November Devotional
November Devotional Read More »
Daily Devotional
November 5th – Colossians 3:15
Colossians 3:15 reminds us to let the peace of Christ rule in our hearts. I love that word rule because it means we have a choice about what we allow to lead us.
It’s so easy to let worry, frustration, fear, or the opinions of others take over our thoughts and steal our peace. We can spend so much time worrying about what might happen tomorrow or replaying what happened yesterday, that we forget to enjoy the day God has placed right in front of us.
But Jesus offers us a peace that isn’t dependent on everything going right or life going according to our plans. It’s a peace that comes from knowing who He is and trusting Him with what we can’t control. That doesn’t mean we won’t have difficult days, face uncertainty, or have moments when our hearts feel unsettled. It means we have somewhere to turn when those moments come.
Instead of allowing our circumstances to rule our hearts, we can bring our worries to Jesus and let His truth steady us. I’m learning that peace doesn’t come from having all the answers. It comes from trusting the One who holds it all.
So today, let’s be careful about what we allow to take up space in our hearts. Let’s make room for Christ’s peace, let gratitude shape our attitudes, and remember that we don’t have to carry tomorrow’s worries while we’re living through today.
November 5th – Colossians 3:15 Read More »
November 4th – James 1:17
Have you ever stopped to think about how many blessings we overlook simply because we’ve gotten used to them? We can get so caught up wishing for what we don’t have, that we forget to thank God for what we do.
The roof over our heads, food on the table, people who love us, a beautiful sunrise, or even the strength to get through another day. They’re all gifts worth recognizing. And James reminds us that every good and perfect gift comes from above.
Now, not every good thing in our lives comes wrapped in a pretty package, and not every season is easy. But even when life changes, God doesn’t. His goodness isn’t here one day and gone the next. He is the same faithful Father through our happiest moments and our hardest days.
I know I don’t always stop long enough to appreciate all He’s given me, and I suspect I’m not alone in that. So today, let’s look around with fresh eyes and remember where our blessings come from. We have so much more to be thankful for than we sometimes realize.
November 4th – James 1:17 Read More »
November 3rd – Psalm 103:2
My security camera has a motion detector that lets people know they’re being recorded whenever they come into view. And if I ever need to, I can go back and watch the recordings to see exactly what happened. It got me thinking… Aren’t we thankful God doesn’t keep a record of our sins like that?
God isn’t storing away recordings of every wrong thing we’ve ever done, waiting to pull them up again when we stumble. And He doesn’t keep a file of our failures to remind us of how badly we’ve messed up. When we come to Him with repentant hearts and receive forgiveness through Jesus, our sins are removed as far as the east is from the west.
Think about that for a minute! There’s no limit to how far east you can travel before you start heading west, and that’s the beautiful picture David gives us of God’s forgiveness. Now, that doesn’t mean our choices don’t have consequences or that we won’t remember things we’ve done and wish we could change. But it does mean that God doesn’t hold our forgiven sins over our heads.
Sometimes we’re much harder on ourselves than God is, replaying old mistakes and allowing guilt to rob us of the joy of His grace. And sometimes people are more than willing to remind us of our past, too. But when God forgives, He doesn’t keep score! What a wonderful thing to be thankful for. We serve a God whose mercy is greater than our mistakes, whose grace reaches farther than our failures, and whose love never runs out.
November 3rd – Psalm 103:2 Read More »
November 2nd – 1 Thessalonians 5:18
It’s easy to thank God when life is good. When our prayers are answered, and things are going the way we’d hoped. But what about when life hurts? When we’re disappointed, worried, or facing something we’d never choose for ourselves?
I’ll be the first to admit that finding reasons to be thankful isn’t always easy when my heart is heavy. But this verse reminds us that we’re called to give thanks in all circumstances, not necessarily for all circumstances. There’s a difference!
God doesn’t expect us to pretend we’re happy when we’re hurting or to ignore the struggles we’re facing. What He does ask us is to remember that even in our hardest seasons, He is still good. God’s love never changes, and we are never beyond His care.
Sometimes gratitude is a joyful celebration, and sometimes it’s a quiet prayer whispered through tears. Both matter to God.
So today, even if life isn’t giving you much reason to smile, look for one small thing you can thank Him for. It may not change your circumstances, but it can remind your heart that your circumstances don’t change who God is.
November 2nd – 1 Thessalonians 5:18 Read More »
November 1st – Psalm 107:1
It’s easy to thank God when life is going well. When our prayers are being answered, and everything seems to fall into place. But what about those days when we’re worried, disappointed, or wondering what God is doing?
I’ve learned that having a grateful heart doesn’t mean life is perfect or that we never struggle. It means choosing to remember that even when our circumstances change, God’s goodness and love never do.
Sometimes we’re so busy looking for the big blessings that we overlook the little ones right in front of us. Maybe it’s a beautiful sunrise, a kind word, a loved one’s laughter, or the quiet reassurance that we’re never walking alone. God’s goodness isn’t measured by how easy our lives are, but by who He is. And His love endures through every season.
So today, let’s challenge ourselves to look beyond what we wish were different and notice the blessings God has already placed in our lives. We may not have everything we want, and we may still be waiting on some prayers, but we always have a reason to thank Him.
