REMEMBERING WHERE YOU ARE

YOU ARE BLESSED - 366 DEVOTIONS

REMEMBERING WHERE YOU ARE

The world brings only change, it is never constant but in its

disappointments.  The world is but a great inn, where we are

to stay a night or two, and be gone, what madness is it to set

our heart upon our inn, as to forget our home?

Thomas Watson

Whether you imagine yourself creating the starring role in your own drama, or you see your visit to earth as a short stay at an enormous inn, the fact is that the experience is fleeting and like any ride at an amusement part, is over before you know it.

You may still remember when you thought you’d live forever, or when you thought you’d never get to be 18 or 21 or whatever magical age you hoped would tell the world you had arrived.

Somehow as you’ve gotten older, the whole cycle of things seems to be spinning faster and faster.  You feel like each day melts into the one coming in and months go by without you even taking notice.

However brief your stay at this inn called Earth, it is always with the knowledge that it only gets better from here.  The Great Innkeeper of heaven already has the light on for you and awaits you with warm hugs and joy.  Even so, He wants you to enjoy your visit because He provided the inn of Earth with great joy.

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.

Genesis 1:1 NLT

Lord, create an awareness of heaven in me so that

I might live in joy all the days of my life.

Amen 

DAILY PRAYERS & BLESSINGS - JUNE 8

JUNE 8

For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart,

and knoweth all things. 

1 John 3:20

It’s hard, Lord, to reveal my heart to you, though it’s the thing I most want to do.  Remind me in this dialogue that you already know what is within me.  You wait-thank you!- hoping for the gift of my willingness to acknowledge the good you already see and the bad you’ve long forgotten.  

SUFFERING: HOW DO WE RESPOND?

GREAT IS THY FAITHFULNESS

365 DEVOTIONS FROM OUR DAILY BREAD

SUFFERING:  HOW DO WE RESPOND?

READ:  Job 16:6-17

Man who is born of woman is of few days

and full of trouble.  Job 14:1

Why  is there suffering?  You might ask that question when you hear of hurricanes, mudslides, earthquakes, and other disasters taking people’s lives.  Job asked that question too.

Why is there so much pain in God’s world?  Consider these reasons:

We can’t escape the laws that govern our universe.  We need such things as gravity, weather, and fire to survive, but they can lead to tragedy (Matthew 5:45).  Fire is good in our stove, but an out-of-control fire can kill.

We are a social race.  Our lives are intertwined, so we sometimes suffer when the sin or foolishness of others spreads trouble (1 Corinthians 12:26).

Sin brought a curse on the earth and its people.  This curse includes disease and death (Genesis 3:15-24).

Suffering awakens compassion.  Jesus told us to care for those who suffer in poverty.  We are His partners in helping others (Luke 10:33-35).

As Job discovered, God’s world is a fallen place. When we see suffering, we can use it as an opportunity to serve God by helping others, to trust Him in spite of the difficulty, and to grow in our faith in Him.

When trouble hits, let our first reaction be to trust the Lord and care for the needs of others.  DB

Our response to suffering can either make us or break us.

TRULY HUMBLE, TRULY GREAT

Truly Humble, Truly Great

[Christ Jesus] made himself nothing.

Philippians 2:7

READ PHILIPPIANS 2:1–11

As the American Revolution concluded with England’s improbable surrender, many politicians and military leaders maneuvered to make General George Washington a new monarch. The world watched, wondering if Washington would stick to his ideals of freedom and liberty when absolute power was within his grasp. England’s King George III saw another reality, however. He was convinced that if Washington resisted the power pull and returned to his Virginia farm, he would be “the greatest man in the world.” The king knew that the greatness evidenced in resisting the allure to power is a sign of true nobility and significance.

Paul knew this same truth and encouraged us to follow Christ’s humble way. Even though Jesus was “in very nature God,” he “did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage” (Philippians 2:6). Instead, He surrendered His power, became “a servant” and “humbled himself by becoming obedient to death” (vv. 7-8). The One who held all power surrendered every bit of it for the sake of love.

