Marie’s daily verse: Micah 7:8: 

Though I have fallen, I will rise. Though I sit in darkness the Lord will be my light.

DAILY DEVOTION, March 14, 2024

Oh, how great are God’s riches and wisdom and knowledge! How impossible it is for us to understand his decisions and his ways! For who can know the LORD’s thoughts? Who knows enough to give him advice? (Romans 11:33-34).

There are two sides to God from our human perspective. There are aspects of God that we know, and there are unknowable things about God.  God has revealed many truths about Himself in Scripture and the person of His Son, Jesus. Thankfully, we know God is love and that He has acted in Jesus to redeem us. We could compile a long list of truths we know about God from Scripture and Jesus.

In our verses, Paul focuses on the things about God that we will never know or understand. Many of the ways of God are hidden from us, and no amount of study will unlock the secret ways of God. This aspect of God may create frustrations for us. We often want an answer to our “why” questions, but those answers are hidden. There are things God does that are impossible for us to understand. Why cancer? Why this unexpected death? Why? Why? Why? We need to memorize Romans 11:33 and accept that many of His ways are beyond us. As vs. 33 says, “Who knows enough to give Him advice?” It’s a rhetorical question. No one can advise the almighty. If you ever plan to advise God, tape your mouth shut!

When faced with a challenging situation, focus on what you know about God. He loves you.  He is always working for your good. Heaven is the final home for those who trust and love Jesus.

Father God, forgive me when I question Your ways.  Who am I to question the Creator of the universe? Thank You for revealing Yourself to me and the world as a God of love and forgiveness. Help me be content with what I know and not fret about things I can never know. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Marie’s daily verse: Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see (Hebrews 11:1).

Oh give thanks unto the Lord for He is good (Psalm 107:1).

The Psalmist gives us a reason to give thanks to the Lord. Why? Because He is good. Do you believe God is good? Do you believe God loves you and desires that you be in heaven after you leave this life? There are many signs all around us that reveal the love of God. The most significant sign is Jesus. He shows us very clearly the goodness of God.

If you fear God, you will not want to thank Him. Once we understand that God loves us, thanksgiving flows from us like a mighty river. We comprehend the goodness of God. Once God’s goodness is lodged in our minds, thanksgiving arises spontaneously. He is so good that He sent Jesus to redeem us from our sins. It does not get any “gooder” than that! Keep reminding yourself of Psalm 107:1 – – – God is good, God is good, God is good.

Gracious Father, please help me understand Your goodness and live my life with that truth ever before me. I admit I do not feel worthy of Your goodness. Regardless of how I feel, You are good. You are forever good, and I thank You in the name of Jesus, Amen. 

Marie’s daily verse: Jesus looked at them and said, “With man it is impossible, but not with God. For all things are possible with God.” (Mark 10: 27).

DAILY DEVOTION, March 12, 2024

Those who are wise shall shine Like the brightness of the firmament, And those who turn many to righteousness Like the stars forever and ever. (Daniel 12:3).

From whence does wisdom come? Do we gain wisdom by attending college? The colleges I attended led me away from true wisdom.  I learned a worldview that excluded God or minimized Him. One of my philosophy professors at the University of Minnesota challenged the class to debate him on the existence of God. He claimed he would destroy all our arguments. No one (including me!) dared to stand up to this atheist Goliath.

True wisdom comes from God, and His revealed Word. Those who are truly wise adopt a biblical worldview. Wisdom is born when we begin to see the world the way God does. Daniel declares that the truly wise are like bright lights in the sky. And as we point others toward righteousness (namely, Jesus), we are like shining stars in the heavens. I suspect this verse inspired the song “ Will there be any Stars in my Crown?” When we point others to Jesus, our star shines brighter.

We spend so much time on things that have no eternal significance. We need to find room in our calendar to share Jesus with others. That is what wise people do.

Gracious God, creator of the heavens and the earth, I want to be a person of wisdom. Help me to see the folly of all worldly wisdom which excludes You from consideration. Help me to reach out to those who know you not and share Jesus with them. In His name, Amen.

Marie’s daily verse: But I will sing of your strength, in the morning I will sing of your love; for you are my fortress, my refuge in times of trouble

(Psalm 59:16).

DAILY DEVOTION, March 11, 2024

Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints.” (Psalm 116:15).

People face death in different ways. Faith meets death with confidence. The unbeliever faces death with fear. Here are a few examples. Voltaire was a caustic unbeliever who said: “I am abandoned by God and man! I shall go to hell!”

David Brainerd, a missionary, said: “I am going into eternity, and it is sweet to me to think of eternity.”

The Christian has faith in Jesus and embraces His many promises to grant eternal life. We have the assurance that we will be with Him forever in eternity.

Our verse tells us about how God views the death of His people. He looks upon the death of a Christian as “precious.” God knows that when we leave this life, all our pain and suffering are gone forever; He looks upon our death as a precious thing.

Trust in Jesus, and you will be unafraid when death strikes. The closer you are to Him, the greater your confidence in the face of death.

Father, I am grateful to learn that Jesus took my punishment on the cross. My sins are forgiven. I have nothing to fear when death comes. It is the doorway to eternal life. Thank You, Jesus. I will praise Your name forever. Amen,