Christian Devotional

When you were little, did you go on a treasure hunt? Today, do you put your treasured valuables in a safety deposit box?

The Bible tells us that believers have a treasure within them. What is the treasure? Second Corinthians 4:6-7 explains that the treasure is God’s Holy Spirit. The treasure is the Light of the knowledge of the glory of God shining in our hearts.

“God… is the One who has shone in our hearts to give the Light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ. For we have this treasure in earthen vessels, so that the surpassing greatness of the power will be of God and not from ourselves” (2 Corinthians 4:6-7).

The treasure we carry about in our earthly bodies is God’s surpassing greatness of power. With humble reverence and boundless gratefulness, we bow and worship God for the great gift of His presence in us.

Lord, You are the TREASURE men seek and whom I have in my heart. Help me present You well to others and share with others the surpassing greatness of Your power. I adore and worship You.

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In this world we will have trouble (John 16:33), but we don’t need to be left battered by the storms of life. Instead, we can find reassurance that God is a refuge in times of trouble as David states in Psalm 61:3, “For You have been a refuge for me, a tower of strength against the enemy.”

A tower is a high place from which we can look at life and see it from God’s perspective. A spiritual tower of prayer is the place from where we can pray, pour out our hearts to God, intercede for others, and quietly listen for His counsel. If we want to experience God’s best, we can. Our Father is a tower of strength and refuge to whom we can go.

With your face set like flint toward heaven, with your pen in your hand, write words of praise to your Father and your prayers for your family, church, nation, friends, and yourself. 

The Bible is a journal of God’s interactions with man, of people’s struggles, and of God’s faithful interventions. Let His Word speak to you as you scale the tower of God in prayer.

Jesus, TOWER OF STRENGTH AND REFUGE, I praise You. When I don’t know how I can get through the next minute, You are my strength and help. Thank You for all the ways You guard and guide me. 

In her teaching on John 16, Debbie touches on Jesus’ words from John 16:33, “In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.” Watch her teaching on the subject HERE. 

Have you been disturbed by some of the changes and trends in our nation and world? Does it seem like it’s not even the same place where you grew up? It’s interesting, but it’s almost like our Heavenly Father and Jesus are readying us. Readying us for what? To go to our eternal home where we can live out our kingdom citizenship in heaven.

Our nation is beginning to become foreign to us because heaven is our home. Heaven is where truth abounds, love is premiere, and relationships are characterized by godliness. Sound good? If so, keep that in mind as you go through your day. Make it a priority to build your life and family on Jesus. Hold tightly to Christ and loosely to things of the earth. Be assured when things of this earth crumble and fail, Christ will stand the test of eternity as Isaiah 28:16 states: “Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone, a tested stone, a costly cornerstone for the foundation, firmly placed. He who believes in it will not be disturbed.”

Rest assured that if you’ve been disturbed by what’s happening in our world, it is because heaven is your home and you’re one step closer to being there. That warrants a hallelujah from me. How about you?

Lord Jesus Christ, once again I’m reminded of the joy and privilege of calling You my God. You are foundational to all I believe, a pure and holy TESTED STONE. I praise and worship You!

In the midst of cultural chaos, we can find rest and comfort in God’s grace and peace. To learn more, grab a copy of Debbie’s Bible study, Experiencing Grace and Peace in Cultural Chaos, HERE. You can access the free accompanying videos and podcasts HERE. 

Have you ever known a hard-hearted person? In other words, no matter how hard you tried or how many attempts you made, they shut you out. If you did anything wrong, they were relentless and unforgiving.

Not so with our Lord. Although He has every reason to be hard-hearted toward us, instead He pursues and forgives us. What a tender-hearted Lord we have! This is important—in Ephesians 4:32 He commands us to be like Him – kind, tender-hearted, and forgiving each other. 

Is it easy? Not necessarily. But it’s a command we are to obey. Jesus models being tender hearted, kind, and forgiving. We’re to follow His example by the power of Christ’s Spirit in us. 

Does this mean that what a person has done is right? No. Does it mean we’re to necessarily engage in a relationship with them if what they are doing is not aligned with Christ’s teachings? No. Rather, it means that we leave the person to Christ, knowing He will deal with them. In the meantime, we live in a right relationship with Jesus which translates into living in a right relationship with others…as far as it depends on us. 

Lord, I praise You for being kind, TENDER-HEARTED, and forgiving me. Thank You for Your mercy! Thank You for Your grace!  

Have you ever struggled to find the right words to pray? In those times, it can help to pray God’s Word. Click HERE to discover prayers for discernment, discouragement, knowing God’s way, and forgiveness.

John 2:19-21 records a question the Jews asked Jesus: “What sign do You show us as your authority for doing these things?” The “things” Jesus had done included driving sheep and oxen out of the temple, overturning the money changers tables, ordering them, “Stop making My Father’s house a place of business,” and in Matthew 21:13 chiding them, “My house shall be called a house of prayer; but you are making it a robbers’ den.” Jesus’ comment in John 2:19, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up,” wasn’t understood. The people didn’t know Jesus was talking about His body, the temple of God living among men.

There are two points Jesus is driving home. First, the stone temple wasn’t divine because of the rocks but rather because of God’s presence and it being a place of prayer. The stone temple no longer exists. Rather, 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 explains that God lives among believers through His indwelling Holy Spirit. Every Christian houses the glory of God and is a temple of God, of prayer. What does that mean for us? First, it’s a reminder that Jesus drove from the temple things that weren’t supposed to be there. Likewise, He wants to purify us of anything that hinders God’s glory from shining in us.

