. It will be poured out for many for the complete forgiveness of sins.”

Matthew 26:27-28 TPT

4. For this reason Christ is the one who arranges a new covenant, so that those who have been called by God may receive the eternal blessings that God has promised. This can be done because there has been a death which sets people free from the wrongs they did while the first covenant was in effect.

Hebrews 9:15 GNT

5. He remembers His covenant forever, The word which He commanded, for a thousand generations.

Psalms 105:8 NKJV

Photo by Jannis Nöbauer on Unsplash

2 Comments

Filed under Uncategorized

Tagged as , , , , , , ,

November 26, 2025 · 5:52 AM

Overcoming Mountains

One thing I’ve learned is that God usually calls us to things that are beyond our strength and ability. It’s not to shame us by exposing our weakness or inability, but to get us to rely on Him. What do you normally do when you face a mountain God has called you to that’s too big? Some people look at it and realize they can’t do it and quit before they ever get started. Some go at it with everything in them trying to do it in their own strength, but get burned out along the way. Others try to analyze and strategize how to accomplish it, but often get paralysis through analysis. Then there are those who trust God and get started taking it one step and one day at a time.

In Zechariah 4, the first wave of people had returned to Jerusalem from Babylonian exile. They had started to rebuild the Temple, but it was a large task that faced opposition. The project, headed up by Zerubbabel, had stalled for about 16 years when Zechariah was given a vision of a golden lampstand that was connected to two olive trees giving it continuous oil. An angel then Zechariah “This [continuous supply of oil] is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel [prince of Judah], saying, ‘Not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit [of whom the oil is a symbol],’ says the Lord of hosts” (AMP). God was prophetically reminding Zerubbabel that it was going to be accomplished by the divine strength of the Spirit and to keep going despite the mountain of opposition.

In Zechariah 4:7 the angel continued, “What are you, O great mountain [of obstacles]? Before Zerubbabel [who will rebuild the temple] you will become a plain (insignificant)! And he will bring out the capstone [of the new temple] with loud shouts of ‘Grace, grace to it!’”  What God calls you to will be opposed, but keep at it because God will complete what He begins. This verse shows us how people celebrated at the end of the work as an encouragement to Zerubbabel to keep at it. You and I can take courage too when we face mountains of obstacles and shortcomings. It is not by your might or power that it will be accomplished, but by the continuous flow of oil from the Lord who will empower you to complete it.

Photo by Stephen Rheeder on Unsplash

2 Comments

Filed under Uncategorized

Tagged as , , , , , , , , , , ,

November 25, 2025 · 5:53 AM

Pick A Side

Have you ever seen someone get called out after being caught for being deceptive or trying to play both sides? I’ve seen several videos of it and experienced it in person. Most people get quiet because they don’t know what to say once they’re exposed. Some get defensive and others try to turn it around and blame the person catching them. The truth is at some point in our life, most of us have been caught doing this. Whether we were trying to please everyone or we were just being deceptive. When I was little and my dad would question me, I would clam up knowing I’d been caught. I wasn’t sure what to say and I didn’t want to make my punishment worse.

In 1 Kings 18, Israel had been trying to play both sides. They had tried to keep the festivals of their fathers, which honored God, while also making Queen Jezebel happy by worshipping Baal. After having no rain for three years as punishment, God told Elijah to confront the king and nation. They met at the top of Mount Carmel for a showdown. Verse 21 says, “Elijah approached all the people and said, ‘How long will you hesitate between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow Him; but if Baal, follow him.’ But the people [of Israel] did not answer him [so much as] a word” (AMP). They didn’t say a word because they knew they had been caught. After the fire fell from heaven, they proclaimed, “The Lord, He is God!”

In Joshua 24:15 Joshua gave the people a choice before he passed away. He said, “Choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve: whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you live; but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” The same call goes out to you and me. Where have you been trying to play both sides? Have you been living one way on Sunday and then a different way the rest of the week? It’s time to quit hesitating between two opinions. If the Lord is God, serve Him every day unashamedly. Faith and culture don’t mix. It’s time to quit being silent and choose.

Photo by elizabeth lies on Unsplash

2 Comments

Filed under Uncategorized

Tagged as , , , , , , , ,

November 24, 2025 · 5:49 AM

Guarding Your Birthright

Pete Rose was one of the best to ever play baseball. They nicknamed him “Charlie Hustle” because of how aggressively he played the game. Even though he retired in 1986, he still has the record for most hits of any player. He was a shoo-in for the hall of fame until 1989. He had been managing the Cincinnati Reds after he retired from baseball when he decided to not only gamble on baseball, but also on games he was managing. He was given a lifetime ban from baseball for it. He traded his place in the hall of fame for the thrill of gambling. His choices left him with a lifetime of being on the outside looking in.

