Daily Devotional

The heavens declare the glory of God;
    the skies proclaim the work of his hands. – Psalm 19:1 (NIV)

Have you ever had moments when you don’t feel God? Do you ever doubt, wonder or question if He’s real? If so, you’re completely normal. We all have times when we don’t feel God. There are times when we wonder if God really is real.

But here’s the truth, regardless of what we see or feel, God is real. We know this because the Bible tells us that He is. So even when we don’t feel anything, it doesn’t matter. Why? Because our trust in God isn’t based on feelings. If it was, it would be a shaky foundation.

Faith in God isn’t based on how you feel. So even if you have days when you don’t feel it, that doesn’t mean that He isn’t real.

Think of it this way. There are days when you’re busy and don’t see many of your friends. Maybe you had an early morning practice, or classes, and then had to run home fast after school. As a result, you didn’t get to see, feel, or talk to your friends. That doesn’t mean that your friends aren’t your friends anymore because you didn’t have any contact with them today.

And the same is true with God. God is real, regardless of whether you feel him, see Him, or anything else. You simply have to believe that He is and walk in that faith each day.

Today’s Truth: God is real, regardless of your feelings.

As children of God, we need to know what God has promised us. If we don’t, we will often live lives that are less than God’s best for us.

I once had a teacher that allowed us to make a study guide for a test. We could have one notecard filled with any notes we wanted and could use that on the test. She told us this in class the day before the test. That night I ran home and wrote as small as I could on that card and put as many things as I could think of on it so that I’d be ready for the test.

Now let’s imagine that you were part of the class, but you didn’t go to class the day before the test. As a result, you didn’t know about the notecard that you could use to help you get a better grade on the test. So the day of the test you show up, and find out that you could have just like the rest of the class had a notecard filled with notes to help you, but because you didn’t know about it, you missed out on a good thing your teacher had for you.

The same is true when it comes to the things of God. God has provided good things for you, but if you don’t know about them, they don’t really do you any good.

Now you are no longer a slave but God’s own child. And since you are his child, God has made you his heir. – Galatians 4:7 (NLT)

You are an heir of God. He promises you so many things in His word that are for your good. So today, take some time to learn what those promises are. Know that God is wanting more than anything for you to walk in His goodness and for you to know who you are in Him!

Today’s Truth: God has good things for you.

It can feel overwhelming to think about being led by God. You might wonder, how do I hear from Him? Does hearing from God take being some kind of spiritually mature person?

Hearing God and being led by God doesn’t take 87 hours of fasting and praying. God wants to lead you. His leadership is available for everyone who believes in Him and is willing to listen to what He has to say. However, it can feel a little strange to think about being led by someone you can’t see, and it can feel weird to trust the leading of Him.

So how do we know His leading? A few days ago, we went over some basic steps to being led by Him. You can learn more here.

God wants to lead you, He’s willing to lead you, but most of the time, His leading isn’t going to be in a dream, vision, or Jesus Himself showing up in your room and speaking to you. The majority of the leading is going to be through peace in your spirit.

You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands. – Isaiah 55:12 (NIV)

What does this look like in real life? Well, let’s just say for example that you’re faced with a decision. Maybe you’re wondering if you should go with your friends on vacation or stay home during Thanksgiving break at school. How do you know what decision is right?

One way you can find out is to pray about each choice. Then get quiet and see which choice you have the most peace about. That is a way that the Holy Spirit leads us is through peace. So if you pray about your options and you have peace about one option over another, know that often God leads you through peace.

Today’s Truth: God often leads you through peace.