11 Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content: 12 I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. 13 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

Philippians 4:11–13 (NKJV)

Quote of the Day

“The secret is Christ in me, not me in a different set of circumstances.”

—Elisabeth Elliot, Keep a Quiet Heart

Reflection

There’s a danger we all face, deeply ingrained in the world around us, that deserves our attention. It appears whenever we defer our happiness, hope, joy, identity, or purpose to the future (Proverbs 13:12).

That postponement undermines the value of today and limits our ability to receive everything God desires to teach us in the present (Matthew 6:34). If we continually overlook what He is doing in our current season, why should we expect a different set of circumstances to produce lasting fulfillment?

Don’t fall victim to the mindset, “I’ll be happy when X occurs in my life.” Your life is happening right now—even as you read this devotional. The routine, day-to-day moments we tend to take for granted are not merely gaps between meaningful events. They are the pieces that come together to form a life well lived.

Don’t become trapped by reminiscing about the past or worrying about the future (Philippians 4:6). Receive the lessons the past has offered you. Remain present for today’s portion of the journey. Look toward the future with hope, but don’t load it with expectations God never gave you.

The future remains largely unrevealed to us. Nevertheless, it is fully known to God, who declares the end from the beginning and knows our days before one of them comes to be (Isaiah 46:10; Psalm 139:16).

Acknowledging God’s sovereignty while concentrating on present faithfulness allows us to remain hopeful without making the future our world (Ephesians 1:11; Colossians 3:1–2). We can trust that God remains at work when life takes an unexpected turn (Romans 8:28). At the same time, we exercise humility by refusing to presume upon a tomorrow we have not been promised (Proverbs 27:1; James 4:13–15).

Our contentment should not depend upon something that has yet to arrive. We exercise wisdom when we recognize and thank God for the blessings He has already placed before us.

Consider Paul’s example. His circumstances did not determine whether he possessed contentment. He learned to remain rooted in Christ during seasons of abundance and hardship alike. This was more than finding a silver lining; it was a settled confidence that his life belonged to Jesus Christ (Philippians 1:21).

Some of Paul’s most enduring work emerged from valleys rather than mountaintops. He continued pressing forward, not because his surroundings were favorable, but because Christ remained worthy and his calling remained meaningful (Philippians 3:12–14).

Paul didn’t treat life like a waiting room in which his purpose would begin once better circumstances appeared. He served God wherever he was—traveling, suffering, preaching, writing, imprisoned, or confined to a house (Luke 9:23; Acts 28:30–31). His circumstances changed, and the form of his ministry changed with them, but its central purpose remained the same.

He made more of Jesus Christ and less of himself everywhere he went (John 3:30). Paul’s testimony shares the same foundation as today’s quotation from Elisabeth Elliot: it was Christ in him—not Paul in a different set of circumstances—who supplied the strength he needed.

This is also the proper context for Philippians 4:13. Paul was not claiming that Christ would enable him to accomplish anything he could imagine. He was declaring that Christ would strengthen him to remain faithful through whatever condition God allowed him to face.

Application

What does this kind of contentment look like in practice?

It means discovering opportunities for purpose, relationships, growth, and service within the season we are presently living (Ecclesiastes 3:1). It means refusing to rush up the mountain so quickly that we overlook what God is developing along the path.

God is more than able to change our hearts, rearrange our circumstances, and provide good gifts in His perfect wisdom (James 1:17). His provision and love are worthy of our praise. But we must also remember that His love can be present in a “no” or “not yet” just as surely as it is present in a “yes.”

God’s gifts should never become the ultimate objects of our affection. No accomplishment, relationship, possession, platform, or opportunity can permanently carry the weight of our identity, fulfillment, and purpose. We were created in Christ for good works, but those works must never replace the One for whom we perform them (Ephesians 2:10).

Is it unwise to celebrate a milestone?

No. Milestones are meaningful parts of life, and many are gracious gifts from God. The danger arises when the milestone becomes our sole focus. If we overlook the development taking place throughout the process, we shortchange our ability to recognize what God is doing along the way.

Sometimes God may delay an opportunity because we need additional preparation. Other times, His reasons may remain hidden from us. And sometimes He calls us forward before we feel ready, equipping us as we obey. We should not presume that we understand every delay, but neither should we force open a door God has not opened (Hebrews 13:21).

Imagine a student who has understood only half of the material needed for the next level. A wise teacher would not advance that student merely to satisfy their desire for progress. Moving ahead prematurely could leave them struggling under demands they were not prepared to meet. It may be far better to strengthen the foundation first (Matthew 7:24–27).

As you wait for a new assignment, opportunity, or open door, continue receiving what the present season offers. Don’t rush a process that requires patience (James 5:7–8). Waiting does not have to become passivity. When you remain active for the Lord, it can become a training ground for deeper faithfulness.

When the milestone finally arrives, remember that it is not necessarily your final destination. The new season will bring blessings and challenges of its own. Throughout every transition, your identity in Christ and devotion to God must remain central (2 Corinthians 5:17).

Sometimes God may call us to make significant changes at these decision points (Luke 14:28–30). At other times, the landscape may appear nearly identical even though God has transformed us into people capable of facing conditions that once intimidated us.

If the new season feels overwhelming, take a brief look back at the faithfulness God has already demonstrated (Psalm 77:11–12). Don’t dwell in the past, ruminate upon it, or overstay your welcome there. Simply remember that the same loving Father who carried you through yesterday’s storm remains with you today.

Today is another opportunity to walk in the victory Jesus Christ has already secured (1 Corinthians 15:57). Arrival may mark a gracious pivot into a new season, but it is not permission to stop depending upon God. The surroundings may change dramatically—or barely at all—but there will still be another opportunity to trust, obey, grow, and serve.

Celebrate the arrival, but don’t ask the destination to provide more than it was designed to give. Seek alignment with God, depend upon Him to establish you in the new season, and allow Him to redirect your attention wherever He desires.

Like Paul, you can move forward with confidence—not because you know everything the future contains, but because Jesus Christ was with you, is with you, and remains unchanging (Hebrews 13:8).

There is no better place for us than abiding in Jesus Christ and bearing fruit for His glory (John 15:4–8).

Arrival is overrated when we expect the destination to provide what Christ desires us to possess throughout the journey.

Prayer

Dear God,

Thank You, Father, for Your faithful provision. Like Paul, I desire to find my deepest contentment, joy, and purpose in Jesus Christ, regardless of my circumstances.

