Marie’s daily verse: Psalm 145:14The Lord upholds all who fall and lifts up all who are bowed down.

DAILY DEVOTION, December 27, 2023

As he thinks within himself, so he is (Proverbs 23:7).  

Most of us have heard this verse. The context is interesting. The setting has to do with a miser offering bread to eat. He tells you to eat and drink, but his heart is not with you. He speaks words of invitation, but he is insincere. His words say one thing, but his heart says something else. We are not always what our words convey. What we think in our hearts defines who we are.

There is a children’s song most of us learned in Sunday School. “Be careful little eyes what you see . . . be careful little ears what you hear ….for the Father up above, He is looking down with love, so be careful little eyes what you see.” The adult version might add, “Be careful little mind what you think.”

Thoughts are like seeds; like seeds, thoughts produce after their kind. We understand this principle in nature.  We know that corn seeds produce corn, and tomato seeds produce tomatoes.  We also need to know that sinful thoughts create sinful behavior. Fearful thoughts produce a fearful person. Negative thoughts bring forth a negative person. People whose thoughts are predominately happy and full of faith tend to be happy. So be careful little mind what you think.

Father above, help me to keep my mind focused on You. Please help me to root out all thoughts that are fearful and negative. I pray that faith in Jesus will be uppermost in my mind. In His name, I pray, Amen.

Marie’s daily verse: 

For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost (Luke 19:10).

DAILY DEVOTION, December 26, 2023

Pride leads to destruction; a proud attitude brings ruin (Proverbs 16:18).

When Israel defeated the great walled city of Jericho, they realized that God had won the victory. Next, they went up against the little town of Ai. They assumed Ai would be a piece of cake. They quickly forgot that God was responsible for the victory at Jericho, and even little Ai could defeat them if they failed to depend on God. And that is what happened. Pride entered the picture. “How can little Ai defeat our superior army, they thought?” Israel suffered a humiliating defeat for one reason – – – pride.

We can handle many routine things in life; we begin to think we don’t need God’s help. As we make major life decisions without looking for God’s guidance, we are headed for a fall. As we face a new year, we need to resolve to depend more on God and less on ourselves. Pride will lead to only one inevitable outcome – – – ruin. We pray that 2024 will be a better year, and it will be for those who live by faith.

Father in heaven, help me to realize each day that I need Your guidance. I need thee every hour! Sometimes, I make decisions thinking I am adequate in myself. Help me to swallow my pride and to depend upon You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Marie’s daily verse:  Luke 2:8-11: And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.

DAILY DEVOTION, December 22, 2023Let it be to me according to your word (Luke 11:38).The words of Mary. She was told that she would birth the Messiah via a miracle. She was willing to surrender to the will of God even though she didn’t fully understand. Am I?
I have often spoken about the indwelling of Christ through the Holy Spirit. That is one of our fantastic Christmas gifts. The Holy Spirit dwells within us, but we must remember that He can be resisted. Do you know what has to happen for the Holy Spirit to grow in influence in your life? You must live in submission to the Lord. You must say with Mary, “Be it unto me according to your Word.” Can you pray this prayer? Lord, I want to be yours. I want to be available to you. I want to be helpful to you. I want to be the sort of person in whom the life of Christ is seen in increasing measure. I want to be the kind of person in whom the kingdom of Christ is seen to be established more obviously. Lord, I want to be the kind of person in whom the works of the flesh are becoming less and less evident while the fruit of the Spirit becomes ever more prominent in my daily life. In other words, I’d like to live Christmas 365 days a year.” For that, you don’t need the spirit of Christmas. You need the Spirit of Christ, and he is available.

Father, I want to say with Mary, “Let it be to me according to Your word.” In Jesus’ name, Amen,

Marie’s daily verse: Romans 8:28: And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

DAILY DEVOTION, December 21, 2023

 “Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,” which is translated, “God with us.” (Matthew 1:23).

There was a time when I scoffed at the virgin birth. I considered it to be a pious myth. It never really happened. Then a neighbor shared her faith with me, and I was drawn to faith in Jesus. When that happened, all my doubts about the biblical miracles vanished. Now I firmly believe that the virgin birth of Jesus is a historical fact. He received His humanity from Mary and His divinity through His miraculous conception by the Holy Spirit. The God who created the heavens and the earth by a word can certainly arrange for a virgin to conceive.

I love this name given to Him. Immanuel, God is with us.  Paul once declared, “If God is for us, who can be against us.” It is a blessing to reflect on this truth: God is for us. He is on our side.  He accomplished everything necessary to achieve our salvation. The heart of it all is Jesus, our Savior. He is the ultimate proof that God is for us. I am looking forward to celebrating Christmas once again.

Father, that You for telling us that You are on our side. Thank You for loving us and for forgiving all our sins through Your Son. Help me to focus on You and Your Son this Christmas season and always. In the blessed name of Jesus, I pray, Amen.

Therefore Jesus said again, “Very truly I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep. ⁸All who have come before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep have not listened to them. ⁹I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. They will come in and go out, and find pasture. ¹⁰The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full (John 10:7-10),

DAILY DEVOTION, December 19, 2024

Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” (Heb. 13:5, NIV).

We have to use money to function in society, but we are cautioned not to fall in love with money. Whether we are poor or wealthy, we are to be content with what we have. We don’t want to become so caught up in gaining more money that it becomes an obsession. Do you look at your current life status and say, “I am content?” Or do you think, “How can I get more?” Money makes a poor lover! Many who have money are always seeking more. They want to surpass the Joneses, who seem to have a bigger bank account.

The author explains why we should be content even if we have very little. God has promised to be with us always.  He will never forsake us, so if you have a relationship with God that will last forever, what does it matter if you are rich or poor? No matter how much money you accumulate in this life, the day will come when you will kiss it all goodbye. When that day comes, the only thing you need is God. Those who trust in Jesus have a relationship with God that will last forever. That is something money cannot buy.

Father, I thank You for the material blessings I enjoy. Please help me to be content with what I have. Thank You for Your promise to be with me always. That is enough for me. When discontent arises in my heart, and I begin to think I need more material things, draw me back to Jesus. In His name, I pray, Amen.