And yet, in the ultimate reversal, God exalted Christ from a criminal’s cross “to the highest place” (v. 9). Jesus, who could demand our praise or force us to be obedient, laid down His power in a breathtaking act that won our worship and devotion. Through absolute humility, Jesus demonstrated true greatness, turning the world upside down.

By Winn Collier

REFLECT & PRAY

Thank You, Jesus, that in Your most destitute and (seemingly) disgraceful moment, You demonstrated Your true power and greatness.

How does the depth of Jesus’ humility surprise you? How does His humility force you to reconsider your definition of greatness?

Your gift changes lives. Help us share God’s love with millions every day.

SCRIPTURE INSIGHT

Many scholars believe that Philippians 2:6-11 is an example of one of the earliest Christian hymns. Several things contribute to that theory. According to The New Bible Commentary, these verses can be divided into six stanzas formed by three lines each. Additionally, the stanzas read in a very rhythmic and musical way. While not the only place in the New Testament where we see possible ancient hymns, this apparent song describing Jesus speaks deeply into the condition of the Philippian church where there was self-seeking and self-advancement that needed correcting (see 2:3-4; 4:2-3). Bill Crowder

HEAVENLY HOPES

YOU ARE BLESSED - 366 DEVOTIONS

HEAVENLY HOPES

God’s retirement plan is out of this world.

Anonymous

We tend to give thoughts of heaven a passing nod, knowing we may well have to deal with it sometimes, but probably not today.  We may go for a long time before we think of it again, only to be reminded when someone dear to us passes on or we read of tragedies elsewhere on the planet.

We may pray that we’ll have an eternal life and even imagine that it will be so, but we may not live each day as though we truly have the hope of heaven in our future.

As we become stronger women of faith, women who understand the work God is trying to get done on earth and the part we might play in that work, the more we might reflect on our future hope and the fact of our own mortality.

One reason to reflect on your heavenly home is to remember that no matter what is going on for you here on earth, this isn’t all there is.  This isn’t the end of your existence, and perhaps it’s just the beginning.  You’re God’s heavenly daughter as well as His earthly daughter and you always have a place to call home.  The fact is that you arrived on earth with a round trip ticket.

Jesus said, “I go to prepare a place for you.”

John 14:2 NKJV

Lord, thank You for giving me reminders of heaven,

especially on those days when I’m a little too tied to the earth.

Amen 

DAILY PRAYERS & BLESSINGS - JUNE 7

JUNE 7

And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also

ye are called in one body; and be you thankful.

Colossians 3:15

Sometimes we believe our souls can only be at peace if there is no outer turmoil.  The wonder of Gods peace is that even when the world around us is in confusion our emotions are in a whirl, underneath it all we can know his peace.

PROMISED STRENGTH

GREAT IS THY FAITHFULNESS

365 DEVOTIONS FROM OUR DAILY BREAD

PROMISED STRENGTH

READ:  Isaiah 40: 10-11, 28-31

To those who have no might [God]

increases strength.  Isaiah 40:29

Jonah Sorrentino was deeply hurt at age six when his parents separated.  As a result, he held a lot of anger and bitterness inside.  At fifteen, Jonah learned of God’s love for him and became a believer in Jesus Christ.

Jonah, also known as recording artist KJ-52, admits that he used to live like a victim of circumstances.  In an interview with Christianity Today, he explained how he began to experience healing:  “You definitely have to acknowledge that, no, you’re not okay.”

He added, “You also have to reach a point of saying, ‘I’m not going to dwell on everything of the past…on anger or bitterness or hurt.  I’m going to move forward because God is going to give me the strength to do that.’God helped him to forgive his parents and to write song lyrics that encourage others.

If  we’ve been hurt badly, we may wonder how we can live with a painful past.  God could take away our pain instantly and forever if He chose to.  Often, though, He heals us slowly and scares remain.  He carries us and gently leads us as a shepherd cares for his flock (Isaiah 40:11).

We may not be healed completely in this life, but we can count on God’s promises.  He give “power to the weak” and increases their strength (v. 29).   AC

Those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength.

IN NEED OF RESCUE

In Need of Rescue

A Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him.