Please prevent the weight of the past or anxiety about the future from taking hold of my life. Help me receive the lessons of yesterday without living there, remain present for what You have placed before me today, and trust You with everything tomorrow may contain.

Thank You for the many times You have repositioned me to serve You more faithfully. Thank You for taking me under Your wing and protecting me through tumultuous seasons. You have never abandoned me when I needed You most. I cannot imagine a greater purpose than knowing You and serving You with the life You have given me.

Please keep future possibilities from controlling my heart. My lifespan is already like a breath, and this world contains countless distractions competing for my attention. Teach me to redeem the time as I walk from one season into the next.

Without Your help, I know I might rush a process that requires patience or postpone an act of obedience for which You have already prepared me. Give me wisdom to recognize the difference. Help me remain faithful when I cannot make sense of my circumstances, and grant me inward peace when I find myself in the gauntlet of affliction.

Please help me learn through humility and teachability rather than defiance and painful consequences. Don’t allow me merely to think or pray about humility; help me demonstrate it through my actions. Like Paul—and above all, like Your Son, Jesus Christ—I desire to place Your will above my own.

Continue developing boldness, self-control, discipline, and wholehearted devotion within me. May all the glory for everything I accomplish return to You rather than feed my selfish desires. Thank You for forgiving my shortcomings, sustaining me in the mission You have entrusted to me, and leading me to repentance.

May contentment produce gratitude within me. Let that gratitude remind me of Your uncompromising faithfulness and the undeniable record of Your goodness throughout my life.

I pray in Jesus Christ’s precious, holy, and mighty name.

Amen.

We can become so focused on reaching the next destination that we overlook what God is doing along the way.

In Arrival Is Overrated, we consider how our constant desire to arrive can distract us from the work God is doing within us right now. The journey isn’t merely an obstacle standing between us and where we want to be. It may be the very place where God is shaping our faith, character, patience, and dependence on Him.

Don’t rush through the season you’re in. There is purpose here, too.

Watch the full teaching in the link above, or listen on Spotify. If this message encourages you, please share it with someone who may need the same reminder.

Prefer to listen? Listen on Spotify.

5 Likewise you younger people, submit yourselves to your elders. Yes, all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for

“God resists the proud,

But gives grace to the humble.”

6 Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, 7 casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.

1 Peter 5:5-7 (NKJV)

Quote of the Day

“Our time frames are not in touch with ultimate reality. Our perspective on timing compared with God’s is analogous to a two-year-old’s with an adult’s. God has good reasons for making us wait a long time to see some prayers answered.”

— Timothy Keller, Prayer: Experiencing Awe and Intimacy with God

Reflection

Scripture repeatedly connects humility with receiving God’s grace, while pride places us in opposition to Him. Pride also tempts us to take on responsibilities that were never ours to carry. Pride says, “You need to do something about X. You’re in the driver’s seat — it’s all on you.” Meanwhile, humility recognizes that God already holds the timeline and the plan. We are free to do our best and rest, knowing that His grace is sufficient and He will provide what we truly need (Philippians 4:19; 2 Corinthians 12:9).

The questions then become:

• Will you cast your cares upon the Lord and trust Him, or will you continue to worry about things beyond your control?
• Will you invest your time, money, energy, resources, and attention in faithfully addressing what is before you today, or exhaust yourself trying to micromanage future circumstances that may never come to pass?

Our quote today touches on one facet of our topic. God’s timing is unfathomably superior to ours. The Bible is clear that we should let tomorrow worry about itself because each day carries enough trouble of its own (Matthew 6:34). This begins to answer our first question in a healthy way. Trusting in the Lord and taking appropriate action are not mutually exclusive.

In other words, we don’t have to ignore one to welcome the other. The pivotal point is to ensure that those actions aren’t driven by worry. We should not allow worry to erode our trust in God. God is far too capable for us to doubt Him (Ephesians 3:20). His track record is perfect. I am certain that even when it appears as though all else has failed, He has an excellent reason for making us wait (Isaiah 30:18). He may allow things to transpire that we don’t fully understand. Still, it remains our responsibility to continue walking by faith in those moments.

We don’t have to look far to understand this phenomenon. Look at Jesus Christ’s sacrifice on the cross (Luke 23:44-46). What looked like the worst day on the surface was actually the means through which God accomplished our salvation and secured our eternal hope in Jesus Christ (Ephesians 2:8-9; Acts 4:12). Viewed solely through a human lens, the crucifixion would have looked like defeat. Only in hindsight do we see that God’s plan was far better than anything we could have imagined (Romans 10:9).

God the Father raised His Son three days later in victory over sin and death. That victory extends to all who belong to Him (1 Peter 1:3). Jesus Christ was the propitiation for our sins (1 John 2:2); He satisfied God’s righteous wrath against sin, something we could never accomplish for ourselves. Through faith in Christ, we are given eternal life—a life characterized by knowing the only true God and Jesus Christ whom He sent (John 17:3).

Application

Those of us who know Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior have all the more reason to humble ourselves. Whether God exalts us in this life or in the life to come, the timing and outcome belong to Him. We are called to cast our cares upon God and remain obedient to Him. The Word of God tells us, “Godliness with contentment is great gain” (1 Timothy 6:6-10). It also poses the question, “For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul?” (Mark 8:36). We have to ask ourselves:

• Are we genuinely fulfilled in Jesus Christ? Is He enough for us?
• Do we spend our time pursuing God’s calling for us or have we neglected our mission?
• Is the priority in our lives to accumulate material wealth and chase temporal, fleeting, and worldly avenues of satisfaction?
• Are we walking in the faith that we claim to believe?

If we don’t take inventory of these things, it’s easy to lose focus on what matters most. We need to remember that we are in the process of sanctification and honestly examine whether our lives increasingly reflect the Christ we profess to follow (2 Corinthians 13:5).

Although sanctification does not happen overnight, we should not expect to remain the same people we were before we were saved (Romans 6:10-11). We are ambassadors of Christ (2 Corinthians 5:20-21). If He has begun a good work in us, He will see it through to completion (Philippians 1:6). Our growth does not earn salvation, but a life being sanctified should increasingly bear evidence that God is at work within us.

Some prayer requests may not be granted because our motives are misplaced (James 4:3). At other times, God may delay an answer because He is preparing us—or because His purposes differ from ours. Even His refusal or delay can be a demonstration of His grace, mercy, and love.

