Category: Daily Devotion

James 2:1-4 NIV

My brothers and sisters, believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ must not show favoritism. Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor man in filthy old clothes also comes in. If you show special attention to the man wearing fine clothes and say, “Here’s a good seat for you,” but say to the poor man, “You stand there” or “Sit on the floor by my feet,” have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?

1. Sit quietly for a few minutes. Take a deep breath calming your heart and mind in the presence of Jesus. Ask the Holy Spirit to open your soul to hear what Jesus wants to tell you.  

2. Read the above Scripture slowly.  Listen for God’s voice to you in the text.  Read it again and try to identify one word or phrase that stood out to you or caught your attention. 

3. Ponder/meditate on what God is saying to you. What is going on in the passage? What is God wanting you to know? What is the good news He wants for you?

4. Begin to pray from this Scripture passage.  Pray in response to what God is saying to you.   What is the Holy Spirit laying on your heart out of this passage?  Do you need to pray for a confession? Do you need to pray for action? Do you need to pray for a conviction or an affirmation? 

5. Share with your family or friends.  What is your key takeaway from this passage?  What will you put into practice?  Who do you want to pray for to come to know Jesus?

6. Pay special attention to today’s Prayer Focus below and intentionally pray for this need.

PRAYER FOCUS: Pray for people of all races, ethnicities, and economic statuses.  

Galatians 3:26-28 NIV

So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.

1. Sit quietly for a few minutes. Take a deep breath calming your heart and mind in the presence of Jesus. Ask the Holy Spirit to open your soul to hear what Jesus wants to tell you.  

2. Read the above Scripture slowly.  Listen for God’s voice to you in the text.  Read it again and try to identify one word or phrase that stood out to you or caught your attention. 

3. Ponder/meditate on what God is saying to you. What is going on in the passage? What is God wanting you to know? What is the good news He wants for you?

4. Begin to pray from this Scripture passage.  Pray in response to what God is saying to you.   What is the Holy Spirit laying on your heart out of this passage?  Do you need to pray for a confession? Do you need to pray for action? Do you need to pray for a conviction or an affirmation? 

5. Share with your family or friends.  What is your key takeaway from this passage?  What will you put into practice?  Who do you want to pray for to come to know Jesus?

6. Pay special attention to today’s Prayer Focus below and intentionally pray for this need.

PRAYER FOCUS: Pray for God’s leading in the lives of people struggling in their identity or searching for significance.

Matthew 14:16-21 NIV

Jesus replied, “They do not need to go away. You give them something to eat.” “We have here only five loaves of bread and two fish,” they answered. “Bring them here to me,” he said. And he directed the people to sit down on the grass. Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke the loaves. Then he gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the people. They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over. The number of those who ate was about five thousand men, besides women and children.

1. Sit quietly for a few minutes. Take a deep breath calming your heart and mind in the presence of Jesus. Ask the Holy Spirit to open your soul to hear what Jesus wants to tell you. 

2. Read the above Scripture slowly.  Listen for God’s voice to you in the text.  Read it again and try to identify one word or phrase that stood out to you or caught your attention. 

3. Ponder/meditate on what God is saying to you. What is going on in the passage? What is God wanting you to know? What is the good news He wants for you?

4. Begin to pray from this Scripture passage.  Pray in response to what God is saying to you.   What is the Holy Spirit laying on your heart out of this passage?  Do you need to pray for a confession? Do you need to pray for action? Do you need to pray for a conviction or an affirmation? 

5. Share with your family or friends.  What is your key takeaway from this passage?  What will you put into practice?  Who do you want to pray for to come to know Jesus?

6. Pay special attention to today’s Prayer Focus below and intentionally pray for this need.

PRAYER FOCUS: Pray for the people and families that are reached and connected through our Food Pantry Ministry.

Luke 14:12-14 NIV

Then Jesus said to his host, “When you give a luncheon or dinner, do not invite your friends, your brothers or sisters, your relatives, or your rich neighbors; if you do, they may invite you back and so you will be repaid. But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed. Although they cannot repay you, you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.”

1. Sit quietly for a few minutes. Take a deep breath calming your heart and mind in the presence of Jesus. Ask the Holy Spirit to open your soul to hear what Jesus wants to tell you.  

