Devotion - Psalm 101:2

"I will behave myself wisely in a perfect way. O when wilt thou come unto me? I will walk within my house with a perfect heart."

Our house and around our family should be the place that we walk "in a perfect way", but often we put on a show for everyone else and aren't so concerned with how we act at home. We need to be as loving and kind to our families (even more so) as we are to strangers and friends.

Devotion: Lamentations 3:21-25

21 This I recall to my mind, therefore have I hope.
22 [It is of] the LORD'S mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not.
23 [They are] new every morning: great [is] thy faithfulness.
24 The LORD [is] my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in him.
25 The LORD [is] good unto them that wait for him, to the soul [that] seeketh him.

Morning by morning new mercies I see...
Great is thy faithfulness, Lord unto me!

Devotion: I Thess. 4:13-18

13 But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.
14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.
15 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive [and] remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.
16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:
17 Then we which are alive [and] remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words.

With this past Sunday being Father's Day and the previous Sunday being the anniversary of my Father's death, I can't help but look ahead to that wonderful time when we will be reunited with those that "sleep" in Christ. What a day that will be!

Devotion: Psalm 116:5-9

5 Gracious [is] the LORD, and righteous; yea, our God [is] merciful.
6 The LORD preserveth the simple: I was brought low, and he helped me.
7 Return unto thy rest, O my soul; for the LORD hath dealt bountifully with thee.
8 For thou hast delivered my soul from death, mine eyes from tears, [and] my feet from falling.
9 I will walk before the LORD in the land of the living.

The Lord is so good to us. The least we can do for Him is to obey his Word and have a Christ-like walk.

Devotion: James 1:27

"Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world."
This verse gives us the Bible definition of religion. Separate yourself from the world and help the hurting. Of course religion can't get you to Heaven, but it sure can help you please the Lord.

Devotion - Psalm 34:7-9

7 The angel of the LORD encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them.

8 O taste and see that the LORD [is] good: blessed [is] the man [that] trusteth in him.

9 O fear the LORD, ye his saints: for [there is] no want to them that fear him.

God is so good! We have gone through some pretty tough times but we have never gone hungry. I have, however, learned that most of what we think are needs are not. God will take care of us if we trust Him. It may not be how you desire to be taken care of but God knows what is best.

Devotion - Romans 8:26-28

26 Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.

27 And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what [is] the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to [the will of] God.

28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to [his] purpose.

I don't know about you, but there are so many times that I have no idea what to pray because I don't know what is best for my family. I am so glad that we have the Spirit of God that is constantly going to God on our behalf in a sense translating our prayers working things out for our good.

Devotion: Colossians 1:10-11

10 That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God;

11 Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness;

If we are doing what God wants us to do, in times of difficulty He will give us the strength to get through it. Just be faithful and don't give up. I can't imagine going through the valleys we have been through of late without the strength and joy that God offers his children.

Devotion: Psalm 73:26

26 My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever.

Amen and Amem...that is all I have to say...

Devotion: James 3:17-18

17 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, [and] easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.

18 And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.

It would be good for us to read the entire chapter of James 3 on a regular basis. We all struggle with our tongue. James 3:8 says "But the tongue can no man tame". It is a constant task for us to watch what we say. Verse 9 says at the same time we bless God we curse each other, God's creation. We need to strive for verses 17 and 18.

Devotion: Philippians 3:13

"Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forth unto those things which are before,"

There are so many things that happen in our life, whether it be sin of our own doing or being sinned against, that we just need to put behind us and go forward. We cannot change the past, but we can make the future great. If we constantly dwell on mistakes we (or others) have made, we are not going to have the peace we need to go forward.

Devotion: Matthew 5:14-16

14 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.

15 Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.

16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

Don't be ashamed to be a Christian in public. God chose to use man to spread the gospel. What other hope do the unsaved have but that which we show them. It is also helpful to the saved to see others proud to be saved and loving God outwardly. It is encouraging.

Devotion: James 4:8

Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.


You can be as close to God as you wish. He will not push himself on you but if you draw nigh to Him he will respond by drawing close to you. Isn't it wonderful to know that we can be close to our God. He is kind and loving and wants a relationship with us.

Devotion: Psalm 28:7

The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in him, and I am helped: therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth; and with my song will I praise him.

Want a happy heart? Put your trust in the Lord. He wants to ease your worries, but you have to let Him.

Devotion: Ecclesiastes 9:10

Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest.

Let's be diligent in our lives today. We get one shot at life, let's live it to the glory of God. When we work hard it is honoring to the Lord. Give your life your all!

Devotion: Matthew 26:38-44

Then saith he unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death: tarry ye here, and watch with me.
And he went a little further, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou [wilt].
And he cometh unto the disciples, and findeth them asleep, and saith unto Peter, What, could ye not watch with me one hour?
Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed [is] willing, but the flesh [is] weak.
He went away again the second time, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if this cup may not pass away from me, except I drink it, thy will be done.

And he came and found them asleep again: for their eyes were heavy.
And he left them, and went away again, and prayed the third time, saying the same words.


Even the people closest to us will fail us, but there is one who will never fail. When Jesus' closest friends failed him he went back and prayed. He didn't quit. When we are let down or sinned against, we have to let it go and keep going ourselves; knowing that God will always be there for us.