If we want to redeem our time here on earth, we cannot allow the past to haunt us or the future to consume us with worry (Ephesians 5:15-16). We must make the best of each moment and press onward toward the goal God has set before us (Philippians 3:13-14). In due season we will reap if we don’t grow weary (Galatians 6:9).

Prayer

Dear God,

Thank You, Father, for Your grace. Please help me pursue a disposition of humility daily. Please help me not to think of myself more highly than I ought to and esteem others more highly than myself. Without Your supernatural support and provision, I don’t know what I would do. I don’t know how people attempt to navigate this world without Your presence in their lives.

Please help me remember that obedience is better than sacrifice. Teach me to offer You both, never using outward sacrifice as a substitute for obedience. Thank You for the grace, mercy, love, and forgiveness available when I fall short.

Please help me to cast my cares upon You, Father. Far too often I seek to resolve my issues before I consult You. Please help me to remember that prayer is transformative and powerful. I want to make sure to seek Your kingdom and righteousness first. It always helps me keep everything else in its proper place when I do.

Thank You for the prayers You have answered and for the requests You have chosen not to grant. I would much rather continue to pray and remember that Your ways are higher and Your timing is better than mine. Your presence in my life is unmistakable; thank You for showing me the value of humility, and please help me to walk in it. It’s not always easy for me, but I know with Your help I can do anything You desire of me.

I pray in Jesus Christ’s precious, holy, and mighty name.

Amen.

Go deeper with the companion teaching: In Due Time.

What does it mean to humble ourselves under the mighty hand of God and trust Him to exalt us in due time?

In Teaching #2, we explore biblical humility, the grace God gives to the humble, and what it means to surrender our position, timing, and desired outcome to Him. God’s exaltation is not a guarantee of earthly prominence, but He may lift, restore, or position us according to His purpose—and always in His time.

“Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time.”

— 1 Peter 5:6 (NKJV)

Watch or listen as we consider how to remain humble, faithful, and trusting while we wait upon God.

Read the companion devotional: In Due Time.

10 Be still, and know that I am God;

I will be exalted among the nations,

I will be exalted in the earth!

Psalm 46:10 (NKJV)

Quote of the Day

“God never hurries. There are no deadlines against which He must work. Only to know this is to quiet our spirits and relax our nerves.”

— A. W. Tozer, The Pursuit of God

Reflection

There’s peace in stillness with God. The words “be still” come from the Hebrew word raphah, meaning to let go, sink, relax, or cease striving. Do you trust God enough to let go in your life (Proverbs 3:5-6)? There are so many ways we may fail at this in today’s world. One of the most prominent problems comes when we try to micromanage so much that we fail to give God the reins (1 Peter 5:7). 

For example, when you face a significant obstacle, does prayer feel like a priority or a last resort (James 5:16)? I find it challenging at times to let go of my grip on what matters to me. I often think about how I can produce more effectively. I might ask myself how I can mobilize more output lanes, optimize my workflow to release more content, or push myself to do more (Matthew 11:30). 

Usually, my desire to prioritize performance has manifested itself in my education, work, hobbies, and many other areas. But I am thankful that I found an outlet that serves God and blesses me a great deal as well in my ministry, Savior and Lord. Often, however, I must remind myself that it cannot always produce or grow according to my expectations or timing (Luke 16:10).

The irony is that I place that pressure on myself because there’s no one pushing me to do it any other way. In fact, it’s often when these pressures aren’t present in my life that I feel most empowered to put forth significant effort without crippling myself with stress, burnout, or worse (Philippians 4:6-7). That’s where humility and recognition of my strengths, weaknesses, and limitations combine with wisdom to help me remember a core truth: 

God doesn’t need me to accomplish His will. Yet I am privileged because He wants me to partake in it.

Perhaps this reality isn’t intuitive. Many people enjoy feeling needed, especially in a culture that often measures our value by our output. Yet God doesn’t work that way. If I never wrote another devotional, filmed another podcast, shared another teaching, or taught another person about His Word, He would still love me just as He does now (Romans 5:8). 

Yet none of these actions comes from necessity (Philippians 4:19). They come from a place of genuine affection for God, an overflow of His love in me, and a desire to delight the Lord. There’s no shortage of fuel or reasons for me to continue to serve Him. I have tasted of His goodness, and experiencing the fruit of my labor of love has edified me in ways that no other earthly assignment could offer (Psalm 34:8).

So you may ask, “Where does this connect with stillness again, Victor?” It’s in recognizing that God has everything under control (Ephesians 1:11). When you can’t show up for Him as you planned, He still has it all figured out. When you fail to meet a goal or deadline at work, God is still with you. When you are trying to solve a critical problem, He isn’t surprised. He is available to you as your loving Father, inviting you into a loving relationship with Him through His Son, Jesus Christ (1 John 1:3; John 15:15).

The day we let go is the day we are finally still. Striving in our strength is bound to run out of willpower, motivation, and meaning before the mission is accomplished. In fact, unless our mission is God’s calling for us, we’ll never find long-term fulfillment in this world (Psalm 63:5; Psalm 16:11). If you haven’t found God yet, this is your reminder to seek Him while you still have time (Isaiah 55:6). 

If you have, congratulations; when you have Jesus Christ, you have everything (Colossians 1:16-17). Without His presence, we are nothing. No matter what we accomplish, it will produce only empty dividends and fleeting happiness compared with the Lord. Both fall short of God’s immeasurable gifts, beginning with the greatest gift of all: salvation through His Son, Jesus Christ. This salvation is freely given to all who believe in Him (John 3:16; John 6:44).

Application

What makes letting go much more manageable is when we also examine the next portion of the sentence:

“and know that I am God”

Knowing that God is sovereign (1 Chronicles 29:11–12), unchangeable (Malachi 3:6), all-powerful (Jeremiah 32:17), all-knowing (Psalm 139:1–6), and present everywhere (Psalm 139:7–11) gives us every reason to offer Him our full allegiance. Wisdom tells us that a God who loves us enough to send His Son, Jesus Christ, to die for us is worthy of nothing short of our complete dedication (Matthew 22:37). Why would we want to hold out? 

No accolade, reward, pleasure, or experience even begins to compare with God’s provision, providence, protection, and peace. He has seen fit to shower us with spiritual tools such as prayer (Philippians 4:6), His Word (John 1:1; 2 Timothy 3:16), the full armor of God (Ephesians 6:10-20), fellowship (1 John 1:7), and much more. God has also sent us the Helper, His Holy Spirit, to guide us into all truth (John 14:15–18; John 16:13). I can attest in my life that He has shown up for me time and time again despite my sins. 

