Marie’s daily verse:  You will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand. PSALM 16:11

DAILY DEVOTION, January 2, 2023

He will give you another Helper . . . the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him (John 14:16-17).

When Jesus knew He was to ascend to the Father, His disciples were fearful of how they could survive without the presence of Jesus. In our text, Jesus made a wonderful promise. Yes, He was leaving them, but He was not abandoning them. He promised that they would receive the Holy Spirit, who would be their helper. He would guide them to know the truth.

Interestingly, Jesus calls the Spirit another Helper (Paraclete, Greek)).  The Holy Spirit is not “another” different type of Helper.  1^st John 2:1 makes clear that John views Jesus as a Paraclete. “But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate (Paraclete) with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.” Jesus is thus a Paraclete, who is now sending a second Paraclete. This means that the ongoing work of the Spirit will be a continuation of the work of Jesus.

The promise of the Spirit is also given to us (Acts 2:38). Apart from faith in Jesus, the Holy Spirit cannot be known or received. The unbelieving world lives in ignorance concerning the presence of the Holy Spirit. What a blessing it is to know that while Jesus is physically absent, He remains with us through the ministry of the Holy Spirit.

Father, I thank You for the gift of the Holy Spirit. May I always be alert to His leading in my life. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand. (PSALM 16:11).

Marie’s daily verse: 

2 Corinthians 5:17 ESV“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. . ”

DAILY DEVOTION, January 1, 2023

I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away.  (Revelation 21:1)

In 1950 I was 14 years old. For some reason, I wondered if I would be alive in the year 2000. I would be an old man, 64 years old! Well, I made it to the year 2000 and am still kicking in the year 2023. God is good.

John anticipates something better than a new year. He sees a new heaven and a new earth. He catches a glimpse of what God has planned for the future. This old world as we know it is marked for destruction. A new earth is coming. I guess that is what we call “heaven” Part of the newness will be in the fact that sin, evil, disease and death will be banished forever. It will be what Milton called “Paradise Restored” in his 1671 poem.

This present life is good, especially for those who trust in Jesus and know an even better day is coming. It will not be a new year but a new world. I can’t imagine the details of what this new world will be like, but I plan to find out. The admission price is simple. “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved” (Acts 16:31). But is it true? If you have a better plan, let me know!

Father, as we face a New Year, we also anticipate a new world. It will be infinitely superior to the world we live in now. This world is marred by sin. Thank you for the forgiveness we receive from Jesus. May we live each day to bring honor to His name, Amen.

Marie’s daily verse: 

Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.”          (Is. 43:18-19)

DAILY DEVOTION, December 31, 2022

“Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things” (Philippians 4:8).

On this last day of 2022 we are thankful that the worst of Covid is behind us.  As we prepare for a New Year, let’s think again about our thought life.  The good news is that most of us have control over our thoughts. We can recognize sinful thoughts and quickly reject them. We can make the effort to fill our minds with biblical truth so that our thinking reflects the mind of God. The Bible is the inspired and infallible word of God. In it we find God’s word that should control our thinking. God’s words are therapeutic, sensible, and priceless. Time devoted to storing up God’s word in your mind is time well spent.

Think true thoughts, noble thoughts, just thoughts, pure thoughts, lovely thoughts, positive thoughts, virtuous thoughts, praiseworthy thoughts. Let such thoughts fill your mind, and your words and behavior will follow suit. Good thoughts lead to good behavior. Bad thoughts . . . well, you get the idea.

Gracious Father, we pray that 2023 will be a better year than 2022. We know that whatever our circumstances, if we fill our minds with Your truth, it will be a good year. Thank You for bringing us safely through another year. May our thoughts, words, and deeds glorify Your name in the New Year. In Jesus name, Amen.

Marie’s daily verse: Ezekiel  34:11: 

For thus says the Lord God: Indeed I myself will search for My sheep and seek them out.

DAILY DEVOTION, December 30, 2022

Therefore, whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock (Matthew 7:24).

The New Year is almost upon us. We certainly hope that 2023 will be a good year. Jesus gives us two steps guaranteed to bring us a happy new year. First, we must listen to His words. His words touch various aspects of our lives. There are words that pertain to salvation, words that pertain to how we should live, etc. We need to fill our minds with divine truth.

Second, we are to do what Jesus says. Hearing His words does no good unless we practice them. We certainly want to hear His words concerning how it is we are saved. That comes by faith alone, trusting in Jesus as our Savior. He revealed that it all centers around the cross. He suffered the penalty we deserve and all who believe in Him will be saved. Then we hear His words about how we are to live. There is much material under this subject for us to absorb. The essence of the matter is that we are to live practicing love for God and for others. That means being people of faith who are good, kind, loving, generous and the like.

Those who hear and obey are likened to a man who builds his house on a solid foundation. It will endure no matter what life throws at us. Building your life around the teachings of Jesus will bring you a blessed new year. Guaranteed!

Father, we certainly do not know what lies ahead of us as a new year dawns. We do know that if our lives are built upon Jesus, it will be well with our souls. Keep us in true faith unto everlasting life, in the name of Jesus, Amen.

Marie’s daily verse: Psalm 121:5
The Lord is your keeper, the Lord is your shade at your right hand.

DAILY DEVOTION, December 29, 2022

Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring (Proverbs 27:1). Now listen, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.” ¹⁴ Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes (James 4:12-14).

Both the Old and New Testaments remind us of an important truth. While we certainly may plan for the future, we dare not boast about it. The reason is simple. We do not know what tomorrow will bring. Jesus once told a parable about a rich man who was ready to sit down and enjoy his riches. He did not realize that death would come to him the very next day. I have heard occasional stories about men who were planning to enjoy their retirement and on the very day of retirement, death came.

When I worked for the State of Illinois in the distant past my supervisor asked us to develop a five-year plan. He was not too happy with me when I told him my plan is to live one day at a time. Who knows what five years will bring?

It’s okay to plan for the future, but do so cautiously. Do not boast about what you are going to do tomorrow, or next week, or next year. Remember that each day you live may be your last. Be sure in your planning for the future you have done your spiritual planning. Live each day with faith in Jesus and tomorrow will be good.

Father, help me to realize how brief this earthly life is. James describes it as a mist which appears for a little while and is then gone. When I plan for the future, I want to plan for eternity. I thank You that through faith in Your Son, my future is secure. In His name, I pray, Amen.