Posts with the category “daily-devotionals”

Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my concerns. See if there is any offensive way in me; lead me in the everlasting way. – Psalm 139:23-24Encountering Jesus always involves an examination of the heart. When the disciples heard that one of them would betray Him, their assumptions crumbled, and fear surfaced. This was not just about Judas. It was about every heart at the table.We of...  Read More

Deeply distressed, each one began to say to him, “Surely not I, Lord?” – Matthew 26:22When the Titanic set sail in 1912, it was called the unsinkable ship. It was the largest, most luxurious vessel ever built. Passengers boarded with excitement, confident in its safety. One crew member even claimed that not even God Himself could sink it. Four days later, it lay at the bottom of the ocean.The disc...  Read More

While they were eating, he said, “Truly I tell you, one of you will betray me.” – Matthew 26:21The disciples walked into the upper room expecting a good meal, meaningful fellowship, and a joyful celebration of Passover. They were reclining at the table, symbolizing freedom and rest, remembering God’s deliverance from slavery in Egypt. Everything about the night pointed toward joy and victory.Then ...  Read More

“When evening came, he was reclining at the table with the Twelve. – Matthew 26:20There are moments in life that change everything. Encounters we experience that are so significant that we walk away different than we were before. Most of us can name a few of those moments without much effort. The day you gave your life to Jesus. The day you were married. The moment you became a parent. Moments tha...  Read More

“Fathers, do not provoke your children, so that they won’t become discouraged.” - Colossians 3:21 Children start learning about God long before they ever have words for Him. They pick up tone before theology. Long before they can explain who God is, they are forming impressions of what He is like. The voice they hear most often in moments of correction, encouragement, and failure slowly shapes how...  Read More

“The Lord disciplines the one he loves, just as a father disciplines the son in whom he delights.” - Proverbs 3:12 Discipline often gets misunderstood, especially when emotions are high. In those moments, it can feel like punishment or control, something meant to shut behavior down as quickly as possible. Most parents are not trying to be harsh. They are just tired, overwhelmed, and trying to keep...  Read More

“Fathers, do not provoke your children, so that they won’t become discouraged.” - Colossians 3:21 Parenting has a way of turning into behavior management without us even realizing it. Stop that. Do this. Fix your attitude. Clean it up. When you’re tired, busy, and just trying to get through the day, control feels efficient. You’re not trying to be harsh. You’re just trying to survive. But deep dow...  Read More

“Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord.” - Colossians 3:20 Obedience often gets reduced to behavior. Do this. Do not do that. Follow the rules and move on. In real life, especially with kids, it can feel like obedience is just about getting through the moment. You want cooperation. You want things to run smoothly. But deep down, you know God designed obedience to be ...  Read More

“By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” - John 13:35 It is possible to talk about faith and still miss it where it matters most. You can know the right verses, say the right things, and even believe the right truths, yet still struggle in real life. Discipleship always shows up somewhere practical. It shows up in how you speak when you are tired. It shows u...  Read More

“See to it that no one falls short of the grace of God and that no root of bitterness grows up to cause trouble and defile many.” - Hebrews 12:15 Some of the most damaging growth happens quietly. Nothing dramatic at first. No big arguments. No clear breaking point. Just small things left unaddressed. Over time, bitterness spreads. Pride hardens. Neglect settles in. Like kudzu, it grows fast, wraps...  Read More

“I am the vine; you are the branches. The one who remains in me and I in him produces much fruit, because you can do nothing without me.” - John 15:5 Relationships are always growing into something. They never stay neutral. Even when no one is trying, something is forming beneath the surface. Over time, patterns develop, tone settles in, and trust either deepens or erodes. What grows in your relat...  Read More

“If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.” - Colossians 3:1 Resurrection is not just something Christians believe happened to Jesus. It is something that is meant to show up in the way you live. When God brings someone to life in Christ, the change does not stay hidden. Over time, it begins to surface in how you think, respo...  Read More

“Therefore, as God’s chosen ones, holy and dearly loved, put on compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.” - Colossians 3:12 Every morning, you make a choice whether you think about it or not. You decide what you are going to wear. No one assumes yesterday’s clothes automatically carry over. What fit the day before gets taken off, and something fresh is put on. Paul uses that exact...  Read More

