Daily Bible Verse and Devotion – 1 John 4:9

Posted on May 31, 2023

O God, You are my God; Early will I seek You; My soul thirsts for You; My flesh longs for You In a dry and thirsty land where there is no water. – Psalms 63:1

Have you ever been really hungry or really thirsty? Maybe you wanted a drink so bad you would have paid a lot of money for a bottle of water. Or perhaps you were so hungry you would have eaten almost anything. That’s a little like what this Bible verse is talking about.

Today’s verse is a neat way of looking at your relationship with God. Just like you wouldn’t go long without eating or drinking, you shouldn’t go a long time without spending time with God. You should be longing to spend time with God just like you’d long to eat or drink.

Spending time with God shouldn’t be a chore or something you do only if you have to or if you have questions that you need to be answered. Spending time with God should really be that thing that gets you excited and refreshes you. Just like you’d feel refreshed after drinking when you’re really thirsty, you should pursue God in the same way. You should be letting him refresh you and fill you with the things you need.

Today’s Truth: Let God refresh you and fill you with the things you need.

Read: How to Have An Awesome Quiet Time

Daily Bible Verse and Devotion – 1 Peter 1:14

Posted on May 30, 2023

As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. – 1 Peter 1:14 (NIV)

If you’ve been a Christian for awhile, you’re probably pretty aware of the fact that you should be trying to live in ways that are Christ-like. But doing that isn’t always easy. It’s easier to do what comes natural and what feels good. But instead of doing those things, we should be putting those desires away.

How do we do that? One of the best ways is simply by spending more time with God. As we spend time in prayer, and praising God, we become more aware of Him in our lives. And the more we do that, the more our desires line up with His.

The more you get to know Jesus, the more you want to be like Him. So instead of conforming to your old desires before you knew Him, you want to be more and more like Him.

So today, if you’re struggling with sin, and living your life to be like Christ, take a look at how much time you’re spending with Jesus. If you’re spending most of your time hanging out with friends or watching TV, Jesus isn’t going to be the one you want to live to please most. If you want to live to please Jesus, simply begin to spend time with Him. As you do, your evil desires will become less important and you’ll want to live in ways that please Him.

Daily Bible Verse and Devotion – Deuteronomy 31:6

Posted on May 26, 2023

Be strong and courageous; don’t be terrified or afraid of them. For it is the LORD your God who goes with you; He will not leave you or forsake you.” – Deuteronomy 31:6 (HCSB)

Do you feel like God is calling you to do something for Him? What is stopping you from doing it? Fear is one of the most common things that holds people back from doing things for God.

Some people fear what others will think, others fear the consequences of a decision or stand for God. Regardless of what the fear is, if left unchecked, fear will stop you from doing what God is calling you to do.

One of the best ways to combat fear in your life is to push past the fear. What does that look like? It’s telling your friend that seems depressed about Jesus even when you feel scared. It’s going on that missions trip even though you’ve never been that far away from home. When you push past your fear and step out you’ll find that God will always come through for you. God never leaves you alone and without help.

Today’s Truth: God never leaves you alone or without help.

Even if you’re afraid, choose to step out and do what God is calling you to do. If you do even while feeling afraid, you’ll see that God will come through for you.

Daily Bible Verse and Devotion – Proverbs 14:4

Posted on May 25, 2023

Without oxen a stable stays clean, but you need a strong ox for a large harvest.
– Proverbs 14:4

Sometimes, it can be easy to want to do big things alone. Maybe you’ve got a group project at school you’re working on and it’s just really difficult to want to involve the help of others. However, if you are wanting to do something truly significant, you’ll need the help of others to get it done. The problem with including others is that it often can get messy. Dealing with others can be challenging. It’s tempting to just decide to do it yourself. Today’s Bible verse is letting us know that a wise person will get help to accomplish something bigger than he or she could on their own. Including others can be tough because you have to get along and clean up messes along the way. However, getting help from others is worth the mess!

Today’s Truth: A wise person will get help to accomplish something bigger than he could do on his own

Isn’t it awesome that God shares with us wisdom like this? Today, think about the project that is in your heart to accomplish. Who could you invite to help you? What resource do you need to invest in to help with your project? Realize that including resources from others will bring much more increase in your endeavors than trying to accomplish it all by yourself.

Daily Bible Verse and Devotion – Isaiah 41:10

Posted on May 24, 2023

Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.  – Isaiah 41:10

Have you ever been afraid? I remember a time when I watched a really scary movie at a friend’s house and it made me so afraid I couldn’t sleep at night. After a few sleepless nights, I realized that my fear needed to be dealt with.

The same is true for you. If left unchecked, fear will stop you from doing really important things. Fear cripples you and keeps you from sleep, peace and the good things God has for your life.

Fear is a tool the enemy tries to use to stop you and distract you from what God has for your life. In John 10:10 it says that the thief is there to steal, kill and destroy. That’s what fear does. It steals your peace and joy. It makes you unable to do things that you want to do.

If fear has stopped you in the past, choose today to take a stand against it. Don’t let fear hold you back. Choose instead to replace your fear with truths from God’s word. Determine that fear doesn’t have the last word in your life.