In fact, I can let go (be still) because Jesus Christ didn’t come to condemn us (John 3:17). Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus (Romans 8:1). Through Him, I can confess those sins, turn from them, and receive forgiveness too. While I still stumble at times, and His grace covers those shortcomings, I don’t desire that grace become a license for a pattern of disobedience (Romans 6:1-4). However, I am absolutely grateful that God’s grace, forgiveness, mercy, and love are there when I do struggle.

Walking with God was the best decision I could have ever made. I have seen it time and time again that when my heart has manufactured an idol out of something, God helps me surrender it before it’s too late. As His children, God does not want us to remain in foolishness or idolatry (Leviticus 26:1).

God has helped me surrender things that, in certain seasons, I prioritized far too highly. For any of us, an idol might take the form of a material possession, a person, a career, a marriage, a hobby, an addiction, or anything else that draws our primary focus away from God.

Notice how many of these things can be blessings when kept in their proper place. That is what can make their transformation into idols so subtle; they may not raise any red flags at first. Over time, however, it becomes easier to recognize when we need to cease striving for these things and let go if that is what God wants us to do. Some become genuine blessings only within God’s will and timing (James 1:17). Meanwhile, anything inherently sinful is not worth pursuing at all.

Once we let go of those, we can properly recognize what the latter part emphasizes to us. God deserves our exaltation (Isaiah 25:1). He deserves our undivided attention and worship (Psalm 95:6; John 4:24). It’s simply not healthy for anything to take His place, nor should we allow it as believers (Jeremiah 29:13). John Calvin once wrote, “Man’s nature, so to speak, is a perpetual factory of idols” (Institutes of the Christian Religion, 1.11.8).

None of us is above the mistake of making something that should remain secondary to God more meaningful than it ought to be. Even King Solomon, whom God blessed with deep wisdom, was not immune to deception, distraction, or idolatry (1 Kings 4:29; 11:1-10). What makes us think that we’re any more capable? That’s why it’s so important for us to take inventory (2 Corinthians 13:5).

What is one thing taking far too much of your attention right now compared with the Lord? For some of us it could be something obvious, but for others it’s an area where we’ve surrendered too much territory over time. 

We cannot afford to allow these patterns to continue indefinitely (Romans 12:2). The consequences of sin are real, and it’s often uncomfortable to acknowledge that truth (Romans 6:23). It’s not often that we see a believer succumb to habitual sin from one day to the next. As Casting Crowns describes it, habitual sin is often more of a slow fade than a sudden collapse. That’s all the more reason to evaluate our lives in God’s presence and ask Him for wisdom to recognize these patterns and grace to repent (James 1:5–8).

Set aside ten quiet minutes with God today. Ask Him to reveal what you are gripping too tightly, then surrender it specifically in prayer. Be still—not because nothing matters, but because God remains sovereign over everything that does.

Prayer

Dear God,

Thank You, Father, for Your many gifts. Today I want to thank You more specifically for Your presence in my life. I am grateful that I can count on You to provide for me in ways I cannot provide for myself. Whether You bless me with the ability to help myself, or surround me with people that I can trust, I know that I can always depend on You.

Please help me pay that forward to others when those moments arise. Sometimes I follow the promptings I believe come from Your Holy Spirit, but other times I need to pay closer attention to notice them. In a world full of distractions, I often fail to spend enough quiet time with You in Your Word, and I do myself no favors.

Please help me correct that pattern and return to You consistently. It’s a treasure to explore Your Word, experience Your presence, and enjoy the peace of quality time with You. Instead, I often choose to cater to the whims of my fleshly desires. Please help me repent of those worldly patterns and remain steadfast with a transformed, renewed mind that desires You above all else.

Thank You for allowing so many of us to enjoy quiet time with You, dear Father. There’s really nothing better to do, yet I often don’t make it the priority it should be in my life. 

Often I pay too much attention to almost everything else, rather than to the things that would benefit me most. But just like anything, all of us should start small if we’re not ready for more. The same way I might start with a few push-ups and build up to many more on any given day, how much more should I put in my spiritual reps? 

I need You, I want You, and I love You. Please help me to show that to You. I want my thoughts, words, and actions to all align with Your will for me. Today and forevermore, I want to draw nearer to You. Please help me avoid the pitfalls that could entangle me and keep me from immersing myself in Your presence. The last thing I want is to find myself ensnared by sin. Please help me repent and avoid that at all costs, for I know in my heart that You have greater plans for me. The world’s offerings are so shallow and unfulfilling compared to the infinitely greater and unfathomable riches found in You.

I pray in Jesus Christ’s precious, holy, and mighty name.

Amen.

Go deeper with the companion teaching: Quiet With God.

In this first teaching, Quiet With God, we explore what it means to “be still” before the Lord—and how releasing our grip can make room for deeper trust, renewal, and rest in His presence.

Go deeper with the companion devotional: Quiet With God.

¹¹ Then I looked on all the works that my hands had done
And on the labor in which I had toiled;
And indeed all was vanity and grasping for the wind.
There was no profit under the sun.

Ecclesiastes 2:11 (NKJV)

Quote of the Day

“If I find in myself a desire which no experience in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that I was made for another world.” 

— C. S. Lewis, Mere Christianity

Reflection

Have you ever felt the desire to escape everyday life? Maybe you encountered a season of dissatisfaction, stress, or pain. Perhaps you’re not stressed or experiencing physical pain, but you’re going through an extended period of loneliness. I would venture to say that we’ve all encountered these sorts of feelings. In fact, some of you are likely tackling these kinds of feelings right now.

That’s when the temptation to find an escape hits. That moment where we’re triggered, battling heartbreak, or wrestling with these dispositions alone is the one that begins the pattern. I want to point out that the experience of these feelings doesn’t constitute sin. The danger comes when we allow them to govern us or submit to temptation in an attempt to numb the pain.

That decision may leave us feeling appeased for a short time, but overall, we all know in our hearts that we cannot satisfy ourselves outside of God.

Take a look at our quote of the day for a moment. The conclusion we ought to draw is not “Oh, I need to do something to help me escape the pain.” Many of us can assure you, based on personal experience, that it doesn’t work in the long term. You may feel a few moments of distraction, numbness, or fantasy that replace your focus. But by the time you’re finished with them, these avenues of escape are often pathways of disguised destruction.

