Tag: trust in God

June 25, 2025

June 25th, 2025

Wednesday – History

Reading – 1 Samuel 11-12

Highlight Verse:

““Give us seven days to send messengers throughout Israel!” replied the elders of Jabesh. “If no one comes to save us, we will agree to your terms.””
‭‭1 Samuel‬ ‭11‬:‭3‬ ‭NLT‬‬

This was a strange method of warfare.

A city is attacked with overwhelming force and the city leaders say, “Whoa there. Give us a chance to get reinforcements.”

Who would agree to that – unless they were influenced by the Holy Spirit to agree to those terms?

My opinion is that God set up the situation so that Saul could intervene and unite Israel.

It worked.

It also provided an amusing story for the Bible. Who says God doesn’t have a sense of humor?

There are many times in our lives when situations don’t quite make sense. Unusual things happen – some scary, some amusing, some both.

I dare say, God is at work in those situations, working behind the scenes influencing people to bring His love and salvation to those who need it.

When have you seen God work in mysterious ways in your life?
In hindsight, are there times you can now identify that God was working behind the scenes in ways you couldn’t see at the time?
June 19, 2025

June 19th, 2025

Thursday – Letters

Reading – 2 Corinthians 1-2

Highlight Verse:

“To those who are perishing, we are a dreadful smell of death and doom. But to those who are being saved, we are a life-giving perfume. And who is adequate for such a task as this?”
‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭2‬:‭16‬ ‭NLT‬‬

So… if we are faithful, we stink.

Or smell good, depending on who smells us.

I try to be a people pleaser.

It works really well at work. Most of my customers love me.

Even in ministry, I am well liked and respected by many.

But some people don’t like what I have to say.

Of course, the people pleaser in me would prefer to try to make those people like me.

But sometimes we just have to tell the truth.

And the truth can be tough to hear.

I am not called to criticize people. Despite what some say, I don’t think anyone is.

I also think arguing is a terrible way to try to win people to the Lord.

But I am called to speak the truth in love.

If I fail to do that because I’m afraid of what people think of me, then I fail God and I fail those people.

To some, those words will have the stench of death. But if the truth goes unspoken, there will be no hope of that stink changing to sweet perfume.

Have you ever made some one angry by speaking the truth in Love?
How do you know you are speaking in love and not judgement?
June 18, 2025

June 18th, 2025

Wednesday – History

Reading – 1 Samuel 9-10

Highlight Verse:

“Saul replied, “But I’m only from the tribe of Benjamin, the smallest tribe in Israel, and my family is the least important of all the families of that tribe! Why are you talking like this to me?””
‭‭1 Samuel‬ ‭9‬:‭21‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Sound familiar?

If you’ve read Judges, it should.

Gideon said almost the same thing; except he was from the tribe of Manasseh.

Was it false humility?

I think it was more like fear.

For Gideon it was likely fear of failure.

But here in this chapter, I get the feeling Saul had a fear of responsibility and the inconveniences that came with it.

Saul had a pretty comfy life.

His father was wealthy.

He was well known and had friends all over Israel.

But if He was king, he couldn’t just do what he wanted when he wanted.

We know from history that he took on that responsibility and took it seriously.

Still, he always carried a selfish attitude.

He carried out his kingship caring more about his position and prestige than the well-being of His people.

He did protect Israel from the Philistines with the help of David.

But then He got jealous and drove away that man of God.

Eventually, God corrected Saul’s errors by bringing David into power.

There are times in our lives when God calls us to do more than we think we can do.

When we fully trust God in those times, there’s no limit to what He can do through us.

What do you think it would have been like if Saul had been as faithful as David?
In what areas is God calling you to be strong and courageous?
June 17, 2025

June 17th, 2025

Tuesday – Pentateuch

Reading – Genesis 39-40

Highlight Verse:

“The Lord was with Joseph, so he succeeded in everything he did as he served in the home of his Egyptian master.”
‭‭Genesis‬ ‭39‬:‭2‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Did you ever notice that God is credited with Joseph’s success. Three times in chapter 39, the phrase “the Lord was with Joseph” occurs.

That’s not to say that Joseph wasn’t a good man.

He was.

But the reason for his success was His relationship with God and to fulfill the plans He had for him.

God didn’t reward him with success. He blessed him with success.

His integrity was a result of His relationship with God, not the basis for the relationship.

Our success in the eyes of God does not depend on how good we are or how diligently we work. It is a matter of relationship with God.