November 1st – Psalm 107:1 Read More »
October 31st – Matthew 5:16
In Matthew 5:16, Jesus calls us to let our light shine before others so they may see our good works and glorify our Father in heaven. While our good works can never earn us salvation, they are a natural outpouring of the salvation we’ve received through Christ. For as Paul reminds us in Ephesians 2:10, “We are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.”
In other words, we aren’t saved by the good things we do, we’re saved so that our lives can reflect the goodness of the One who saved us. (Ephesians 2:10). And in a world filled with anger, division, and so much darkness, the way we treat others matters.
A kind word, a helping hand, a little patience, or showing grace when it would be easier to criticize, can all reflect the heart of Jesus. We don’t have to do big, extraordinary things to make a difference. Sometimes, the smallest acts of love speak the loudest.
Today, let’s take a moment to reflect on our good works. Do they shine brightly for the glory of God? Do they draw others toward our Heavenly Father like a moth to a flame? After all, we’re not called to be the light of the world in our own strength, but to reflect the One who is. May His light shine through us today!
October 31st – Matthew 5:16 Read More »
October 29th – Psalm 126:5
When the Israelites finally returned to Jerusalem after years of exile, their hearts overflowed with joy and laughter. After all the sorrow, hardship, and longing they had endured, they were finally home. No wonder they celebrated the goodness of a God who had brought them through. What a beautiful reminder that our tears never go unnoticed by the Lord!
Each of us will have seasons of weeping. Times when our hearts are broken, and our prayers seem unanswered. We wonder how much longer we can hold on. And although we might not understand why God allows certain seasons or how He will bring us through them, we can trust that He is with us in every tear we shed.
And while we may not see our circumstances change as quickly as we would like, sorrow doesn’t get the final word for those who belong to Jesus. There is a day coming when every tear will be wiped away, every hurt will be healed, and the sorrow of this life will give way to everlasting joy in His presence.
But until then, keep planting those seeds of faith, even through your tears. Keep praying, keep trusting, and keep holding on to His promises. Because the same God who carries us through our weeping is the One who will one day fill our hearts with a joy beyond anything we can imagine!
October 29th – Psalm 126:5 Read More »
October 27th – 2 Corinthians 5:17
The apostle Paul tells us that if anyone is in Christ, they are a new creation. The old has gone, and the new is here. But what does that really look like in our everyday lives?
What it doesn’t mean, is that we suddenly become perfect the moment we give our hearts to Jesus. Old habits, familiar ways of thinking, and even some of our struggles don’t always disappear overnight.
Becoming more like Christ is a journey. And some days it can be two steps forward and one step back. But we needn’t get discouraged when we fall short or find ourselves struggling with things we thought we had overcome.
God is still working in us, patiently shaping our hearts and teaching us to walk in His ways. Our part is to keep showing up, spending time in His Word, praying, and obeying what He teaches. And most importantly, surrendering the things that keep pulling us back.
We may not see the changes happening day by day, but that doesn’t mean God isn’t working. So be patient with yourself. Trust the One who is making you new, and don’t give up just because you haven’t arrived where you want to be. The same God who began this work in you is faithful, and as long as we keep turning our hearts toward Him, He will continue to lead us forward.
October 27th – 2 Corinthians 5:17 Read More »
October 26th – Romans 8:29
Romans 8:29 reminds us that God’s desire is for us to be conformed to the image of His Son. And in a world that constantly tells us who we should be, what we should believe, and how we should live, it’s easy to lose sight of who God is calling us to become.
We live in a time when people are quick to judge, and slow to listen. And sadly, more often concerned with being right than showing love. But as Christians, we’re called to a different way. We’re called to love when it’s hard. To forgive when we’ve been hurt, show kindness when others are unkind, and speak truth with grace.
And as for me, I don’t always get it right. There are days when my words, thoughts, and reactions remind me just how much I still need Jesus. But that’s the beauty of His grace. God isn’t asking us to become perfect overnight. He’s working in us day by day, using even our struggles and shortcomings to make us more like Christ.
So instead of spending so much time trying to fit into this world, let’s focus on becoming more like the One who saved us. Because the greatest testimony we can offer a hurting world isn’t that we have everything figured out, but that we are being changed by the love of Jesus.
October 26th – Romans 8:29 Read More »
October 23rd – 2 Corinthians 12:9
Have you ever prayed for something with all your heart, only to have God say no? Maybe you prayed for a door to open, a situation to change, or for something you desperately wanted to work out, but it didn’t happen the way you hoped.
It’s hard to understand sometimes, isn’t it? We wonder why God didn’t answer the way we wanted Him to. Especially when our hearts were so invested in the outcome. Paul knew what it was like to ask God for something and not receive the answer he wanted. But God reminded him that His grace was sufficient and His strength was made perfect in weakness.
Sometimes God’s answer is no, not because He doesn’t love us or hear our prayers, but because His purposes are bigger than what we can see. And sometimes, instead of changing our circumstances, He gives us the strength to walk through them.
I’m learning that faith isn’t just trusting God when He says yes. It’s trusting Him when the answer is no, too. We may not understand His reasons today, and we may still feel disappointed. But we can rest in knowing that His love for us never changes. When God says no, His grace is still enough, His strength is still available, and His love is still holding us.
October 23rd – 2 Corinthians 12:9 Read More »