King Solomon is the perfect case study for today’s devotional. Our verse today points out that no matter what he grasped for, including what he worked hard to accomplish, it came up empty for him. Solomon observed, “…indeed all was vanity and grasping after the wind.” He had the opportunity to examine many roads that led to the same dead end.

Solomon explored virtually every avenue of earthly satisfaction available to a king, but none of it gave him long-term satisfaction, joy, or fulfillment. He had wisdom, wealth, influence, and the opportunity to leverage them to appease all his desires.

His position, gifts, resources, and time opened up the opportunity to pursue pleasure, laughter, wine, grand projects, possessions, entertainment, and practically every measure of human accomplishment available in his era (Ecclesiastes 2:1-10). He opened the door to whatever his eyes desired, but time and time again King Solomon crashed into the same dead ends (Ecclesiastes 2:10). Today’s verse echoes the fruit of that experiment. As it states, “There was no profit under the sun.”

Our dead-end roads don’t all look the same as King Solomon’s. Our most prominent ones have overlap, but when we think about it, they aren’t so far off that the lessons don’t apply. We often find ourselves chasing relationships, money, careers, entertainment, social media, sex, status, and fame. Many of these are not intrinsically sinful. Some of these desires concern good things God may give according to His wisdom and timing; others become sinful according to how we pursue or use them. We may think we know what’s best for us, but He knows what we genuinely need, in an eternal context, for His glory and our good (Romans 8:28).

It’s when we abuse these potentially enjoyable gifts outside of God’s timing or pursue them excessively, prematurely, or in an idolatrous way that they pose a threat to us. We cannot allow these kinds of gifts to become our gods (Matthew 6:21).

Application

In Ecclesiastes 2:24-25, it reads, “24 Nothing is better for a man than that he should eat and drink, and that his soul should enjoy good in his labor. This also, I saw, was from the hand of God. 25 For who can eat, or who can have enjoyment, more than I?” Every good and perfect gift is from God (James 1:17).

But we must remember not only are they God’s gifts, but the ability to enjoy them is also a gift from God (Ecclesiastes 5:19). Notice that none of them are a guarantee. If they disproportionately divert our focus from God in a way that opens the door to idolatry, it’s pivotal that we change course immediately.

Another glance at today’s quote gives us a clear pathway to keep things in perspective. It’s through experience, learning from others’ mistakes, or most likely a combination of both, that we come to recognize how insatiable the appetites of the flesh can be (Galatians 5:16-17). That’s when we have room to take it a step further and realize C. S. Lewis is spot on. The world doesn’t satisfy anyone in the big picture. Some are unbelievers chasing their next escape in their relentless pursuit of happiness, whatever that may represent. Others are believers who know the truth, but succumb to similar patterns from time to time, forgetting that there is no greater satisfaction than Jesus Christ.

The reality is we weren’t meant to find fulfillment in the temporary, fleeting distractions this world offers (1 John 2:15-17). How can we expect to satisfy an eternal hunger with temporary things? In John 6:35 it reads, “35 And Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst.” Why do we look any further than our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, to supply us with everything we need?

Occupying the missing puzzle piece of our hearts with escapes that offer dead ends is a fool’s errand. The best we can do is take inventory today. What road have you traveled on lately? Is that road taking you closer to Jesus Christ and the eternal victory He has already won for you, or is it taking you closer to your next dead end?

I assure you, my friends, the only answer to complete joy, satisfaction, and fulfillment is found in Jesus Christ. Enjoy everything else with open hands, willing to sacrifice what is necessary for God’s glory and receive what He desires to give in His time (1 Timothy 6:17).

At the end of our lives, we won’t look back and regret all those times we pursued the will of God. We’ll look back and wonder why we didn’t do it with greater urgency, genuine purpose, and steadfast perseverance in every season (2 Corinthians 4:17-18). Thank God, if you’re reading this now, you have time to turn things around. Don’t chase those dead ends that have already burned you. 

Seek God, seek Jesus Christ, seek the Holy Spirit. Ask God to direct your steps so that you can avoid giving yourself over to the temptations and traps that seek to draw you away from Him (James 1:14-15). It’s infinitely better to embrace the loving call of our Lord instead; He is the only Way forward to eternal success (John 6:44; John 14:6).

Finally, don’t worry about timing. It’s a breath of fresh air when we await God’s timing. With eternity in mind, we know in our hearts that there’s more to life than our brief span here on earth (James 4:14). We can rest assured that while we cannot understand an infinite God with our finite minds, He is faithful to His promises. God doesn’t change His mind like we do (Numbers 23:19-20). Whatever doesn’t make sense now can still be entrusted to the God who sees the beginning from the end (Isaiah 46:9-10). Trust God. Trust His process. Trust His timing. Trust His Word.

“11 He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also He has put eternity in their hearts, except that no one can find out the work that God does from beginning to end.”

Ecclesiastes 3:11 (NKJV)

Prayer

Dear God,

Thank You, Father, for Your loving guidance. There are so many distractions in the world we live in. I have found myself succumbing to the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life in various seasons of my life. I know You’ve seen fit to give me multiple chances to confess my sins, ask for forgiveness, and walk the path of repentance as You cleanse me of all unrighteousness.

Thank You for filling me with Your Holy Spirit and blessing me with Your peace that transcends all understanding. Please help me to remember dead-end roads are unwise to begin, let alone continue. Please help me to identify them quickly and break free before a foothold or a stronghold takes root.

Please bless my brothers and sisters in Christ who take the time to read today’s devotional. I know that as I wrote it, and look back on what I believe You inspired me to share, I need to hear and apply it as much as anyone else. Thank You for the numerous gifts You’ve given me. Thank You for the time to share them and to spread Your Word in truth and love.

Thank You for calling me to the task of serving others and abiding in You so that I may produce good fruit in this ministry, my family, my church, and wherever You place me in life. I am far from perfect, and like Paul, I don’t consider myself having obtained anything close to completion. 

I am thankful that You saw it fit to use me despite my shortcomings, and I pray that shows others how You can use anyone You desire to serve You. In fact, when those of us who may seem less likely are utilized, it points back to how all the glory truly belongs to You.

Please help us all maintain an eternal mindset, thirst for righteousness, and a desire to remain steadfast in accomplishing Your will. Thank You for supplying all my needs and beyond as You see fit to accomplish Your will.