Do you trust God to bless you with success?
In what ways is God blessing you with success? Are you willing to let Him use you to make a difference?
June 14, 2025

June 14th, 2025

Saturday – Open Topic

Reading – Hebrews 12:1-4

Highlight Verse:

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us.”
‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭12‬:‭1‬ ‭NLT‬‬

This week I was talking with an acquisition editor for a company that puts out devotional books. He said they were looking for devotions for men.

Like the car nut that I am, I suggested a classic car-based devotional.

He didn’t think it would fly.

That couldn’t stop me from trying my hand at one.

Don’t worry, I won’t do this for the next 30 Saturdays. But let me know if you like it:

1962-1967 Shelby Cobra (later MKIII 427 replica shown)

In the early 1960’s, British company AC Cars teamed up with Ford to produce a lightweight sports car with V8 power. The result was a very fast car that could handle the corners of European Racing.

Racing team owner Carroll Shelby brought them to the US, beefed the chassis up and fit them with a huge 427 cubic inch engine for racing. Unfortunately, he could not build enough to officially race, but they would have been a formidable force on the track.

Today, original Shelby Cobras sell for over a million dollars. Even replicas like the one shown can go for $100.000.

As believers, God has already fitted us with the incredible power of the Holy Spirit.

Often, we carry around the heavy baggage of sin, distractions, and discouragement. It’s like we have the Cobra engine in the huge Ford Galaxy.

That extra weight greatly hinders what the Holy Spirit can do through us.

The result is a comfortable but ineffective life.

If we were to strip away the weight of sin, distraction, and discouragement, just imagine what the Lord could do with us.

Then, we could truly run the race to win.

What weighs down your life?
What are you doing to shed that extra weight?
June 13, 2025

June 13th, 2025

Friday – Prophets

Reading – Jeremiah 4-6

Highlight Verse:

““Shout to Judah, and broadcast to Jerusalem! Tell them to sound the alarm throughout the land: ‘Run for your lives! Flee to the fortified cities!’”
‭‭Jeremiah‬ ‭4‬:‭5‬ ‭NLT‬

Our college newspaper was called “The Jeremiad” because they always printed bad news.

And that’s what Jeremiah was best known for.

How would you like it if God asked you to got tell a country that they were about to be invaded because of their sin. Not the most fun job assignment.

I am at a writer’s conference this week.

Sometimes writers feel like Jeremiah, called by God to bring news that some might not be excited to hear.

It’s easy for writers to get discouraged when we run into roadblocks to publication. When the calling is clear, we work past that discouragement and persevere until the right door opens.

I write this not to solicit sympathy (though I wouldn’t mind some prayer that the right doors be opened for my Wil Clarey series).

I am confident in God’s calling for my writing and know the right doors will open at the right time.

But God’s calling comes in many shapes and in many ways.

If you have heard God’s call on your life, know that if God is in it, nothing can stop it. Don’t give up when it gets tough.

Keep doing what you need to fulfill your end of God’s calling and wait for God to open the right doors, even if you are called is to tell a whole nation to repent.

What has God called you to?
What do you need to do to prepare for it?
June 9, 2025

June 9th, 2025
Monday – Gospels

Reading – Mark 6

Highlight Verse:

“And he was amazed at their unbelief. Then Jesus went from village to village, teaching the people.”
‭‭Mark‬ ‭6‬:‭6‬ ‭NLT‬‬

What does it take to amaze Jesus?
- Your faithfulness won’t amaze Him.
- Giving way beyond a tithe won’t amaze Him.
- People being healed won’t do it either.
People not believing in the light of His power and grace amazes Him.

He still appreciates all the good things you do.

But He has enough faith in you to expect that not doing those things would be the exception.

So, as strange as it may sound, let’s not amaze Jesus.

What other things that you have seen people do would, in the way we a speaking of today, not be amazing to Jesus?
June 6, 2025

June 6th, 2025

Friday – Prophets

Reading – Jeremiah 1-3

Highlight Verse:

““I knew you before I formed you in your mother’s womb. Before you were born I set you apart and appointed you as my prophet to the nations.””
‭‭Jeremiah‬ ‭1‬:‭5‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Jeremiah was called before He was conceived.

Let that sink in.

Does that mean that God has a calling for each of us?

I think so.

I believe I have the choice of whether or not to follow that calling. But that doesn’t make the calling less valid.

Jeremiah followed his calling faithfully.

As a result, the people of Israel were given a chance to repent.

Eventually most did, largely because Jeremiah’s prophecies gave them hope for life after the exile.

I pray that when I follow my calling, people will find hope.