“So then, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has passed away, and see, the new has come.” - 2 Corinthians 5:17 When an athlete joins a new team, one thing changes immediately. The jersey. It does not matter how long they played for the old team or how familiar that uniform feels. Once they belong somewhere new, they dress like it. Wearing the old jersey would send the wrong mess...  Read More

“Do not give the devil an opportunity.” - Ephesians 4:27 Some sins do not look dangerous anymore. They feel familiar, manageable, almost harmless. You tell yourself it is under control now, that it is not like it used to be. You keep it close, not active, just nearby. But sin that is tolerated never stays quiet. What sleeps next to you eventually wakes up stronger than before. Old sin is deceptive...  Read More

“Therefore, put to death what belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desire, and greed, which is idolatry.” - Colossians 3:5 New life in Christ is real, but it is not passive. When God brings you to life, He also calls you to deal honestly with what once destroyed you. Some things that felt normal before now threaten what God is growing in you. Grace does not ignor...  Read More

“For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.” - Colossians 3:3 There is a strange pull that comes with new life in Christ. Part of you wants to move forward, but another part keeps glancing back. Old habits feel familiar. Old mindsets feel comfortable. Old identities still whisper your name. Even when God is clearly calling you into something new, the past has a way of trying to...  Read More

“Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.” - Colossians 3:2 Most drifts in life do not start with big decisions. It starts quietly in the mind. Thoughts begin to wander. Focus shifts. What once felt clear starts to blur. You do not wake up one day far from God. You slowly think your way there. Before behavior ever changes, attention does. What you allow your mind to dwell on will eve...  Read More

“So if you have been raised with Christ, seek the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.” - Colossians 3:1 Sometimes, we can lose sight of life and start living as if this life is all there is. Bills, schedules, pressure, and expectations pull your attention downward every day. Even as a believer, your focus can slowly shrink to what is urgent instead of what is eternal. W...  Read More

“If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has passed away, and see, the new has come.” - 2 Corinthians 5:17 It is possible to look put together while still feeling unfinished inside. You adjust behavior, clean up habits, and manage appearances, hoping that will bring peace. From the outside, it can look like growth. On the inside, the same fears, patterns, and frustrations keep resurf...  Read More

“He is like a tree planted beside flowing streams that bears its fruit in its season, and whose leaf does not wither.” - Psalm 1:3 It is hard to stay patient when nothing looks different yet. You are praying, showing up, trying to trust God, and still waiting to see change. From the outside, it can feel like nothing is happening at all. That waiting can mess with your confidence and make you quest...  Read More

“For in him all the fullness of deity dwells bodily, and you have been filled by him.” - Colossians 2:9, 10 There are moments when faith feels electric. Worship hits deep. A sermon lands hard. Emotions run high, and everything feels clear. In those moments, it is tempting to believe this is what will finally change you. This time feels different. This time feels powerful. Then life settles back in...  Read More

“For no one can lay any foundation other than what has been laid down. That foundation is Jesus Christ.” - 1 Corinthians 3:11 It is easy to build a life where Jesus is included but not central. You believe in Him, respect Him, and call on Him when things get hard. At the same time, decisions are driven by comfort, success, or control. Faith becomes something you add to life instead of the foundati...  Read More

“So then, just as you have received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to walk in him.” – Colossians 2:6 It is easy to assume that growth means moving on. You start with Jesus, then eventually graduate to something deeper, more advanced, or more impressive. Faith can quietly turn into a ladder where Christ is the first step instead of the foundation. Over time, you feel pressure to outgrow what once b...  Read More

“Being rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, overflowing with gratitude.” – Colossians 2:7 Storms are part of life. They show up without warning, linger longer than expected, and test what we thought was stable. When things start shaking, it is easy to blame the storm. But Scripture points us to a different issue. Storms do not destroy believers. Shallow...  Read More

“Be careful that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deceit based on human tradition, based on the elements of the world, rather than Christ.” – Colossians 2:8 It is possible to look like you are doing great and still be falling apart on the inside. You show up. You know the language. You stay involved. From the outside, everything looks solid. Inside, something feels thin, dry, ...  Read More