I pray in Jesus Christ’s precious, holy, and mighty name.

Amen.

– Victor Nunez

45 A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil. For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.

Luke 6:45 (NKJV)

Quote of the Day

“Surely what a man does when he is taken off his guard is the best evidence for what sort of man he is.”

— C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity

Reflection

We often discover what fills our hearts when life gives us a sudden jolt, and something spills out. A frustrating interruption. An unexpected insult. Someone cutting us off in traffic. A disagreement with someone we love. 

In moments like these, we don’t always have time to construct a response carefully. Our guard drops, and whatever has been simmering beneath the surface can suddenly spill out. Today’s verse provides critical context for understanding these moments.

We shouldn’t underestimate our words. A word fitly spoken can offer tremendous wisdom and value to those within earshot (Proverbs 25:11). Meanwhile, careless speech is capable of doing much more harm than we might expect. In Proverbs, we examine a clear picture of this:

“Death and life are in the power of the tongue, And those who love it will eat its fruit.” 

Proverbs 18:21 (NKJV)

These situations are best understood through the lens of long-term habits. Any of us can falter in an isolated moment, but perhaps the more practical measure of self-control revolves around our habits. What are we cultivating in our hearts? Are we quick to forgive? Are we quick to relinquish grudges, anger, resentment, and bitterness (Ephesians 4:31-32)? 

Our lives aren’t defined by one moment of weakness or poor judgment. They’re built by consistency over a long time horizon. There are some well-intentioned people, even believers, who have adopted the self-destructive habit of complaining and a lifestyle of ungratefulness. None of us is immune from having a moment characterized by these issues, but we’re remarkably better off when we practice gratitude, contentment, and joy in the Lord (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18).

Think about a difficult day when you persistently complained and overlooked God’s blessings in your life. The circumstances may genuinely have been difficult, but challenges don’t erase God’s faithfulness.

The difference isn’t always found in the circumstances themselves, but in what has been cultivated within the heart. When gratitude fills our hearts, thanksgiving is more likely to overflow from our mouths. When resentment is allowed to accumulate, complaining can become our default language.

If this hits close to home, I would encourage you to evaluate your present circumstances and acknowledge God’s provision for you. Don’t wait for the perfect day to come around before you thank God for where you are now. Don’t defer your joy, expecting that after a certain milestone you’ll finally experience fulfillment. The reality is that if you’re not satisfied in Jesus Christ, there’s nothing that will offer you the level of joy, satisfaction, and pleasure that God opens the door for us to find through Him today.

Application

The overflow of our hearts should refresh rather than poison those around us. We need our minds to be transformed through God’s Word. As we submit ourselves to God and allow His Word to renew our minds, we begin developing a healthier thought life (Romans 12:2). What we repeatedly dwell upon can eventually overflow from our hearts as words that either build up or tear down.

We must learn from the lessons of James and renew our perspective. A pattern of needless negativity, habitual complaining, or seemingly harmless dishonesty may appear insignificant, but compromises like these can become footholds the adversary uses in our lives. Just as a small fire can cause a wildfire if left untamed, so can the tongue destroy a massive amount of good (James 3:5-6).

Instead, we should guard our tongues and exercise self-control (James 3:2; Proverbs 21:23). The restraint may feel like an uphill battle at first, but as God continues to transform your mind, purify your heart, and reshape your thought life, that inward work will increasingly affect the words you speak.

The process may take significant time, but like most things worth doing, it requires sustained effort and practice. Jesus warns that we will give an account for every idle word we speak (Matthew 12:36). That should give us a healthy reverence for the weight of our speech. That’s not because we earn salvation through perfect words, but because our words matter to God and reveal something about what is taking place within us.

We may have stumbled many times, but God’s grace can transform even the most hardened heart. If God is convicting you today, I assure you, you won’t regret beginning to cultivate healthier, Christ-centered habits. As you examine your thoughts, focus on the right things. God desires for our minds to dwell on things that are true, noble, just, pure, lovely, of good report, virtuous, and praiseworthy (Philippians 4:8).

We cannot afford to let cynicism and persistent negativity establish a stronghold in our minds. Left unchecked, these patterns can open the door to compromise in thought, word, and eventually action.

Instead, imagine the positive overflow you can experience as you immerse yourself in God’s Word. The tongue that once put others down can increasingly become a tongue that deliberately builds people up (Ephesians 4:29). Imagine knowing that your words consistently leave people encouraged, strengthened, and pointed toward what is good. Your speech can become a source of grace to those who hear it.

None of us is perfect, but as we learn to wield our tongues with discipline, gracious speech can become a part of who we are. No longer do you feel as though you’re simply forcing compliance. Self-control may begin with restraining what desperately wants to come out, but spiritual maturity goes deeper. As God transforms the heart, our speech can increasingly become an authentic overflow rather than an exercise in restraint (Colossians 4:6).

Eventually, you become repulsed by the patterns that once characterized the old version of you and discover the incalculable value of walking as a new creation in all things (2 Corinthians 5:17). Now your thoughts, words, and actions increasingly align with the person God desires you to become.

Don’t hold a ledger against yourself based on the past. If this describes your struggle, consider this the moment where you found forgiveness in Jesus Christ and turned the page. Destroy the ledger of your past mistakes, and walk in the assurance of a fresh start today. If applicable, give yourself grace as you make deliberate changes, but continue surrendering yourself to God’s work. Through persistent obedience and dependence on the Holy Spirit, we can increasingly experience His transforming work in our hearts, minds, and speech.

Prayer

Dear God,

Thank You, Father, for Your Word. Thank You for the leading of Your Holy Spirit. If not for You, I wouldn’t find it possible to restrain my tongue. Please help me abide in Your Son, Jesus Christ, so that I may bear good fruit. Father, I need Your help to ensure my speech is seasoned with the same mercy, grace, love, and forgiveness You’ve shown me throughout my life.

Please continue to guide me in accordance with Your will. I am grateful that Your Word provides me with the blueprint necessary to experience transformation of my mind and heart. Please help me continually immerse myself in Your Word and, through the power of Your Spirit, increasingly align my thoughts, words, and actions with Your will.

Thank You for the access I have to Your Word. I know some of my brothers and sisters in Christ around the globe don’t have the same luxury. Please write Your Word on the tablets of their hearts and help them access it as Your provision abounds in their lives.

