Night Bible Verse of the Day
Night Prayer
But whoso hath this worldβs good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?
From: 1 John 3:17 (KJV)
Inspiration
The command to love our neighbor is tied closely to the command to love God. When we love our neighbor, we bear witness to the love of God that is within us, as we pour out the compassion that He so freely showers on us. Love is only genuine when it is shared, so God calls us to be sharers of His love by enabling us to meet the needs around us.
Prayer
Lord, You have given so freely of Yourself, and I am overwhelmed by the riches of Your love. Help me to dwell in that love with open eyes and open hands so that I might see where Your compassion is needed and share a measure of Your love. Please continue to fill me with Your love, so that I may always be prepared to share You with others. In Jesusβ name, amen.
Morning Bible Verse of the Day
February 25, 2025 Tuesday
Morning Prayer
For wisdom is a defence, and money is a defence: but the excellency of knowledge is, that wisdom giveth life to them that have it.
From: Ecclesiastes 7:12 (KJV)
Inspiration
Solomon was the wisest king who ever lived, and he wrote Ecclesiastes. He said that wisdom gives life to those who have it. Would you rather have money or wisdom? If you are in a bad situation, wisdom is what can save your life. If you want to gain wisdom, read Proverbs and ask God to give you wisdom.
Prayer
LORD, please make me wise. You give wisdom to those who ask for it. Help me to value wisdom much more than money. Please give wisdom to the leaders in my life, in my country, and in the world. Make our leaders wise and full of integrity. You are the wisest. In Jesusβ name. Amen.
Morning Devotional
February 25, 2025 Tuesday
Isaiah 6:5-8 (KJV)
Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts.
Then flew one of the seraphims unto me, having a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with the tongs from off the altar:
And he laid it upon my mouth, and said, Lo, this hath touched thy lips; and thine iniquity is taken away, and thy sin purged.
Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me.
Send Me
Frances Taylor
Is the feeling of unworthiness the reason you donβt think you can be a disciple? Isaiah didnβt think he was worthy to be a prophet. We are sometimes people of unclean lips and we certainly do live in the midst of people of unclean lips. What made the difference so that Isaiah responded to Godβs call? He confessed his sin and received forgiveness. The first step is always to recognize our fault and sins, the second is to take responsibility for them and then to accept Godβs forgiveness. They are all difficult, but the third is sometimes the hardest. Have you ever hurt someone, asked their forgiveness and then been forgiven but youβre still beating yourself up over it? It can be difficult to accept forgiveness because we still havenβt forgiven ourselves. Isaiah was open to receive Godβs forgiveness and so was able to accept his assignment to deliver Godβs message. Once we can accept the fact that God has chosen us in our unworthiness and has made us worthy though his forgiving love, we will be ready to say, yes, to whatever mission God has in store for us.
##Prayer
Compassionate Lord, I know I am not worthy to be your disciple, but through your forgiving love, you have chosen me for your purpose. Give me the courage to say, Lord, I am here, send me. Amen.
Night Bible Verse of the Day
February 25, 2025 Tuesday
Night Prayer
A little that a righteous man hath is better than the riches of many wicked.
From: Psalm 37:16 (KJV)
Inspiration
Whether we have much or we have little, it is the state of our hearts and not the balance of our bank accounts that is our true measure of value. Wealth can do much in this life, but it cannot help us in eternity. But the righteousness that comes from God is a lasting treasure that secures our future.
Prayer
Lord, help me to see past the wealth of this life, and protect me from any greed or envy that might enter my mind. Help me to be content with what I have, and to put my trust and hope in the immeasurable righteousness that You have given me, for it is a treasure that cannot be bought and sold. In Jesusβ name, amen.
Morning Bible Verse of the Day
February 26, 2025 Wednesday
Morning Prayer
Come, ye children, hearken unto me: I will teach you the fear of the LORD.
From: Psalm 34:11
Inspiration
Do you know the fear of the LORD? If you donβt, pray about it. Ask God to teach you the fear of the LORD. Perhaps read scripture to teach you about fearing the LORD: Matthew 10, Deuteronomy 10:12, Ecclesiastes 12:13, or Hebrews 10:26-31. There are many more parts in scripture that are about fearing God, but that is a good start. Now, if you do fear the LORD, you ought to teach children to also fear the LORD. Do not keep your knowledge to yourself. Build others up by teaching them the knowledge you have gained.