Luke 10:33

READ LUKE 10:30–37

A teenager named Aldi was working alone on a fishing hut anchored about 125 kilometers (about 78 miles) off Indonesia’s Sulawesi Island when heavy winds knocked the hut off its mooring and sent it out to sea. For forty-nine days, Aldi drifted in the ocean. Every time he spotted a ship, he turned on his lamp to try and get the sailors’ attention, only to be disappointed. About ten ships passed the malnourished teen before he was rescued.

Jesus told a parable to an “expert in the law” (Luke 10:25) about someone who needed to be rescued. Two men—a priest and a Levite—saw an injured man as they were traveling. But rather than help him, both “passed by on the other side” (vv. 31-32).

 We aren’t told why. Both were religious men and would have been familiar with God’s law to love their neighbor (Leviticus 19:17-18). They may have thought it was too dangerous. Or perhaps they didn’t want to break Jewish laws about touching dead bodies, making them ceremonially unclean and unable to serve in the temple. In contrast, a Samaritan—who was despised by the Jews—acted nobly. He saw the man in need and selflessly took care of him.

Jesus wrapped up His teaching with the command that His followers should “go and do likewise” (Luke 10:37). May God give us the willingness to risk reaching out in love to help others.

By Poh Fang Chia

REFLECT & PRAY

God, open my eyes to the needs around me and give me Your heart of compassion for others.

Who has Jesus put in your path that needs your help? How can you put your love into action today?

Your gift changes lives. Help us share God’s love with millions every day.

SCRIPTURE INSIGHT

The question-and-answer session in Luke 10:25-37 was initiated by an “expert in the law” (vv. 25, 37). In some translations this term is rendered lawyer and comes from the Greek word nomikos (“pertaining to legal matters”). The focus was the law of Moses. The law experts were also known as “scribes” or “teachers of the law”; they occupied positions of authority (Matthew 23:2) and were thereby respected. These religious scholars, the theologians of that day, were the preservers, interpreters, and judges in matters of the law. Early in Luke’s gospel, when Jesus was twelve years old, He became separated from His parents for three days. They found Him in the temple courts sitting among the teachers, interacting with them and confounding these experts (Luke 2:46). Later in Jesus’ life those of this guild were ripe for His rebuke (11:45-54). Arthur Jackson

HOW YOU FIGURE THINGS OUT

YOU ARE BLESSED - 366 DEVOTIONS

HOW YOU FIGURE THINGS OUT

It’s just human nature to try and figure things out.  So, when we’re in

the midst of a situation, we usually try to reason our way through it.

Joyce Meyer

When things aren’t going well, it can feel like you’ve simply got the wrong pieces or your personal jigsaw puzzle.  The facts that like a good jigsaw puzzle, you can’t always see the whole picture until you get enough of the pieces together.

If you take one piece at a time, using a sort of trial and error, learn as you go method, you’ll find some of the right pieces.  If you build a framework that looks right, then you may simply have to trust that you’ll be able to finish the work even when doubt sets in.  The more you keep working with it, the better you’ll get and ultimately, your effort will pay off.  Your skill will improve with practice.

The final picture will come together, but it means you had to know from the start that it would.  You had to know that the beginning and the end would take you to the same place because truth begets truth and love begets love.

Figuring things out is partly about the end result, but it’s mostly about the process and how you get there is important to God.  Take it one piece at a time today.

Faith means being sure of the things we hope for and knowing

that something is real even if we do not see it.

Hebrews 11:1 NCV

Lord, help me to trust You as I put all the pieces of my life together.

Amen  

DAILY PRAYERS & BLESSINGS - JUNE 6

JUNE 6

The Lord will strengthen him upon the bed of languishing:

thou wilt make all his bed in his sickness.

Psalm 41:3

Lord, you do not let us live our lives alone.  You are with us in health, in sickness, and in every moment in between.  Thank you for your comfort and constant presence.  Thank you for sticking with us through the good times and the bad.  Most of all, thank you for being there when we need you the most.  Amen. 