2. Read the above Scripture slowly.  Listen for God’s voice to you in the text.  Read it again and try to identify one word or phrase that stood out to you or caught your attention. 

3. Ponder/meditate on what God is saying to you. What is going on in the passage? What is God wanting you to know? What is the good news He wants for you?

4. Begin to pray from this Scripture passage.  Pray in response to what God is saying to you.   What is the Holy Spirit laying on your heart out of this passage?  Do you need to pray for a confession? Do you need to pray for action? Do you need to pray for a conviction or an affirmation? 

5. Share with your family or friends.  What is your key takeaway from this passage?  What will you put into practice?  Who do you want to pray for to come to know Jesus?

6. Pay special attention to today’s Prayer Focus below and intentionally pray for this need.

PRAYER FOCUS: Pray for families, children, and people within our community who are experiencing hardship, homelessness, and daily struggles.

Debbie Houston  

Psalm 42:11

¹¹ Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise Him, my Savior and my God.

Our theme for this 21 Days of Prayer is “Hope”.

Romans 15:13 ESV. “May the God of Hope fill you with all the joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may be abound in Hope.”

Another version of Psalm 42:11 NLT; “Why am I discouraged? Why is my heart so sad? I will put my hope in God!”

The book of Psalms takes us on a journey through suffering, sorrow, and great joy. It teaches us about God’s eternal love and care for us and how we should trust Him, even in the day-to-day life experiences.           

In this Psalm, David is speaking to himself describing his intense discouragement and loss of hope; even though, he praises God.  

Our hope at times may be shaken but our faith in God’s word, His promises, never changes. 

Through our faith in Christ, our hope is a confident expectation, a firm assurance of things that are unclear or uncertain.

Hebrews 10:25 tells us that no Christian has ever been called to “go it alone” with his or her walk with faith.

This is a reminder of a note penciled in my Bible:  Giving up is the only way to ensure we won’t achieve our goal. At times when things are not working out, we still have to walk it out. When we believe in Christ, every wall becomes a gate.   

Be intentional to seek out other Christian believers, and be in prayer and worship. Remind yourself that this too shall pass. God’s strength can overcome the despair of any pain or trial.      

Prayer:  God, we thank you for your blessing of truth, for your faithfulness, forgiveness, and restoration. Thank you, God, that we find joy, hope, and peace through you.

Susan Moeller

2 Corinthians 4:17-18 NLT
¹⁷ For our present troubles are small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever! ¹⁸ So we don’t look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever.

The more you read the Bible, the more you realize that God’s word is consistent, true, and applicable to YOUR life. The verses about hope often come paired with other themes; themes of faith, joy, trust, and protection to name a few. 

In this particular verse, Paul speaks of troubles but doesn’t linger there. Instead, he points his readers to their insignificance in the grand plan. He doesn’t use the word HOPE, but the point of it is to have hope. Just as Jeremiah 29:11 tells us that God has a plan and a purpose, to give us a future and hope, Paul reassures us of the everlasting glory to come if we focus on what’s important – God!

The words for hope in the Old Testament and the New Testament are different, yet their meanings are similar. In both words, there is no doubt there is only confident assurance! Biblical hope is a reality, not a feeling. In Hebrews 6:19, Paul refers to hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure.  There is no doubt in this passage, and that’s consistent throughout God’s Word. Biblical hope is a real thing, rooted in God’s promises; it is a sure foundation on which we can build our lives. Read Hebrews 11 where Paul lists the acts of the heroes of faith that were made possible by their confident assurance and hope that God’s promises were true. If we believe God’s promises to be true, hope through Jesus’ finished sacrifice should give us no doubt about the unseen. 

Have you ever tried the hand experiment? Put your hand in front of your face and look at it…all you really see is your hand…but then train your eyes instead to focus on something behind your hand. Look intently at that thing, and your hand, that solid barrier, will start to get fuzzy and you begin to see what you were focusing on. I think that’s what Paul is trying to tell the people of Corinth…take the focus off the little things. They look large when you focus on them, but when you shift your focus to what you can’t see, the potential or future God has for you, they fade from view and allow you to fulfill God’s plan. 