Prayer
Heavenly Father, I fear You. You are awesome and mighty. The world is in Your hands. You control the wind and the waves. You make the universe turn and the stars burn. Volcanoes erupt, hurricanes blow, and storms only happen with Your permission. The very breath in my lungs is in Your hands. You are holy and perfect, and I am not. I deserve Your judgment. I deserve hell and torture. Thank you for sending Jesus to cover me so that I can be in Your presence. Thank You for sending Jesus to bear the punishment of my sins. I do not deserve Your love, and yet You love me. I come to You in the name of Jesus, who makes it possible for me to come before You. Amen.
Morning Devotional
February 26, 2025 Wednesday
Mark 10:28-31 (KJV)
Then Peter began to say unto him, Lo, we have left all, and have followed thee.
And Jesus answered and said, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my sake, and the gospelβs,
But he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life.
But many that are first shall be last; and the last first.
Living for the Sake of the Gospel
Frances Taylor
Peter had good reason to question Jesus as he had just told them that it was harder for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven than for a camel to pass through the narrow gate. Many people believed that riches were how God showed favor to a person and that poverty showed his displeasure. There may even be some people today who think the same way. But Peter had forgotten about Job. After all, he had lost everything and his friends kept after him to blame God who had certainly been the cause of all his misfortune and he must have done something to displease God. Just as Job was rewarded, Jesus tells Peter that he, too, would be rewarded for his sacrifice. He could expect persecution, but he would have eternal life. We can also be persecuted for following Jesus.
There are people and practices that are not compatible with living for Christ and the Gospel. A woman I know lost her job because the people she worked for were dishonest with their customers and expected her to cover it up. When she refused, she was fired. Most of us will not have to choose to give up our livelihood for the sake of the Gospel, but perhaps we will have to give up people whose lives are incompatible with our beliefs and who lead us into sin. Living for the sake of the Gospel is not always easy, but life on earth is transitory, eternal life with Jesus is eternal. We need to choose.
Prayer
Loving God, you have promised us eternal life and the graces we need to deal with worldly temptations and persecution alike. Thank you for your grace and keep us on the path to new life. Amen.
Night Bible Verse of the Day
February 26, 2025 Wednesday
Night Prayer
(For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)
From: 2 Corinthians 10:4 (KJV)
Inspiration
Itβs easy to think of spiritual warfare in human terms, and see people that disagree with us as our enemies. But the real battle starts in our own hearts and minds, in the places where selfish ambition and earthly desires take hold. It is the power of Christ that tears down these strongholds within us, so that we may serve Him in the world.
Prayer
Lord, before I look to the battles going on in the world, I ask You to grant me victory over my own internal battles. Please reveal any thoughts and desires that are not of You, and tear them down by the truth of Your word. Empower me by Your Spirit to set my mind on heavenly things, and use me to share Your victory with others. In Jesusβ name, amen.
Morning Bible Verse of the Day
February 27, 2025 Thursday
Morning Prayer
We have sinned with our fathers, we have committed iniquity, we have done wickedly.
From: Psalm 106:6 (KJV)
Inspiration
We are sinful. Every human has sinned β except Jesus, of course. We have all sinned and fallen short. We have all done wicked. It is not how God created us to be, but we chose to rebel and when we did, we changed. Adam and Eve chose to ate the fruit. God created us to be able to choose, and we chose evil. Our nature changed to sin nature. It is not in us to be wholly good or uncorrupt. That is how we are now.
Prayer
Heavenly Father, I know I am sinful, evil, and wicked. I know Iβve done wrong to others, and I know I have sinned against You. I cannot choose to be good on my own. I cannot save myself from my sins. I am sorry. I repent of my wickedness. I come to You in the name of Jesus, who makes it so that I can come before You. Amen.
Morning Devotional
February 27, 2025 Thursday
Jonah 1:1-3 (KJV)
Now the word of the LORD came unto Jonah the son of Amittai, saying,
Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and cry against it; for their wickedness is come up before me.
But Jonah rose up to flee unto Tarshish from the presence of the LORD, and went down to Joppa; and he found a ship going to Tarshish: so he paid the fare thereof, and went down into it, to go with them unto Tarshish from the presence of the LORD.