In Genesis 25 we read the story of Isaac and Rebekah having twins. There was so much turmoil in the pregnancy that Rebekah asked God what was going on. He told her two nations were inside her and the older would serve the younger. That prophecy came true when Esau, the older came home from hunting one day. He was starving and his younger brother, Jacob, had made a stew. He begged his brother for a bowl, but Jacob negotiated with him. He said, “First sell me your birthright (the rights of a firstborn)” (AMP). He disregarded the blessings that came with his birthright for a moment’s satisfaction. Instead of a double portion of his inheritance he received a hard life.

Colossians 3:2 says, “Set your mind and keep focused habitually on the things above [the heavenly things], not on things that are on the earth [which have only temporal value].” If you and I are not careful, we can do the same thing. If we’re so focused on the temporary earthly pleasures and desires, we can forfeit eternal blessings. Just as Jacob was looking ahead, we should too. How will the decisions today affect eternity? Are we protecting the gifts that God has given us or are we trading them for convenience? What we set our mind on has a lot to do with our decisions. When you set your mind habitually on heavenly things, your decisions will be made with eternal impact in mind. Guard your birthright with every decision you make.

Photo by Ave Calvar Martinez on Pexels.

4 Comments

Filed under Uncategorized

Tagged as , , , , , , , , , , , ,

November 21, 2025 · 5:55 AM

God’s Greatness

I love the song “How Great Is Our God” by Chris Tomlin. I also love and grew up singing “How Great Thou Art.” Both songs point to the greatness of God and focus my our attention on His attributes. When we’re going through a difficult time, our problems seems great. They’re heavy and weigh on our mind. However, when we shift our focus to the greatness of God, they’re often put back into perspective. He is greater than anything we will face and able to walk through any situation with us. When you’re facing giant sized problems, do what the psalmist did – focus on how great our God is.

Here are some Bible verses on the greatness of God:

1. Yours, O Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the victory and the majesty, for all that is in the heavens and in the earth is yours. Yours is the kingdom, O Lord, and you are exalted as head above all.

1 Chronicles 29:11 ESV

2. I also pray that you will understand the incredible greatness of God’s power for us who believe him. This is the same mighty power that raised Christ from the dead and seated him in the place of honor at God’s right hand in the heavenly realms.

Ephesians 1:19-20 NLT

3. Lord, you are great and worthy of the highest praise! For there is no end to the discovery of the greatness that surrounds you.

Psalms 145:3 TPT

4. But as for me, I trust [confidently] in You and Your greatness, O Lord; I said, “You are my God.”

Psalms 31:14 AMP

5. Proclaim with me the Lord’s greatness; let us praise his name together!

Psalm 34:3 GNT

Photo by Mike Von on Unsplash

3 Comments

Filed under Uncategorized

Tagged as , , , , , , , , , , ,

November 20, 2025 · 5:30 AM

A Challenge To Love

Who do you know that challenges you to do more for God? There are certain people I look at that cause me to want to do more for God’s Kingdom. One sees a need and immediately jumps in and starts a ministry filling the need. When others jump in and run along side him, he hands off the ministry to one of them and looks for another need. It’s such a stark contrast to how so many people do ministry. I asked him about it once. He said, “All ministry belongs to God so I keep an open hand with it. When people come along side who are more passionate and gifted than I am in it, I give it to them and ask God what’s next.” Something like that causes me to look around with different eyes looking to see what God wants to do around me and through me to do good.

In the Bible, Solomon realized he couldn’t be as good of a king to the people as his father David was. He prayed for wisdom to help him be a good king. Peter and John challenged the early Church to look for opportunities everywhere. The healing of the beggar they were passing by at the Gate Beautiful in Acts 3:6 is a great example. Paul and Barnabas set off on long journeys going where God told them to go in order to spread the Gospel throughput the known world. Each of these people drew their inspiration from someone and also inspired others to lead more productive lives that touched the lives of others. I believe that’s what God is calling us to do even today.