WHEN PEOPLE PRAY

GREAT IS THY FAITHFULNESS

365 DEVOTIONS FROM OUR DAILY BREAD

WHEN PEOPLE PRAY

READ:  Acts 4:23-31

When they had prayed, the place where they were

assembled together was shaken.  Acts 4:31

Peter and John were in danger.  The religious leaders in Jerusalem opposing the gospel had warned them to cease their missionary efforts (Acts 4:18).  When the apostles reported this to the other believers, they immediately held a prayer meeting.

What happened next is thrilling.  The believers first praised God.  Then they asked for boldness that they might continue the work.  The results were dramatic.  The house shook, and the believers were filled with the Holy Sprit.  They boldly witness, enjoyed spiritual unity, and gave unselfishly to those in need (vv. 31-37).

I’ve never felt a building shake at a prayer meeting, but I have seen God’s power at work.  When I’ve tried to help repair a broken marriage or a divided church, I’ve asked those involved to pray.  Sometimes they refused.  Other times, though, they mumbled carefully worded prayers.  Those meetings failed.

But occasionally someone would pray in earnest.  Almost immediately the atmosphere would change.  Confession and forgiveness soon replaced charges and countercharges.

When we pray sincerely, praising God and seeking His glory, great things happen.  Prayer must always come from the heart.   HVL

Dissension’s fuse is easy to ignite-

It fuels our anger, yet it dims the light;

Help us, we pray, to humbly seek Your Name,

And in pride’s place restore the Spirit’s flame. -TLG

Sincere intercession is the key to God’s intervention.  

FOUND ON THE EDGES

Found on the Edges

For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.

Luke 19:10

READ LUKE 19:1–10

In the middle of the crowd at a motorcycle demonstration where riders performed breathtaking tricks, I found myself needing to stand on my tiptoes to see. Glancing around, I noticed three children perched in a nearby tree, apparently because they also couldn’t get to the front of the crowd to see the action.

Watching the kids peer out from their lofty location, I couldn’t help but think of Zacchaeus, who Luke identifies as a wealthy tax collector (Luke 19:2). Jews often viewed tax collectors as traitors for working for the Roman government collecting taxes from fellow Israelites, as well as frequently demanding additional money to pad their personal bank accounts. So Zacchaeus was likely shunned from his community.

As Jesus passed through Jericho, Zacchaeus longed to see Him but was unable to see over the crowd. So, perhaps feeling both desperate and lonely, he climbed into a sycamore tree to catch a glimpse (vv. 3-4). And it was there, on the outskirts of the crowd, that Jesus searched him out and announced His intention to be a guest at his home (v. 5).

Zacchaeus’ story reminds us that Jesus came to “seek and to save the lost,” offering His friendship and the gift of salvation (vv. 9-10). Even if we feel on the edges of our communities, pushed to the “back of the crowd,” we can be assured that, even there, Jesus finds us.

By Lisa M. Samra

REFLECT & PRAY

Jesus, thank You for never simply walking by when I’m hurting but stopping to invite me into friendship with You.

How have you experienced feelings of being pushed aside by friends or family? In the midst of loneliness, how has Jesus found you and invited you to spend time with Him?

Your gift changes lives. Help us share God’s love with millions every day.

SCRIPTURE INSIGHT

Jericho, one of the oldest inhabited cities in the world, is located in the Jordan Valley with the Jordan River to the east and Jerusalem to the west. In the Old Testament, it’s referred to as the “City of Palms” (Deuteronomy 34:3; Judges 3:13). It’s best known as the first city taken by the invading Israelites (Joshua 2, 6). After its conquest, Joshua placed a curse on anyone who might rebuild it (6:26). About 500 years later, Hiel of Bethel rebuilt the city at the cost of his two sons (1 Kings 16:34), a fulfillment of this curse.

The story of Zacchaeus (Luke 19:1-10) takes place in New Testament Jericho, also known as Herodian Jericho. This site was built by King Herod more than a mile south of the Old Testament site. Modern-day Jericho is built on a site about a mile east of Herodian Jericho. Alyson Kieda

KNOWING YOURSELF

YOU ARE BLESSED - 366 DEVOTIONS

KNOWING YOURSELF

Human beings must be known to be loved;

but divine beings must be loved to be known.