Jonah and Me
Frances Taylor
We are all acquainted with the story of Jonah. He didnβt like the path the Lord planned for him, so he ran β sailed β in the opposite direction. We know the end of the story as well. Jonah finally did what the Lord wanted him to do. Jonah didnβt want the people of Nineveh to be saved from the Lordβs wrath, so he didnβt want to help save them. I have always loved the story of Jonah because it reminds me of myself and my often unwillingness to go where the Lord calls me to go. When I was in college I avoided all classes that would lead me to teach. My father finally convinced me that I needed to be practical if I wanted to get a job! Many years later, I recognized his wisdom and became what I had fought against β I taught! Life provided me with opportunities to bring the gospel to areas of the world I never thought I would see. In Tanzania, I had the opportunity to be a part of bringing Godβs love to Christian and Muslim alike. I am often in wonder of the graces God bestowed on me once I realized the plans he had for me and followed his call. God challenges each of us, just as he challenged Jonah to go in a direction not of our choosing. We can run in the opposite direction, but sooner or later, God points us in the right direction and our lives are better for it, and his mission for us, is accomplished.
##Prayer
O Lord, I know I can be stubborn just as Jonah was, but I truly desire to do your will. Help me to be more open to your plan for me. Amen.
Night Bible Verse of the Day
February 27, 2025 Thursday
Night Prayer
And when thy days be fulfilled, and thou shalt sleep with thy fathers, I will set up thy seed after thee, which shall proceed out of thy bowels, and I will establish his kingdom.
From: 2 Samuel 7:12 (KJV)
Inspiration
David lived a victorious life for God, but he still wanted to achieve more. So God assured him that the good work He began with David would continue with his offspring. So too, is our work only set for a time, but God uses us within His larger kingdom plan to continue what has been started by others and to pass on our responsibilities to those who follow us.
Prayer
God, thank You for all that You have done and continue to do through me. It is a joy to be able to serve Your kingdom. As I reflect on my work, I thank You for those who came before me, giving me a foundation to build on. Please grant me the grace to raise up others to continue in service to You beyond my years. In Jesusβ name, amen.
Morning Bible Verse of the Day
Morning Prayer
Rebuke not an elder, but intreat him as a father; and the younger men as brethren;
From: 1 Timothy 5:1 (KJV)
Inspiration
There are likely older believers in your life. Here, Paul tells Timothy not to rebuke his elders, but to come to them the way he would come to his father. Then, he tells Timothy to treat younger men as his brothers. Similarly, you can treat older believers in your life as you would a father or mother. Donβt be harsh with them, but come with respect and humility. With younger believers, treat them as you would a sibling. Do not taunt or be rude to them. Do not act as though you are better than them. Rather, treat them with respect that you would want to receive from those who are older than you.
Prayer
Heavenly Father, make me respectful and humble as I interact with those older and younger than me. If I see something in their life that needs correction, give me wisdom and humility to address it. Lead me by Your Holy Spirit, and do not let me do it on my own strength. Let me correct others because I love them and You, not for selfish gain. Thank You God that You correct me in love and not wrath. Let me correct and treat others how You treat me and how I would want to be treated. In Jesusβ name. Amen.
Morning Devotional
2 Timothy 2:8-13 (KJV)
Remember that Jesus Christ of the seed of David was raised from the dead according to my gospel:
Wherein I suffer trouble, as an evil doer, even unto bonds; but the word of God is not bound.
Therefore I endure all things for the electβs sakes, that they may also obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.
It is a faithful saying: For if we be dead with him, we shall also live with him:
If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us:
If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself.
Christ Is Always Faithful
Frances Taylor
Paul is writing to Timothy from prison, a βmalefactorβ in the eyes of Roman law. But Paul can still speak of the Lordβs faithfulness to him and encourages Timothy to remain faithful as well. He is also encouraging Timothy to prepare others to carry on the mission of spreading the Gospel. In speaking about the faithfulness of God, he also promises that even when we are not faithful, Christ Jesus will not abandon us. We have a couple of things to think about in this passage. The first is obvious: do we remain faithful in times of crisis or tragedy in our lives? Paul knew he would probably be killed for his work, and he was correct. Yet he did not abandon his faith, but rather, encouraged others to stay the course when things got bad. The second is directed at who will spread the good news once we are gone. Are we encouraging our youth to serve God as missionaries, ministers, deacons, teachers of the faith?