Consider also Romans 15:13. Certainly, Paul is consistent in his message about hope and how it pertains to our lives. By focusing on our Lord and Savior, we have faith and hope and joy, and so much more! Don’t rely on what you see…looks can be deceiving. Instead, HOPE! “Hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what they already have?” Romans 8:24. 

Don’t focus on where you are and what you’re currently going through, there is no hope in that! Be assured, with no doubt, that God has a plan for you. Although you may not see it, know without a doubt it isn’t fleeting, it’s everlasting!

Prayer:  Father God, You tell us in your Word, I Am!  You are who You say you are and there is no deception in You. You assure us that all of your promises are true, not just for the great heroes of the Bible, but also for us. Like Your chosen people in the wilderness, you want us to trust You and to hope without a doubt for the future You have promised. Help us, Lord, to take our eyes off of the things of this world that distract us from you. Allow us to have hope, a confident assurance that Your plan is perfect for us…then help us to walk in that plan, testifying of Your goodness and truth, restoring hope in others. In Your precious name, we pray. Amen.

Michelle Krause

Colossians 3:1-2 NIV   

¹ Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.  ² Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. (I encourage you to read through the entire passage.)

Did you know…

That your brain and your heart are the two most important organs of the human body that are considered vital for survival? God has equipped us for survival on this earth, He’s given us the tools and the instructions, all we must do is trust His word and promises. It’s really that simple.

Notice in the first verse we are to set our HEARTS on things above (Christ) and in the second verse we are to set our MINDS on things above and not earthly things. Here, earthly things refers to our earthly nature, sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires, and greed which is idolatry. (v. 5)

As humans we are easily distracted by so many earthly things; movies/tv, social media, shiny objects, food, people, music, sports, news, business. These things can distract us away from Jesus. Sometimes we even place our HOPE in earthly things and other people, this will surely result in disappointment and leave a hole in our inner being (heart) that we sometimes continue to fill with all kinds of earthly things. It’s only Jesus that can fill that hole, for us to find contentment.

When things of this earth are spiraling out of control, where is your HOPE? Just look to Jesus.  HE is our only hope in this world. Set your minds and hearts on CHRIST.

Matthew 22:37/Mark 12:30  

Love the Lord your God with all your HEART, soul, and MIND

Matthew 6:21  

Where your treasure is, there your HEART will also be.

1 Corinthians 6:19 

Honor God with your bodies.

Proverbs 4:23 

Above all else guard your HEART for it is the wellspring of life.

Philippians 4:7  

Peace of God will guard your HEARTS and MINDS.

Prayer:  Father God, thank you for equipping us to succeed in this life and time we have on this earth. Help us every day to set our eyes upon Jesus, Your beloved son. Help us to guard our hearts and minds.  We love You Lord, all praise, honor, and glory belong to You and You alone.  Amen.

Third Day – My hope is you Lyrics

Madison King

Titus 3:4-7

⁴ But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, ⁵ he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, ⁶ whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, ⁷ so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life.

Have you ever felt run down by the world? Have you ever experienced feelings of doubt, discouragement, or depletion? In the rush of the day-to-day, it can be easy to slip back into a mindset where you feel like you can’t do it all; where you feel like everything around you is falling apart and you simply don’t know what to do or where to go next.

You’re not alone, friend.

The good news is: everything you could ever need can be found in your Father. Dirty, messy, heavy — He wants to hear about all the things that are going on in your life and help you through it. He wants to sit and listen, but even more than that, He wants to take the weight and burden of what you are going through off your shoulders. He wants to remind you that you are never without His love, grace, and support.

When you make the decision to dedicate your life to Christ, you come into a partnership with Him to advance the Kingdom here on earth. This partnership does not mean your life will be easy or without pain, but it does mean that you will always have someone to walk through it with. And all you have to do to receive help is ask.

There is so much hope to be found in the fact that in this partnership, you will share the Father’s love and lead others to experience it too. Over time, you will help more and more people to come to know the hope that can be found in relationship with Him. How beautiful is that? To have the opportunity to share about His love? And as we do so, as we live a life under the authority of God, we find righteousness, grace, and an overwhelming sense of peace, no matter the season we are in. Hold onto that hope, friend — the hope that through it all, you will always have a home to run to in your Father’s arms.