Hebrews 10:24 says, “Let us be concerned for one another, to help one another to show love and to do good” (GNT). As believers, we must be concerned for someone other than ourselves. We need to be looking to the fields with eyes that are open and hearts that ask, “Who can I show your love to today, Father?” We need to be encouraging other believers, especially in the times we live in. Send a text today to someone who needs it. Make a meal for a family in need. Show love to someone who clearly has been overlooked by society. There is opportunity everywhere for you to show love and do good, but you must quit looking to your own needs and desires long enough to see it. God has given us as believers a great opportunity in the world today to rise up and show concern and His love. What will you do?

Photo by Sumeet Ahire on Unsplash

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.

Leave a comment

Filed under Uncategorized

Tagged as , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

November 19, 2025 · 5:51 AM

Practicing Generosity

I read the story of a lady who had a long layover between flights. On her way to her next flight she stopped to buy some cookies. The gate and airport were full so she sat down at a table with a man at it and decided to eat her cookies. To her shock, the guy ate one of the cookies. She gave him a stare, but was too afraid to say anything, so she reached in and grabbed a cookie. He smiled and grabbed another one. As they took turns taking cookies, she kept getting more upset until there was one cookie left. He grabbed it, broke it in half, gave her half and ate his. He then left for his flight. She couldn’t believe this guy. When she grabbed her bag to head to her gate, she saw her cookies inside it. This story reminds me of how much we cling to things as small as cookies, yet generosity can surprise us when we let go of greed.

In Genesis 13, Abraham and his nephew Lot had both been blessed by God. The each had so much livestock, that together the land couldn’t support them. As such, their herdsmen began to fight and dispute over land. Out of trust in God and generosity, Abraham said, “The whole countryside is open to you. Take your choice of any section of the land you want, and we will separate. If you want the land to the left, then I’ll take the land on the right. If you prefer the land on the right, then I’ll go to the left” (NLT). As the elder, he was entitled to be first, but he gave Lot the choice. Lot chose the best land and Abraham took what was left. He showed that generosity isn’t about how much you have, but how much you’re willing to release and trust to God.

Proverbs 11:25 says, “The generous will prosper; those who refresh others will themselves be refreshed.” Are you stingy with what God has entrusted to you or are you generous with it? Abraham showed us what generosity looks like. What he did positioned him for God’s blessings and away from the selfish that attracted Lot. God bless those who have generous hearts with more. They become a source of refreshment to others. You don’t need to have a lot in order to be generous. You just have to be willing to share even your cookies. What have you been holding onto that God has asked you to bless someone else with? Practice generosity and watch what God does in your life. It is more blessed to give than to receive.

Photo by lilartsy on Unsplash

Leave a comment

Filed under Uncategorized

Tagged as , , , , , , , , ,

November 18, 2025 · 5:46 AM

Spiritual Dehydration

I’ve got a friend who has a ministry that builds water wells in Ghana. They’re trying to help people get clean water to drink. They understand that water isn’t a luxury, it’s a necessity for life. As a person who has water access wherever I go, there are still times when I get dehydrated. I’ve heard that you can go weeks without food, but only days without water. Have you ever been so dehydrated that your thirst became overwhelming? I’ve definitely been so thirsty I’ve chugged a lot of water to try to satiate it. Just like our body need water, our soul needs the presence of God. When we go too long without being in His presence, our soul craves it.

In John 4, Jesus was tired from walking and rested at a well. When a Samaritan woman showed up, He asked her for a drink. She was aware of the racial tension between their people and said, “Why are you asking me for a drink?” Jesus said, “If you only knew the gift God has for you and who you are speaking to, you would ask me, and I would give you living water” (NLT). The conversation went on and she realized she was not only physically thirsty, but spiritually thirsty as well. She ran back to her village and brought everyone to come see the Messiah whom she had met at the well. He satisfied their thirst too and many in that village believed in Him as the Savior of the world.

Psalm 63:1 says, “O God, you are my God; I earnestly search for you. My soul thirsts for you; my whole body longs for you in this parched and weary land where there is no water.” David wrote this while he was in a desert. He was comparing his physical thirst with his spiritual one. His desperation for God was greater than his physical need for water. He didn’t want to ignore that thirst and risk spiritual dehydration, and neither should we. God is drawing every one of us to a well that never runs dry. He’s inviting us to His presence daily. We must be intentional about drawing from that well and drinking deeply daily. Your soul needs the spiritual water He provides. Don’t risk spiritual dehydration.

Photo by Zouhair Majzoub on Unsplash

If you would like to know more about my friends ministry, you can check it out here.

1 Comment

Filed under Uncategorized

Tagged as , , , , , , , , , , , , ,