Please help me remember that my words and actions matter to You while simultaneously holding onto the assurance of Your grace. I know I am not defined by my past mistakes, and recognize that such grace isn’t designed for me to become numb to sin. 

Thank You for giving me a sensitivity of conscience and heart that desires to live a life of excellence in Your name. I know I have fallen short of that standard many times, but I am so thankful for Your help getting back on track when I have stumbled.

You’ve blessed me beyond measure, and I am thankful that You have also forgiven me for all my sins countless times. Please help me to confess my sins, accept Your forgiveness, and remember that You also cleanse me of all unrighteousness according to Your Word.

Without You, Your Son Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit, I would be doomed. Yet, with You, I pray You help me turn away from habitual sin and make the changes You lead me to make. I surrender to Your will and ask for Your guidance as to what it is I ought to do to tame my tongue one step at a time. All of us have room for improvement. Please meet us where we are and help us not to stay there.

I pray in Jesus Christ’s precious, holy, and mighty name.

Amen.

¹⁷ For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish. ¹⁸ But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.

Galatians 5:17-18 (NKJV)

Quote of the Day

“Be killing sin, or sin will be killing you.”
— John Owen, Of the Mortification of Sin

Reflection

Incremental changes are an underestimated force of change for better or worse. I have thought to myself how one thought, one conversation, one song, one movie, or one action may not mean much. But when I am honest with myself, they carry a collective force that can easily mislead me in a direction I didn’t intend to go.

It’s unrealistic to insulate ourselves from every worldly influence that we encounter, but it’s feasible to become more intentional about what or who we allow to enter our lives (John 17:16-18). Today’s passage addresses this issue through a biblical lens that we are wise to consider.

Are we increasing our proximity and obedience to the Holy Spirit in such a way that His guidance becomes the dominant influence in our lives? Alternatively, are we allowing the lusts of the flesh to captivate us in such a way that they are hindering our walk with God?

Since the Spirit and the flesh are contrary to one another, we must recognize that we don’t have the willpower, self-control, or discipline to obey God in our strength. In fact, it’s only by relying upon the Holy Spirit’s help that we develop the ability, desire, and strength to do what is right in God’s eyes. 

Every step we take is one step closer to God’s desire for us or one step closer to sinful compromises. Many activities are morally permissible and not inherently sinful (1 Corinthians 10:23-24). Yet even good things can crowd out what is spiritually best when they begin to dominate our time and attention, gradually steering us away from the path God desires us to walk.

The more we experience the leading of the Holy Spirit, the more we’ll understand why it’s a superior path to follow (John 14:25-27). When He provides us with His peace and we enjoy His presence as we walk in His ways, we realize that we aren’t entrapped by sin anymore (Romans 6:15-23). 

Jesus Christ’s sacrifice set us free from our iniquities. Through His death, burial, and resurrection, He conquered sin and death. God the Father vindicated His sacrifice by raising Him from the dead. Jesus Christ became the propitiation for our sins, accomplishing an atonement we could never achieve ourselves (1 John 2:2).

In other words, God’s wrath was placed on our sinless and perfect Savior, and it was satisfied and accepted by our Maker. Now you and I can enjoy eternal assurance of our salvation in Jesus Christ, and pursue the Holy Spirit with all our hearts, knowing that in God we find true joy, satisfaction, and peace (Romans 15:13).

Application

Every day we answer a question, whether we realize it or not: What are we feeding? Every choice either cultivates a greater appetite for the things of God or a greater tolerance for the desires of the flesh.

Today’s quote by John Owen makes the battleground a clear reality. The way we fight sin is not to sit in futility until our willpower breaks, and we cave in again. We need to pursue righteousness and rely on the tools God has given us to persevere (Romans 8:13). 

So when we are “killing sin,” what we are doing is worshipping, praying, putting on the full armor of God (Ephesians 6:10-20), spending time in fellowship, listening to worship music, studying the Word, and obeying God. If we practice things that are edifying to our walk in the Spirit, the fruit of the Spirit becomes a hallmark of obedience to God (Galatians 5:22-23).

Don’t underestimate obedience. It’s how we demonstrate to God in a concrete way that we love Him (John 14:15). The Bible also tells us that obedience is better than sacrifice (1 Samuel 15:22). Taken together, these two facts make it crystal clear how integral it is for us to avoid compromise and pursue the leading of the Holy Spirit in all we do.

The more we surrender to the Lord, the more we discover His ways are better than our own. On the flip side, the more we indulge the flesh and partake in the patterns of this world, the further away we navigate from God’s best for us and distance ourselves in our relationship with Him. Sin has consequences for every believer, even though those consequences do not nullify God’s grace.

Let’s not allow the devil a stronghold, or even a foothold, in our lives. Instead, we ought to kill that sin before it kills us. We cannot afford to become indifferent to our sins. It may start small and seemingly inconsequential, but in the eyes of a perfect God, even the smallest sin is worth confessing and repenting from. 

If God provides us the strength and tools to persevere, we should do our part to count the cost and proactively crucify our flesh daily (Luke 14:28-30; Luke 9:23). We all know in our hearts that God deserves nothing less, and it’s also in our best interest (Romans 8:28). 

Don’t hide from the win-win scenario God has provided. To live is Christ and to die is gain (Philippians 1:21). Die to your sins, surrender to God, and live in Christ without living in condemnation about the past (Romans 8:1). God already won the war through Jesus Christ on our behalf. Now we have to walk in victory from one battle to the next. The Holy Spirit accompanies us step by step, and we can rest assured that God will never abandon His children (Hebrews 13:5).

Prayer

Dear God,

Thank You, Father, for Your Holy Spirit. Thank You for His presence, guidance, and supernatural provision in my life. Please forgive me for the numerous times I have failed to obey His lead. I appreciate Your patience with me as I pursue a steadfast obedience to Your will.

I am thankful that it’s through reliance on You that I combat the allure of the flesh. The world offers the fool’s gold of fleeting desires, but You offer something eternally greater. You offer me Your presence, provision, and peace. Please help me to conquer the desires of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life daily.

Thank You for forgiving me of my sins when I have fallen short. Please help me not to live in condemnation for my past mistakes. Instead, help me to immerse myself in what I can do for You today. I want to maximize every moment of every day for Your glory. I need to abide in Your Son, Jesus Christ, so that I may kill sin.