And faith.

And love.

What do you know about the calling God has for you?
How closely have you followed that calling?
June 4, 2025

June 4th, 2025

Wednesday – History

Reading – 1 Samuel 5-6

Highlight Verse:

“That is why to this day neither the priests of Dagon nor anyone who enters the temple of Dagon in Ashdod will step on its threshold.”
‭‭1 Samuel‬ ‭5‬:‭5‬ ‭NLT‬‬

This verse had to make me think, “How did he know?”

I’m sure the author wasn’t a Philistine so he must have heard a rumor of the superstitions of those who worshipped Dagon.

He knew better.

That empty idol had no power.

But he might not have realized that the ark had no power either.

The power was not in the ark but in the God that it represented.

He brought the plagues on the towns that hosted the ark for two reasons:
• To make the Philistines realize that their idols were powerless and
• To bring the ark back to Israel keep the Israelites from backsliding further.

God may have used the ark to encourage His people, but God is not found in any object no matter how beautiful.

The ark carried reminders of God’s Commandments and His faithfulness, but God is found in the hearts of His people.

Have you ever been tempted to put your faith in things that you can see and touch rather than the God who touches hearts?
What keeps your faith strong in those times that nothing you see or touch seems to point to God?
May 30, 2025

May 30th, 2025

Friday – Prophets

Reading – Isaiah 64-66

Highlight Verse:

“The Lord says, “I was ready to respond, but no one asked for help. I was ready to be found, but no one was looking for me. I said, ‘Here I am, here I am!’ to a nation that did not call on my name.”
‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭65‬:‭1‬ ‭NLT‬‬

I caught a cold last weekend. Until today, I’ve just been powering through it.

Honestly, I only took today off because my workload was less, and it wouldn’t hurt anything to rest.

I’ve been taking meds and finally started taking supplements and the symptoms are improving slowly.

But reading this verse, I realized that I have barely mentioned this cold to God in my prayers.

My “power through it” mode didn’t leave much room for God’s help.

Maybe that’s kind of like what Israel was going through, though magnified in the extreme.

They got caught up in the region’s culture that valued military strength and local religious traditions.

They powered through, relying on their own strength rather than seeking the help and guidance of their Heavenly Father.

That didn’t go so well for them – at least until they turned back to God.

While my problems are minuscule compared to Israel when this verse was written, I can still learn from it.

As of today, I am expressly asking in God to carry me through this illness and to bring me back to strength quickly.

Don’t worry, I believe God would want me to continue to rest and take the right meds, But I will ask for help consistently in my prayers and be open to His guidance and support through it.

How quickly do you think of asking God for help in your day to day problems?
What does it take for Him to get your attention?

Tag: trust in God

This was a strange method of warfare.

Who would agree to that – unless they were influenced by the Holy Spirit to agree to those terms?

I dare say, God is at work in those situations, working behind the scenes influencing people to bring His love and salvation to those who need it.

So… if we are faithful, we stink.

But some people don’t like what I have to say.

And the truth can be tough to hear.

Was it false humility?

He carried out his kingship caring more about his position and prestige than the well-being of His people.

When we fully trust God in those times, there’s no limit to what He can do through us.

Did you ever notice that God is credited with Joseph’s success. Three times in chapter 39, the phrase “the Lord was with Joseph” occurs.

God didn’t reward him with success. He blessed him with success.

Our success in the eyes of God does not depend on how good we are or how diligently we work. It is a matter of relationship with God.

As believers, God has already fitted us with the incredible power of the Holy Spirit.

The result is a comfortable but ineffective life.

Then, we could truly run the race to win.

How would you like it if God asked you to got tell a country that they were about to be invaded because of their sin. Not the most fun job assignment.

If you have heard God’s call on your life, know that if God is in it, nothing can stop it. Don’t give up when it gets tough.

Keep doing what you need to fulfill your end of God’s calling and wait for God to open the right doors, even if you are called is to tell a whole nation to repent.

What does it take to amaze Jesus?

People not believing in the light of His power and grace amazes Him.

But He has enough faith in you to expect that not doing those things would be the exception.

Jeremiah was called before He was conceived.

As a result, the people of Israel were given a chance to repent.

I pray that when I follow my calling, people will find hope.

And faith.

And love.

He knew better.

The power was not in the ark but in the God that it represented.

But reading this verse, I realized that I have barely mentioned this cold to God in my prayers.

My “power through it” mode didn’t leave much room for God’s help.

That didn’t go so well for them – at least until they turned back to God.