Marie’s daily verse: You, Lord, reign forever; your throne endures from generation to generation (Lamentations 5:19).

DAILY DEVOTION, December 18, 2023

But now we are released from the law, having died to that which held us captive, so that we serve in the new way of the Spirit and not in the old way of the written code (Romans 7:6).

This is an interesting verse to think about. But what exactly does Paul mean? Can we throw away the Ten Commandments? He says we are released from the law. The law kept us captive because we don’t obey it to God’s satisfaction. The new way mentioned by Paul is to live by the Spirit. The point is not that the written law and the Holy Spirit conflict. We read that under the new covenant, the law is written on our hearts. “clearly you are an epistle of Christ, ministered by us, written not with ink but by the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of flesh, that is, of the heart” (2 Corinthians 3:3).

The law of God written in the Bible and the Spirit of God are in perfect harmony.  Paul tells us that we cannot please God if all we have are written laws. When we place our faith in Jesus, we receive the Gift of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit gives us the strength to obey God, albeit not perfectly in this life. But, as we trust the Holy Spirit to guide our steps, we find new strength to live as faithful disciples of Jesus. Paul tells us not to try to live the Christian life by following written laws alone but by trusting in the Holy Spirit.

Father, thank you so much for the Gift of the Holy Spirit. I confess that I have failed to keep Your commandments written with ink in the Bible. Please help me to rely on the Holy Spirit to give me the wisdom and strength to follow Jesus. Amen. 

Marie’s daily verse: During danger he will keep me safe in his shelter. He will hide me in his Holy Tent. Or he will keep me safe on a high mountain. – Psalm 27:5

A DAILY DEVOTION, December 9, 2023

 (NKJV)
“He will feed His flock like a shepherd; He will gather the lambs with His arm, And carry them in His bosom, And gently lead those who are with young.” Isaiah (40:11) See also Psalm 23.

Jesus described Himself as the Good Shepherd. Isaiah’s prophecy gives us insight into what Jesus will do for His people, as does Psalm 23. He leads us and feeds us like a shepherd. A shepherd must care for the sheep. He has to ensure they have enough food and are protected from wild animals. Jesus does that for us. As we trust Him, He leads us to the still waters and the green pastures. He protects us from our enemies. No enemy we ever face is more powerful than Jesus, our Protector. I love the following picture.

He will take up His lambs into His arms and carry them close to His heart. Try to create a mental picture of this verse. You are being carried in the arms of Jesus. He holds you tightly in His arms. You are like a little lamb to Him. He loves you, and He cares for you. Nothing can harm you when you are under His care. As we trust Him more, we experience this verse’s reality. The popular “Footprints” poem expresses this truth. Jesus carries His people in His arms through the dark valleys. And so we fear no evil. We are comforted by His rod and staff.  We are comforted knowing that He is with us always, and we will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

Father, I thank You for sending Jesus to us to be our Shepherd. I am so blessed when I close my eyes and see myself in the arms of Jesus. Lord Jesus, I thank You for being my Good Shepherd. I pray that my faith in You will grow ever stronger. May I never lose my deep appreciation for who You are and what You are doing for me. Amen.

Marie’s Daily Verse: Zechariah 3:17 NKJVThe Lord your God is in your midst, The Mighty One will save, He will rejoice over you with gladness, He will quiet you with His love. He will rejoice over you with singing.

DAILY DEVOTION, December 1, 2023

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead (1 Peter 1:2, NKJV).

Peter can hardly contain his joy as he reflects on what Jesus has done for him and us. He knows he is among the redeemed because of God’s abundant mercy.  God not only reached out to us with mercy but with abundant mercy. When Jesus went to the cross for us, He displayed God’s abundant mercy. When we trust in Jesus, we are begotten again (born again) to a living hope. Our hope is “living” because faith brings the Holy Spirit into our hearts. Among other things He does, He makes Jesus real to our innermost being. Our hope is alive within our souls.

It all came to fruition when Jesus rose from death. When Jesus rose from the grave, God was shouting to us. THIS IS MY BELOVED SON. TRUST IN HIM. God has acted with abundant mercy to redeem us. Our part is to believe what God has said concerning His Son. 

Holy Father, how can I thank You for Your abundant mercy? My words of thanks seem inadequate. You have done everything necessary to redeem me. All I need to do is believe in Your Son. I praise Your holy name. Amen

Marie’s daily verse: For from him and through him and for him are all things. To him be the glory forever! Amen. (Romans 11:36).

DAILY DEVOTION, November 22, 2023

That Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, ¹⁸ may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height— ¹⁹ to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God (Ephesians 3:17-19).

Wow, what a mouthful of truth is present in a few words. Faith in Jesus brings His living presence into our hearts. His presence is revealed as we become rooted and grounded in love. How big is the love of Christ? Paul says it passes knowledge. It is so vast that the human mind cannot comprehend it. We receive His love and practice His love, but it is so enormous that we cannot begin to understand it.  Just know this. You are loved by a love that is so ginormous (slang for really, really big) that when we try to put it into words, we stutter. We love our families, but the love Jesus has for us goes way beyond human love. Even if you cannot explain it, receive it by trusting in Jesus. As we grow in the grace and love of God, His love will flow out of us more and more. I can’t think of anything more wonderful than basking in Jesus’s love.

Prayer: Father God, how wonderful it is to know that you love us with an incomprehensible love. We see that love, especially when we contemplate Jesus suffering on the cross for us. We trust in Jesus with all our hearts and gladly share His love with others. In His name, we pray, Amen.

Marie’s daily verse: Psalm 68:19 NLT: Praise the Lord; Praise God our Savior! For each day He carries us in His arms.

DAILY DEVOTION, November 21, 2023

The grass withers, the flower fades, but the Word of our God stands forever (Isaiah 40:8).

We live in a world of change. Some changes are good, others not so good. Isaiah is thinking first of changes that are not so good.  Beautiful flowers fade away. Our bodies are like that. The years go by, and changes happen. Our vision fades, hearing weakens, bones ache – – – you get the idea. Before we give in to despair, we need to find something that does not change. We need something to hold onto in this world where nothing seems permanent. We have such an item. It is the Holy Bible, God’s Word. It contains all kinds of promises that never change. The big issue is the promise of everlasting life. John 3:16 will never change. God loves you. God gave His Son for you. Those who believe in Jesus will not perish but enter into everlasting life. There are many other unchanging promises to be found in the Bible. Read them, accept them, and they will change your life for the better. How long can we depend upon God’s Word? Forever.

Prayer: Thank you, Father, for giving Your Word to us. We desperately need something to hold onto in this world of change. Thank you, especially for the promises of everlasting life. Help us to receive everything in Your Word with faith. Help us to apply Your Word to our lives. Help us to hold onto Jesus with true faith. Thank You that Your Word will stand forever. We can depend upon it. In Jesus’ name, Amen.