Thank You for filling me with Your Holy Spirit. I am so thankful that my body is a temple of the Holy Spirit. I don’t know how I would even survive in this life without His help. Please help me not to get discouraged when I stumble and make a mistake, nor open the door to excuse sin by utilizing grace as permission to sin. 

Instead, help me to pursue You wholeheartedly and remember that Your grace, mercy, love, and forgiveness are there for me when I fall short of Your glory. 

Please help me to immerse myself in the Spirit and starve the flesh so that I may better serve You.

I pray in Jesus Christ’s precious, holy, and mighty name.

Amen.

Verse of the Day

⁸ This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.

Joshua 1:8 (NKJV)

Quote of the Day

“Visit many good books, but live in the Bible.” 

— Charles H. Spurgeon (commonly attributed)

Reflection

Many people travel thousands of miles to experience the beauty of South Florida. They come to see the Everglades, relax on our beaches, or drive through the Florida Keys. Yet for those of us who live here, it’s surprisingly easy to take those blessings for granted. We tell ourselves they’ll always be there, so we’ll go next weekend, next month, or next year. Before we know it, years have passed, and we’ve hardly taken advantage of what has been in our backyard all along.

Unfortunately, I think that’s how many of us approach God’s Word. How many of us have Bibles collecting dust on our nightstands, shelves, or offices? Are we consistent and determined to spend time with the Lord? I wish I could say this has never been a problem for me, but it has impacted me too. However, if we don’t take charge and grow in intentionality, we can easily put off this crucial discipline that is an essential part of our faith.

Today’s verse reminds us that the Bible is not just any book. It contains the truth the Lord desires to root deeply within us so that we may navigate the world according to His will. Joshua 1:8 paints the picture for us clearly: “but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do all that is written in it.”

God is not inviting us into a casual relationship with Him. He is inviting us into deeper intimacy through His Son, Jesus Christ (John 14:6; 1 Timothy 2:5-6), to the point that His truth remains at the forefront of our thoughts day and night. There are many things that we do in excess, and if we’re honest with ourselves, perhaps the majority don’t redeem the time as we know we should (Ephesians 5:16-18). 

But I would be hard-pressed to imagine someone who spent too much time reading the Word of God. Even the most experienced believers have seasons where they may not properly prioritize the spiritual discipline of immersing themselves in the Word (Colossians 3:16).

Application

Charles Spurgeon provides our quote of the day and pulls our core theme back into focus. Even in the context of reading, we may sometimes find it tempting to stray from the Bible (Matthew 13:22). While it is prudent to read widely, we need to remember that our home base should always come back to the Word of God (1 Corinthians 3:18-23). It offers us a lens by which we can process everything else in a way that only those of us who have experienced it can relate.

In Amos 8:11-12, it reads:

11 “Behold, the days are coming,” says the Lord God,
“That I will send a famine on the land,
Not a famine of bread,
Nor a thirst for water,
But of hearing the words of the Lord.
12 They shall wander from sea to sea,
And from north to east;
They shall run to and fro, seeking the word of the Lord,
But shall not find it.

The generation in reference here longed to hear God’s voice, but struggled to find it. Imagine our situation today in contrast with theirs. Our culture is so out of touch and enjoys so much abundance in so many areas that we fail to appreciate what we have unparalleled access to.

We know in our hearts, especially those of us who count ourselves children of God, we sometimes take for granted the treasure we have right in front of us. How many of us have experienced the joy of the Lord (Nehemiah 8:10), the refreshment of His presence (Acts 3:19-21), and the blessings of God’s incomprehensible peace (Philippians 4:7)? Yet somehow we allow our spiritual fuel tank to hit empty at times for no good reason.

None of us can afford to become too busy to spend quality time with God in His Word and in prayer (Acts 6:4). The Bible may be constantly available, but that doesn’t make it any less pivotal to our spiritual journey. If you can relate to this, like me, we must embrace our thirst for righteousness again. A thirst that only God can quench when we approach the Bible like a daily companion rather than an occasional manual to consult when we have a problem (Matthew 5:6).

I don’t know about you, but I feel compelled to live in the Bible more than ever. Netflix, YouTube, e-mails, social media, and everything else vying for our attention can wait. First, give the best of your time to the Lord (Colossians 3:23-24). None of those other things are inherently evil by default, but they must be the tools of a believer and not the objects of our affection. And we certainly cannot allow them to become the objects of our addiction (1 Corinthians 10:14).

May each of us come to realize that every moment we spend in the Word is not squandered. It’s one of the greatest eternal investments we can make and one of God’s means of sustaining our peace (Psalm 90:12). I hope we can all come to a place where we hold our Bibles with such high esteem that we don’t just read them like any other book. Next time you pick up the Word, think about how God is speaking to you as you finally refuel your spiritual fuel tank. We need to stop getting so dangerously close to empty before we do it (Jeremiah 31:25).

Prayer

Dear God,

Thank You, Father, for another day of life. Thank You for the gift of Your Word. Please help me to develop the discipline and faithfulness necessary to remain steadfast in my appreciation for Your Word. One of my desires is to show myself approved, and continue to operate in humility, acknowledging that I have a lot more to learn. 

Please help me never become complacent, but always remember that You have given me the privilege of having access to Your Word everywhere I go. 

Thank You for allowing me to access it in my home through one of several copies, or even on my smartphone when I am on the go. Please bless my brothers and sisters in Christ who took a few minutes out of their day to read today’s devotional. So many of us get trapped in life’s demands, and we don’t realize how little margin we’re operating on. It’s not until we find a few precious moments with You to rest in Your presence and find spiritual refreshment in Your Word that we realize the treasure we have sometimes neglected.

I acknowledge that I needed this warning as much, or more, than the majority of those reading this today. Please help me not to merely spend time in Your Word when I am preparing for a teaching, researching for a writing, or crafting a new podcast. Thank You for giving me the privilege of doing all of those things, but I also know I must make time to simplify my life and focus on Your Word without any other mission in mind.

May we all recognize the value of every minute we spend with You. Those of us who taste of Your goodness and the blessing of Your presence in our lives will undoubtedly discover the truth. That we will continue to pursue You in Your Word and through prayer, in such a way that we are driven to pursue You more every day.

Please help me not to submit this entry and forget about its relevance to me. Thank You for the opportunity to wake up to the reality that not a day is promised, and I desperately need to hear from You always.

I am eternally grateful to You for providing me with so much more than I deserve and extending Your grace upon me.

I pray in Jesus Christ’s precious, holy, and mighty name.

Amen.