Thereβs a passage in Isaiah that talks about the joy that comes from hearing the good news, but this passage also poses the question of how can people hear if there is no one to tell them. Today, we are on the front line of bringing the message of salvation, we are also on the front line of making sure that the next generation will also share the joy of knowing the great gift of salvation won for us by Christ.
Prayer
Faithful God, be with me as I face the challenges of life. May I never deny you, or be faithless, but rather let all me be a witness to your abiding love and faithfulness. Amen.
Night Bible Verse of the Day
Night Prayer
For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;
From: 1 Timothy 2:5 (KJV)
Inspiration
God is infinite and omnipotent. So it is easy for us to think that He is unknowable, unreachable, and elusive. But in Jesus, the unknown is revealed. Through Jesus, the unreachable is in our grasp. We have no need to despair of knowing God, nor do we have any need to search out hidden wisdom or new philosophies. In Jesus, we have all we need to commune with the Father.
Prayer
Jesus, thank You for making a way for me to come into the Fatherβs presence. You have opened my heart to His love and my mind to His will. Please give me wisdom to not look elsewhere, because everything that I need is already right before me. Please grow me in my faith, that I may hold tight to You and know You better. In Jesusβ name, amen.
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Morning Bible Verse of the Day
Morning Prayer
Say not thou, What is the cause that the former days were better than these? for thou dost not enquire wisely concerning this.
From: Ecclesiastes 7:10 (KJV)
Inspiration
Ecclesiastes is wisdom literature. This bit of wisdom is rebuking the act of wondering why it was better before. The βback in the good ole daysβ mentality explaining why everything went wrong. Donβt focus on the past saying it was better. You are living in the present. Enjoy it, and if you donβt like what you see, seek to change things instead of complaining about it. Today is today, love God, obey Him, and love others.
Prayer
Heavenly Father, help me to live in today, not in the past. Keep me in the present, loving You and serving You today. You are the God of yesterday, today, and tomorrow. You do not call me to live for You in the past that I cannot change, but You do call me to live for You today. Help me change the things that are bad about today instead of complaining about it. In Jesusβ name. Amen.
Morning Devotional
1 Peter 4:1-2 (KJV)
Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin;
That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God.
Living According to the Will of God
Frances Taylor
I may have mentioned it before, and will probably do so again, but I donβt worry about the end of the World! Thereβs no promise that this will happen before my time on earth is up. So what does this passage say to me?
For me it means that I need to live each day doing the will of God as best I can because I donβt know when I will die. There was a famous Trappist monk, Thomas Merton, who wrote a prayer that I have always loved because it gives me hope. In it he writes that he tries to do Godβs will even though heβs not always sure what that is, but he believes, as I do, that the desire to do Godβs will pleases God. We canβt always be sure that weβre on the right path given the choices we must make each day, but we can ask Godβs guidance each day to help us not stray far from his plan.
We do get a hint of how to keep to Godβs will from this passage β donβt give in to sins of the flesh! Our society keeps telling us that if it feels good, we should do it! Then we are surprised at the increase in the presence of depression, feelings of guilt and a lack of self-respect. God made us, he knows what makes us happy, and following his commandments, trying to do his will, is the way to happiness in this world as well as in the next.
Prayer
Lord, show me the path you have chosen for me that I may do your will and be happy in this world and celebrate with you in the world to come. Amen.
Night Bible Verse of the Day
Night Prayer
And he spake a parable unto them, Can the blind lead the blind? shall they not both fall into the ditch?
From: Luke 6:39 (KJV)
Inspiration
We depend greatly on the people that we follow. We trust them to guide us safely and truthfully. When we follow the wrong leaders, we often donβt realize it until that damage is done. So let us seek out leaders and teachers who have shown their trustworthiness and their grounding in scripture. And let us pray for our leaders, so that their eyes may remain opened and focused.
Prayer
Father, thank You for the leaders that You have placed in my life. I ask that You guide them in Your truth and wisdom, so that they may faithfully lead me and others according to Your will. And give me wisdom to discern when my leaders are straying from Your path, so that I may not stumble behind them, but may instead find sure footing and clear direction by Your light. In Jesusβ name, amen.