Second, since we are temples of the Holy Spirit and a place of prayer, we’re to not only be pure, but we’re also to be prayerful. We’re to seek Christ’s will, intercede for others, and listen and obey God’s voice, as Jesus did when He tabernacled among men. 

Lord Jesus, thank You for being the TEMPLE of God, of glory, and prayer who lived among men. Cleanse me of anything that hinders Your glory from shining in me and me being a place of prayer.

Debbie talked about Jesus driving out the money changers from the temple in her teaching on John 2. Listen to her teaching on the subject HERE.

The truth. When listening to the news do you ever long for the truth? When questioning a child, have you ever doubted their words and said, “Tell me the truth.” If a person has lied to you once, do you wonder when they tell you something if it’s the truth? 

How refreshing that in John 16:13 Jesus tells us we can trust God’s Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Truth. There’s not a lie in God’s holy body, Word, or Spirit.

“But when He, the Spirit of Truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come” (John 16:13).

Since the Bible is the inspired Word of God (2 Timothy 3:16), we can trust it is the truth—the eternal truth that does not change. 

When we wonder if we should do things our way, the world’s way, or God’s way, we have the answer. Believe God, the Spirit of Truth. Follow the Spirit of Truth. Obey the Spirit of Truth.

Lord God, how refreshing that I can wholeheartedly trust You, the SPIRIT OF TRUTH! 

Our key verse today is John 16:13. Watch all of Debbie’s teaching on John 16 HERE or listen to it HERE. 

I’d love your thoughts on Paul’s words in 1 Timothy 6:13-16. He says, “I charge you in the presence of God, who gives life to all things, and of Christ Jesus, …that you keep the commandment without stain or reproach until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, which He will bring about at the proper time.”

What are your thoughts on his charge to Timothy? 

The reason I ask is that some people say Christians are free of the Law and commandments because we live in a period of grace. I agree we live by God’s grace, but what about the charge to “keep the commandment without stain or reproach”? Could it be that although we’re saved by grace, God expects us to act like His children?

Paul’s next words reflect his amazement, honor, and worship of the resurrected Jesus Christ.

“He who is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone possesses immortality and dwells in unapproachable light, whom no man has seen or can see. To Him be honor and eternal dominion!”

Paul’s words and life bring praise to Jesus. Should not our lives and words also bring praise and glory to Jesus? In what way does your life bring praise and glory to Jesus? 

Lord Jesus Christ, the blessed and only SOVEREIGN, I believe in You. Increase my praise and worship of You. Prompt in me ways that my life and words can bring You praise.  

Do you want to learn more about living by God’s divine nature? Grab a copy of Living by the Divine Nature Instead of Our Fallen Nature – 2 Peter Bible Study. It’s a 4-week, verse-by-verse study of 2 Peter that is sure to bless and encourage you as well as help strengthen your walk with the Lord. The study includes videos and podcasts, which can be accessed under “Bible Studies” on the homepage.

In the last several years, there has been an increase in the number of people wanting to know about their ancestors. However, genealogy has always been important in the Bible. 

For instance, consider the first verse of the first chapter of the first book of the New Testament, Matthew 1:1. “The record of the genealogy of Jesus the Messiah, the son of David, the son of Abraham.”

What is important about the genealogy of Jesus? 

Just in case someone might doubt Jesus’ rightful place as heir to King David’s throne, His lineage is recorded for the next twenty-five verses. 

Yes, Jesus is the Son of God, but He is also the Son of David. 

Among the many important implications, it is important to recognize that Jesus knows what it is to live in human skin—to need a nap, to feel tears roll down His cheek, and to thirst as He hung on the cross. 

Jesus’ genealogy is well proved. He is the prophesied Messiah, Son of God, who came through the lineage of King David.  We will one day see Him sitting on His eternal heavenly throne. What a glorious day. 

SON OF DAVID, I praise You for willingly leaving Your heavenly home to put on flesh and live among us. I love and adore You.

Are you looking for some more encouragement and Biblical teachings? Listen to Debbie’s podcasts on Podbean, Apple Podcasts, or Spotify!

What are you facing today? Are the storms of life relentlessly beating against your soul leaving you feeling unsettled, discouraged, or perhaps overwhelmed? 

Is someone “attacking” you, finding fault or accusing you wrongly? 

No doubt, there are times when we feel battered by our stormy circumstances. When that happens we can go to God, who Psalm 91:1 describes as a shelter. “He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.”

Yes, God is a shelter. The Hebrew word sēṯer means “hiding place.”  God is a hiding place for the believer.

What does that mean for us on a daily basis? 

It emphasizes how important it is for us to sit with God and to return to Him when difficult circumstances strike like lightning, when someone’s words pelt us or Satan sends tornadoes of temptation. 

When we dwell, sit, in the shelter (hiding place) of God, He covers us with His righteousness and peace. Go to Him. Sit with Him.

Lord, You are a SHELTER in the storms and temptations of life. I love and praise You!

Are you going through a trial? Being tested? Do you have relationship issues? A problem with your tongue? Do finances get you down or are you caught up in money? Do you have questions about how prayers get answered or why they don’t? The book of James speaks volumes into our lives and offers words of encouragement to hold on to and apply through life’s storms. Follow along in our James study by clicking HERE, or watch the teachings on YouTube by clicking HERE.