5 Devotions to Defeat Fear

Daily Bible Verse and Devotion – James 4:17

Posted on May 22, 2023

If anyone, then, knows the good they ought to do and doesn’t do it, it is sin for them. – James 4:17 (NIV)

James talks in today’s verse about how when we know to do something that’s good, but don’t do it, it’s sin. Ouch! That verse is intense, isn’t it? How many times do you know that you should speak up at school and don’t? How many times do some people talk badly about someone else, and you don’t stick up for them? Or how often do you not correct someone to avoid you looking bad or getting into trouble?

If you’re honest, it’s probably a lot. And each of those things are sins. As Christians, we should be striving to do good in all areas of our lives.

The good news is that God’s grace is there for when we mess up. So even though you’re not perfect, you’re forgiven in Jesus. So today, try to strive to do what’s right and what you know to do. But when you’re not perfect, don’t beat yourself up. Learn from it, and know that God forgives you!

Daily Bible Verse and Devotion – James 4:7

Posted on May 19, 2023

Who likes to submit? Not me! I hate the idea. It’s just against our nature as humans to want to have someone tell us what to do and how to live our lives.

However, despite not always liking it, it’s something that as Christians we are told to do. Today’s verse encourages us to submit ourselves to God.

Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. – James 4:7 (NIV)

Submitting isn’t easy. Our flesh doesn’t like the idea of someone telling us what to do and how to live our lives. But here’s the thing. God created us. He knows us, and He loves us more than we even love ourselves. So when He tells us how to live, it’s not because He’s mean or controlling. Instead, it’s because He really loves us. He wants to the best for us.

When we submit our lives to Him, we find fulfillment. God knows what will really bring us peace. And when we live our lives for Him, we will be more at peace than living without Him.

So today, think about this truth. God has good things for us. We aren’t living our lives for ourselves but for Him, and when we do, things will go better for us.

Daily Bible Verse and Devotion – James 4:6

Posted on May 18, 2023

Have you noticed all the issues pride can cause? Pride usually comes when you feel good about something you did or you accomplished. 

Did you see the issue there with that statement? Something you did, or you accomplished. That’s the problem with pride. It leaves God out of the equation. Pride is something God opposes because it removes the need for Him in your life. When you think that you can do it all yourself, and you don’t seek God or His help, that’s pride.

But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: “God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble. – James 4:6 (NIV)

Pride isn’t something that we should be running after as Christians. Instead, we should be seeking relationship with God. We should be seeking to know Him more, and seek His opinion, advice and help in each area of our lives.

We weren’t built to face life on our own. And if we try, we often feel depressed, helpless and alone. It’s including God in your life that brings you the fulfillment that your heart seeks.

So today, decide to seek after God. Don’t try to live your life for yourself and on your own. Instead, seek God. Involve Him in your life and follow His plan for you each day.

Today’s Truth: Don’t Try to Live your life only for you.

Today's Truth: Don't Try to Live your life only for you.

Daily Bible Verse and Devotion – James 4:2

Posted on May 17, 2023

Have you ever done something you wished you could take back? Maybe you made a bad choice and wished you could have a do-over. I know I have a ton of times. How often do we sin and do things we know we should not do? Probably more times than we can count.

If you’re like me, you’ve probably envied someone and tried to get what they had, only to find out that it was empty. Or that you were pursuing the wrong thing. James makes an interesting point in today’s verse. 

You desire but do not have, so you kill. You covet but you cannot get what you want, so you quarrel and fight. You do not have because you do not ask God.  – James 4:2 (NIV)

Often, we do things that aren’t good because we don’t really get God involved in our lives. If we’d reach out and ask God about the things we want and the things that we’re unhappy about, wouldn’t that help us? I think that’s what James is trying to point out.

If we’d just go to God with our desires, and listen to what He has to say, maybe we wouldn’t go out and do the things we know we shouldn’t do.

So today, if you haven’t already, begin to develop your relationship with God. Go to Him. Talk to Him about the hard parts of your day. Let Him know how you’re doing. Ask Him for wisdom and advice. As you do, you’ll realize that your desires line up to His desires the more you know Him. Also, you’ll realize that He wants to help you and give you what you need. So lean on Him, go to Him and let Him fill you rather than doing sinful things.

Daily Bible Verse and Devotion – James 4:1

Posted on May 16, 2023

Have you ever wanted to do the right thing, but didn’t? I can remember a time when I knew the right thing to do was to treat a kid at church with kindness. But my desire to be liked by the other kids at my church was greater than how I was making this particular kid feel. So I chose to make others laugh over what I knew was right. I ended up hurting another kid’s feelings rather than doing what was right and treating that kid kindly.

How about you? Have you ever had two desires fighting in you? Maybe you had the desire to do good, but also had your flesh that wanted to do something that was against God and the Bible? If so, you’re not alone. James describes this in today’s verse.

What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don’t they come from your desires that battle within you? – James 4:1 (NIV)

We often have conflicting desires. We want to do what’s right and good, but sometimes, the desire for laughs from friends, acceptance or something else seems more important at the time. And while we all fight those two battling desires, part of being mature is knowing how to handle them.

It takes maturity to say no to what feels good, and do what’s right. It takes courage to stand up when someone is being bullied. That maturity comes the more you spend time with God. The more you get in His Prescence, the more you want to please Him and live for Him. As you know God more, what He wants becomes more important than anything else.

So if you struggle with battling desires, consider spending more time in Bible Study, worship and prayer. As you spend time with God, your desire to please Him grows.