Blaise Pascal

Becoming the real authentic you is about really knowing yourself.  It means that you know where your boundaries are and what “pushes your buttons” when you feel a bit angry.  You no what kind of music you like and what makes an evening feel like fun.  You know your fears and your hopes and your dreams.  You know your short-comings and the things you secretly hope no one will ever know about you.

As in other relationships, you can love and appreciate yourself more when you know yourself well.  In the case of knowing and loving God, it’s a bit different.  God seeks to help you know Him.  He reveals Himself to you over time so that you can grasp more of His divine nature as you mature.  You have worked to know more about Him because you already love Him.

God knows everything about you, even those secrets you might like to hide.  He knows you and He loves you.  Keep letting Him into your life, into every area of your being, and you will come to know Him as a true and loving friend.

Everyone who lives has been born of God and knows God.

1 John 4:7 NIV  

Lord, help me to invite You further into my life so that I might 

know more of You and build my relationship with You.

Amen. 

DAILY PRAYERS & BLESSINGS - JUNE 5

JUNE 5

I, even I, am he that blotteth out they transgressions for mine

own sake, and will not remember thy sins.

Isaiah 43:25

A chart of my efforts to change traces a jagged course, Lord, like the lines on a heart-rate monitor.  Reassure me that instead of measuring my failures, I must remember to that I am alive and ever-changing.  Help me become consistent, but deliver me from flat lines.

A NINETEEN-MILE FALL

GREAT IS THY FAITHFULNESS

365 DEVOTIONS FROM OUR DAILY BREAD

A NINETEEN-MILE FALL

READ:  Deuteronomy 33:26-29

Underneath are the everlasting arms.  Deuteronomy 33:27

On August 16, 1960, U.S. Air Force Captain Joseph Kittinger Jr. sat in a gondola suspended from a high-altitude balloon.  When the balloon reached 102,800 feet above the surface of Earth (more than 19 miles), Kittinger jumped out.  Four minutes and 36 seconds later his main parachute opened at 18,000 feet, but not before he had attained a velocity of 614 miles per hour!  Kittinger carefully planned his record-setting descent.

In the spiritual realm, we’re more likely to find that life is filled with unexpected free falls.  The loss of a loved one, a broken relationship, or a terminated job can make us feel as if we’re dropping into the unknown.  For believers, however, there is a spiritual “parachute” -the loving arms of God.

Thousands of years ago Moses wrote these words to the Israelites just before he died:  “The eternal God is your refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms” (Deuteronomy 33:27).  The words “everlasting arms” refer to the protection and preservation of God’s people.  Despite the stressful circumstances they would surely face, they could rest in the assurance of God’s watchful care.

Do you feel as if you’re in a free fall? Take heart.  God’s loving arms are there to catch you.   DF

O the sweet unfailing refuge

Of the everlasting arms;

In their loving clasp enfolded

Nothing worries or alarms. -Hennessay

With God behind you and His arms beneath you

you can face whatever lies ahead of you.  

USEFUL TEMPTATION

Useful Temptation

Humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you.

James 1:21

READ JAMES 1:2–5, 12–21

Fifteenth-century monk Thomas à Kempis, in the beloved classic The Imitation of Christ, offers a perspective on temptation that might be a bit surprising. Instead of focusing on the pain and difficulties temptation can lead to, he writes, “[temptations] are useful because they can make us humble, they can cleanse us, and they can teach us.” Kempis explains, “The key to victory is true humility and patience; in them we overcome the enemy.”

Humility and patience. How different my walk with Christ would be if that were how I naturally responded to temptation! More often, I react with shame, frustration, and impatient attempts to get rid of the struggle.

But, as we learn from James 1, the temptations and trials we face don’t have to be without purpose or merely a threat we endure. Although giving in to temptation can bring heartbreak and devastation (vv. 13-15), when we turn to God with humble hearts seeking His wisdom and grace, we find He “gives generously to all without finding fault” (v. 5). Through His power in us, our trials and struggles to resist sin build perseverance, “so that [we] may be mature and complete, not lacking anything” (v. 4).

As we trust in Jesus, there’s no reason to live in fear. As God’s dearly loved children, we can find peace as we rest in His loving arms even as we face temptation.

