Tag: Daily Devotional

The Journey Includes Detours

Devotional—The Struggle of Sanctification—The Journey Includes Detours

I can recall traveling a familiar route to make a weekly patient visit. The main road went through a residential area that was always busy, but this morning was unusual, traffic was at a standstill. Was there an accident? Only a couple of miles remained from my point of reference to the patient’s home. And then I saw the huge sign with bright orange letters, DETOUR, with an arrow pointing to the left.

When I turned left into the residential area, it was like a maze. My emotions tried to surface, but I focused on the cars ahead of me. They were not driving slowly from panic. No, with confidence, they kept driving and I followed, hoping they would lead me to the main road. After a 10-minute journey with countless twists and turns, I saw the familiar road. Breathing a sigh of relief, I looked and realized that I was only one turn from my final destination.

Our journey is filled with many unexpected detours. When facing the sudden onset of illness, financial disaster, family issues, failed relationships, dissolution of marriage, and even death, the normal processes that we depend on fail to bring resolution. Even with careful planning and the use of proven strategies that keep our lives stable, the vicissitudes of life arise which cause us to stop and seek outside help.

Our success depends on whom we call for help. Yes, we can ask family and friends, but only after we have taken our challenges to God first. Only Divine Intervention can provide Divine Resolution.

“These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world, you will have tribulation [trials, sorrows, and hardships], but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33)

As long as we travel this earthly journey, the detours will continue. Yet, when we call on the name of Jesus in times of distress, God promises us that He will answer and provide hope, healing, and a victorious outcome.

Prayer: God, we desperately need Your help to continue on the Path of Righteousness. Jesus, the detours are overwhelming. We cast our cares and burdens on You. Lord and Savior, we love You. Thank you for hearing and answering our prayer. In Your Worthy name, we pray. Amen. 

Faith Triumphs In Trouble

For we walk by faith, not by sight. (2 Corinthians 5:7)

In John 16:33, Jesus tells us of the life His disciples will face: “I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.”

Faith takes effort! Remembering our former blessings and supernatural miracles from the Giver of Life waters the seed of our ever-growing faith. A heart filled with gratitude expressed through prayer is the only way to strengthen our faith.

This verse represents the hardships of our tribulations: “If I close the sky so there is no rain, or if I command the locust to devour the land, or if I send a plague among My people…” (2 Chronicles 7:13)

Yes, the trials and sorrows are too great for us to resolve. Victory is impossible without unrealistic faith, trust, hope, and confidence in God. We do not have to analyze or try to figure it out. A prayer based on belief in a Loving and Omnipotent Father God never escapes the ears of God.

God tells us what is required to receive His Divine Intervention: “…if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.” (2 Chronicles 7:13-14)

Faith is the response of our hearts to God’s gracious appeals for our fellowship with Him.  It is the healing relationship with the One who is the Source of all life, health, and happiness.  Faith restores us to our rightful state, to the condition in which we were created to live: union with our Creator. His Healing Love, D. Winn

Lord, I Believe, Please Help My Unbelief!

Prayer: God, please forgive us for the sin of self-reliance. We desire to live a Christ-centered, Faith-based life. Lord, we desperately need You in times of peace and afflictions. Hear our prayer, and give us the direction and the strength to live as one who is faithful. In Jesus’ Worthy Name, we pray. Amen.

The Desires of Jesus’ Heart

Sharing this wonderful Devotional, from His Healing Love by D. Winn

THE LONGINGS OF JESUS’ HEART

“I will come back and take you to be with me, that you also may be where I am.” John 14:3, N.I.V.

Our understanding of heaven takes its first shapes from the stories and pictures of childhood. I can recall the time when heaven seemed attractive to me for three reasons. I would be able to fly without effort, I would be able to play with a lion without fear, and I wouldn’t have to pull weeds.

As I grew older and faced a few more of the realities of this sin-damaged world, I began to be drawn toward heaven because of its promised relief from pain and death. I have found that heaven can be craved as an end of poverty, war, prejudice, and even taxes! Unfortunately, our desires for heaven often fixate at these rather materialistic levels, and we fail to let God stir in us greater longings. We seldom even know what those desires should be.

So let us listen with our hearts to Jesus’ own longings about heaven. What about heaven stirred Him to look forward to it with such eagerness? In His well-known farewell conversation with His disciples Jesus told them that He was returning to heaven to make preparation for His friends. But then He made a very personal promise. He said that He Himself would return for us, to “take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.”

In Jesus’ mind the most satisfying joys of heaven are not centered in its lovely architecture, its economy, or even its ecology. For Jesus, heaven is a great place to be with His friends–with us! Jesus knows that the greatest need of our hearts is not for a tame lion, quick transportation, or even a weed-free garden. Our greatest need is for a loving, trusting relationship with a close friend. We are, after all, made in His image. Those needs are a reflection of His own heart.

Of course, heaven will be a marvelous exquisite place, with nothing to mar its perfect joys and beauties. But that’s just the way He does things for His friends. He did not intend that the tearless bliss of heaven should be a sop for our selfishness. Rather He intended that nothing should be in heaven that would detract from the enjoyment of its truest essence: loving, growing friendships.

Wouldn’t you love to spend eternity with such a Savior?

Prayer: God, help us to take the focus off of ourselves and think of Jesus who gave Himself for sinful humanity. Thank you, Jesus for your great sacrifice. We love you and ask this prayer in your Worthy Name. Amen.