Morning Bible Verse of the Day
Morning Prayer
He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful.
From: Matthew 13:22 (KJV)
Inspiration
Have you noticed that just hearing Godβs word is not enough? No matter how many sermons you listen to or how many times you read the Bible, if your heart is not tuned to the Word, it will not change you from the inside out. What sorts of things can be distractors from allowing Godβs word to be fruitful in our lives? Worries about the world, wealth, pride β just to name a few. When we focus on the worries of the world or grow materialistic, we will not grow in our relationship with God.
Prayer
Dear God, help me not to be like the man who heard your Word but became more concerned about the worries of the world and the pleasures of wealth that he became unfruitful. When I do sin by not placing my trust in you, forgive me and redirect me. Lord, I want to grow stronger in my relationship with you β not move further from your goodness. Help me to hear and to act according to your word, O Lord. May I produce good fruit because my heart desires you above all else. In Jesusβ name, amen.
Morning Devotional
Jude 1:20-21 (KJV)
But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost,
Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.
Persevere in Godβs Love
Frances Taylor
Yesterday, we thought about doing Godβs will. Today, we think about building up ourselves in faith. What are the ways that we can build ourselves up in? For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and that of the gospel will save it." Faith? I had to give some thought about how I try to do this.
The first thing that came to mind is prayer. My grandmother told me that God waited at the end of each day for me to talk to him and tell him about my day. This habit is one that has lasted for over 70 years. I didnβt even realize that this was prayer until when I was older! Such experience gives me time to reflect on my day, give thanks for the good things, thanks for getting me through the difficult ones and asking for help both for myself and my friends and family. I usually end with a formal prayer and then remember the other things and people I need to pray for. I find comfort and inspiration in my church community. After all, the word βchurchβ originally meant the gathering of the people, not a building.
Reflecting on Scripture brings me closer to the Father as well as to Jesus. How can we follow Jesus if we donβt know what he did and said? Studying the Bible with others gives me insights that I might never have seen. So, I guess that prayer, reflecting on Scripture, both alone and with others, and immersing myself in the Christian community are the ways that I try to build up myself in this holy faith with the guidance of the Holy Spirit. What are your ways?
Prayer
Loving God, you want us to get to know you. Send your Holy Spirit upon us to guide us to you. Amen.
Night Bible Verse of the Day
Night Prayer
Deliver me out of the mire, and let me not sink: let me be delivered from them that hate me, and out of the deep waters.
From: Psalm 69:14 (KJV)
Inspiration
When youβre stuck in the mud, getting unstuck is no simple task. Sometimes it takes great strength combined with delicate maneuvering to get free. And it is often impossible to get out of the mud without help from someone on solid ground. Thankfully, we serve a God who answers us with both strength and gentleness and gives us firm ground to stand on when He frees us from the messes of life.
Prayer
Lord, sometimes I feel stuck and helpless. Whether my sin leads me into muddy waters, or those who oppose me throw me in, I look to You for my rescue. Keep me from drowning in my circumstances, and reach out Your hand to return me to the safety and sure footing of Your solid rock. In Jesusβ name, amen.
Morning Bible Verse of the Day
Morning Prayer
But let all those that put their trust in thee rejoice: let them ever shout for joy, because thou defendest them: let them also that love thy name be joyful in thee.
From: Psalm 5:11 (KJV)
Inspiration
Who can we depend on for safety and protection? You may have some in your life who you trust, but we live in a fallen world. Even those we trust may let us down. But, those who place their trust in the Lord will always be protected. Those who do not place trust in themselves or in others, but instead trust God, will find refuge. Why? Because Godβs love is for eternity. No matter what you face here on earth, you can rest knowing you will spend eternity with your savior.
Prayer
Dear God, help me to place me trust in you alone. You alone are worthy. Help me not to become too self-dependent or self-righteous. Help me to avoid putting my trust in people who will hurt me. When I am tempted to rely less on your strength, remind me that you are my refuge and strength. Thank you, O Lord, for defending me and protecting me. You fill my heart with joy. May I continue to rejoice in all you have done and will do. In Jesusβ name, amen.