By Monica La Rose

REFLECT & PRAY

Jesus, I’m saddened when I realize how often I try to face life’s temptations and struggles on my own—as if I’m self-sufficient, as if I don’t need You. Thank You for Your unending love and patience with me.

How might an attitude of humility and patience change how you respond to a current temptation or struggle? How is it freeing?

Your gift changes lives. Help us share God’s love with millions every day. 

SCRIPTURE INSIGHT

James begins his letter to dislocated and troubled followers of Jesus by urging them to ask for wisdom in living as His followers (1:5, 19-22). But how will they recognize such divine help? After briefly discussing a series of difficult relational challenges, James describes a wisdom grounded in humility rather than self-centeredness (3:13-16). Wisdom from God is peace-loving, considerate, willing to listen, full of mercy and goodness, and without prejudice or hypocrisy (v. 17). Mart DeHaan

CLEANING UP THE MESSES

YOU ARE BLESSED - 366 DEVOTIONS

CLEANING UP THE MESSES

Once you become aware that the main business that you are here for is

to know God, most of life’s problems fall into place of their our on accord.

J.I. Packer

You probably have friends who stick with you through thick and thin.  That means they are always there for you in the good times and the messy times.  They know you so well that they love you and would do anything for you.  They are the best friends you’ve ever had.

You became friends with those people though because you share a special relationship.  Not only are they concerned for you but they celebrate with you when things go well and they want to share important life moments with you.  The same is true in you relationship with God.  You are His friend and He is concerned for your well-being.  He also celebrates your joys and the things that give you a glad heart.

Your relationship with Him matters so much that He wants to get to know you better and He wants you to know what He can do to help any messy parts of life feel better.  He will never, ever give up on you because you are so valuable to Him.  Keep your heart open to all that God has for you today.

“Be still and know that I am God.”

Psalm 46:10 NKJV

Lord, thank You for being with me in the good times and in the more

difficult one.  Help me always seek to build my relationship with You.

Amen  

DAILY PRAYERS & BLESSINGS - JUNE 4

JUNE 4

I am grateful that you don’t require spiritual gymnastics from me when I sin, Lord.  You just call me to come to you with a humble and repentant heart.  In my pride I sometimes want to do something that will impress you-something that will “make up for it” somehow.  But you just shake your head and keep calling me to humble myself.  That often doesn’t seem like enough to me.  But I guess that’s the point:  I can never earn your grace; it is a gift.  Christ died on the cross for us because it is beyond our powers to make up for all the sins we have committed.   I bring my contribute heart before you now, Lord.  Thank you for receiving it as an acceptable sacrifice.

GOD IS GOOD

GREAT IS THY FAITHFULNESS

365 DEVOTIONS FROM OUR DAILY BREAD

GOD IS GOOD

READ:  Genesis 3:1-7

Good and upright is the Lord; therefore

He touches sinners in the way.  Psalm 25:8

The phrase “God is good, all the time; all the time, God is good” is repeated by many Christians almost like a mantra.  I often wonder if they really believe it or even think about what they’re saying.  I sometimes doubt God’s goodness-especially when it feels as though God isn’t hearing or answering my prayers.  I assume that if others were more honest, they’d admit they feel the same way.

The serpent planted a doubt in Eve’s mind about whether God had been good to her and had her best interest at heart.  He said, “God knows that in the day you eat of [the fruit] your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil” (Genesis 3:5).  Satan tried to convince her to believe that God was holding out on her and not giving her something really good-more knowledge.

Do you feel as though God isn’t answering your prayers? Are you tempted to doubt His goodness?  When I feel this way, I have to remind myself that my circumstances aren’t the barometer of God’s love and goodness-the cross is.  He has shown how good He is by giving His only Son Jesus to die for our sin.  We can’t rely on our feelings.  But day by day as we choose to trust Him more, we learn to believe with confidence that God is good-all the time.  AC

When you are tempted to deny

God’s goodness, love, and grace,

Look to the cross of Calvary,

Where Jesus took your place. -Sper

Circumstances aren’t the barometer of

God’s love and goodness-the cross is.