Prayer:  Lord, I come before you today asking for your presence in every moment. In moments of doubt, remind me of who I am in you. In moments of discouragement, remind me I have been created with a unique purpose to serve. In moments of depletion, remind me that everything I could ever need can be found in you. Remind me, Lord. Amen.

Koen Hofstee

Psalm 130:5-7
⁵ I am counting on the Lord; yes, I am counting on Him. I have put my hope in His word. ⁶ I long for the Lord more than sentries long for the dawn. ⁷ O Israel, hope in the Lord; for with the Lord there is unfailing love. His redemption overflows.

Do you ever feel hopeless? Merriam-Webster defines hope as “to desire with anticipation: to want something to happen or be true,” such as hoping that gas prices will go down or your team will win the Super Bowl. Christian hope, though, is made of something different. It is the assurance of what is to come. It is knowing and believing the promises that God made from the very beginning of time in Genesis. Just as in verse 6, as the watchmen wait for the morning, we wait on the Lord, knowing with absolute certainty that he will deliver. Just as the watchmen have no doubt that the sun will rise and morning will come, they will be safe from harm and the light will return. Therefore, hope also builds exceptional patience. We wait for God’s help, comfort, peace, and salvation. We wait for Jesus’ coming down with more anticipation than the watchmen waits for morning. 

But where does our hope come from? How do we get it? It comes from the Lord. He is the God of hope. We can receive it from Him, but He asks us to give that hope back to Him. And that cycle of hope gets stronger and bigger every time you give it back to Him. We can hope in His word. So, a practical step to help us build our hope is to know His word. The more we know God’s word, the more hope we will have in His promises and know what those promises are.

In verse 7 we are commanded to hope. It’s imperative. We should do this. In return, we receive His steadfast love. His love is a love that lasts forever and that you can’t find anywhere else. It is a promise that forever with hope the LORD gives unfailing love. That is a good deal! 

Prayer:  Dear Lord, thank you that You are always faithful and fulfill Your promises. Help us to wait patiently as we hope in what is to come in our lives and in Your kingdom, more than the watchmen wait for the morning. Fill us with Your hope when we are feeling hopeless, so that we may offer it back to You. Thank you that, as we hope in Your word, You love us with Your steadfast, unfailing love and faithfulness. No one loves us like You do, Lord. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Sammy Armstrong

Lamentations 3:22-24 

²² The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases;  ²³ His mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. ²⁴ “The Lord is my portion,” says my soul, “therefore I will hope in him.”

What first stands out to me is how the verses proclaim that “The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, and His mercies never come to an end.”  This means that no matter how far away we stray from God, He will still love us and be overjoyed when we come back to him.

Many of you probably own a dog. Imagine how your dog feels when you leave to go somewhere; they are most likely extremely sad. However, when you return, they don’t care that you left, they are just happy that you returned. This is how the love of God works. We may sometimes go astray, but in the end, He forgives us for leaving. Despite how far we go, God will always love us.

The next line of the passage reads, “They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.” Think of something that you would want to have brand new every morning. It may be a new car, with no miles, no dents or scrapes. Or it could be your health, where each morning you feel just as good as the healthiest you have ever lived. God’s mercy never wears out, like your car or health. It is new every morning, meaning that regardless of what you did the day before, He still loves you and still has just as much mercy.

The last verse of today’s passage is, “‘The Lord is my portion,” says my soul, “therefore I will hope in him.”  What does the author mean by hope? Well, the dictionary definition of hope is “to feel that something desired may happen.” In this instance, to me, it means trust. It is trusting that no matter what happens, everything is a part of God’s plan. It is trusting that God knows what is best for you, and that he will always provide for you. Is there something in your life that you need to trust God today to take care of? I think we could all name something.

Prayer:  Let’s pray. Lord, I want to pray that you can guide us through whatever is going on right now in our lives. I pray that we can be reminded about how much you love us, and that we can always trust in you. You will always know what is best for us, and I thank you for always forgiving us. In Jesus’ name, Amen.