“He is like a tree planted beside flowing streams that bears its fruit in its season, and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers.” – Psalm 1:3 It is easy to measure your life by what you can see. Progress feels real when results show up. Growth feels valid when something changes on the outside. When that fruit takes longer than expected, discouragement creeps in fast. You start wond...  Read More

“I have been crucified with Christ, and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” – Galatians 2:20 Trying to look like a good Christian can be exhausting. You say the right things, show up when expected, and keep moving even when your heart feels tired. On the outside, things look fine. Insid...  Read More

“Christ in you, the hope of glory.” – Colossians 1:27 A lot of people believe Jesus is in charge but still feel alone in their day-to-day life. They know Christ rules heaven. They trust His authority. Yet when anxiety hits or weakness shows up, it can feel like God is distant, watching from above instead of present within. That gap is where many believers quietly struggle. The gospel offers someth...  Read More

“And you were dead in your trespasses and sins.” – Ephesians 2:1 It is easy to think the problem with our lives is that we need to do better. Try harder. Clean a few things up. Add better habits. Be more disciplined. That way of thinking feels natural because it keeps control in our hands. But Scripture tells a very different story about what was actually wrong. Before Christ, we were not just str...  Read More

“He is before all things, and by him all things hold together.” - Colossians 1:17 Some days can feel like you are just barely holding it together. Energy is low. Emotions are heavy. Motivation comes and goes. You still show up, still function, still smile when needed, but inside, you know how close everything feels to unraveling. That quiet exhaustion can make faith feel fragile. What steadies mom...  Read More

“He is before all things, and by him all things hold together.” – Colossians 1:17 There are moments when life stops feeling manageable. Things you thought were stable start slipping. Relationships strain, plans unravel, energy runs out, and it feels like everything is coming undone at the same time. You may still be showing up and holding it together on the outside, but inside, it feels fragile, s...  Read More

“For the entire fullness of God’s nature dwells bodily in Christ, and you have been filled by him, who is the head over every ruler and authority.” – Colossians 2:9-10 Most people do not reject Jesus outright. They just quietly reduce Him. He becomes a piece of life instead of the center of it. A helper when things get hard. A spiritual option among many others. That sounds harmless, but it change...  Read More

“So then, just as you have received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to walk in him, being rooted and built up in him and established in the faith.” – Colossians 2:6–7 Many people have had an experience with Jesus without ever submitting to Him as Lord. They felt something in a moment, made a decision, or responded to a need. Over time, when pressure showed up, their faith began to wobble. Experienc...  Read More

“Being rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, overflowing with gratitude.” – Colossians 2:7 Storms reveal more than they create. Pressure does not invent weakness; it exposes what was already there. When life shakes, what we are rooted in is revealed quickly. Some faith looks strong in calm weather but collapses the moment hardship arrives. Other faith st...  Read More

"Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.” – Hebrews 13:8 Every December, the world starts talking about new beginnings. We make resolutions, set goals, and tell ourselves that this will be the year we finally get it right. There is nothing wrong with wanting to grow, but real stability does not come from a calendar change. It comes from Christ. You do not need a fresh start. You ne...  Read More

“For my own sake, yes, for my own sake, I will act; for how can my name be profaned? I will not give my glory to another.” – Isaiah 48:11 Salvation is one of the greatest gifts we will ever receive, but it is not only about us. God saves us for His glory. He rescues us to display His power, His love, and His mercy to a world that desperately needs Him. We are not saved just to escape hell. We are ...  Read More

“For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared ahead of time for us to do.” – Ephesians 2:10 Every masterpiece begins with a vision. An artist sees beauty before anyone else can and shapes something ordinary into something extraordinary. That is what God is doing in your life. You are His workmanship, His personal creation. He did not just save you and move...  Read More

“In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.” – Matthew 5:16 Light has a purpose. It does not exist for itself but to reveal what would otherwise stay hidden. In the same way, every believer has been called to shine. Jesus said that when our lives reflect His goodness, others will see it and give glory to God. G...  Read More

“He saved us, not by works of righteousness that we had done, but according to his mercy, through the washing of regeneration and renewal by the Holy Spirit.” – Titus 3:5 Mercy is one of the most beautiful words in Scripture. It means that God chooses compassion when we deserve condemnation. It means He moves toward us when He could have turned away. Mercy is the story of every believer, because n...  Read More