Daily Devotional

What Happened To The Popular Crowd?

September 30, 2025

KEY FROM GOD’S WORD:

Proverbs 31:30
Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be praised.

 

THOUGHTS ON GOD’S WORD:

 

     What has happened to all those popular kids from High School? You know, the ones everyone seemed to like. Admit it, somewhere deep inside, even if you liked them just a little too. I wonder what they are doing now. I do not see many of them on TV or read about them in the papers. All that popularity was good for a short time. However, what is it good for today? What about that knockout beautiful girl, or the drop-dead good-looking guy? Have you seen any of them lately?

 

     The fact is that popularity, or the favor of man, comes and goes. It seems to change from year to year. Beauty, physical outer beauty that is, also changes. This does not mean that people are no longer attractive, but it is a simple biological fact that our bodies change with time.

 

     However, the character of a person who they are is often remembered. A person who loves the Lord and has deep-rooted, Godly morals seems to have a special quality about them that others cannot imitate or explain. They are often referred to by phrases like “He is a good man,” “She is a godly woman,” or “There is something about them that is different.”

 

     The book of Proverbs ends with an admonition to let the inner beauty of God shine through our lives. Why, because that displays our character, and that goes on forever. People respect God-fearing people even if it appears that they do not. Let God shine through you.

 

 

CARRYING THAT THOUGHT THROUGH THE DAY:

 

    Today, people will form an opinion about you. You, and only you, can choose what that opinion may be. However, you do not have to develop your character alone. Ask God today to help you be all that you can be for Him. Then people will naturally see the best “YOU” ever because they will see “JESUS” in you.

 

What will people see in your today?

 

IF YOU ARE JOURNALING:

Ask yourself what MY THOUGHTS are concerning this Passage and today’s Devotion?

 

Do I find within this reading a CHALLENGE for my life?

 

What are one or two things I WILL DO today or this week to accept that CHALLENGE?

 

  

GOD TALKING TO ME:  September 30, 2025

THROUGH THE BIBLE ACCELERATED READING
^{(OT-1, NT & PS-2, Prov-Monthly)}
Jeremiah 28, 29 / Psalm 78:56-72
Proverbs 30, 31 / Acts 11

 

THROUGH THE BIBLE OLD & NEW TESTAMENT DAILY
Ecc. 11-12  /  Gal. 4

 

Living For Eternity

September 23, 2025

KEY FROM GOD’S WORD:

Proverbs 23:7
For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he: Eat and drink, saith he to thee; but his heart is not with thee.

 

THOUGHTS ON GOD’S WORD:

 

     Those of us who have had to diet to maintain our weight know too well the temptations of food. Yet our well-meaning friends, thinking that somehow, they are doing us a favor by giving us permission to eat, say things such as, “Go ahead and eat it, you deserve it,” or “Let’s worry about our diet tomorrow, today we will just eat.” Sometimes we are strong enough in the moment to say, “No.” Yet at other times, and probably way too often, we give in to our desires and eat just whatever is put before us. Knowing all the while in the back of our minds how hard it will be to make up for what we have just eaten, we do it anyway.

 

     Why do we do that? We do it because it is our nature to want to live for today and self-gratification. Not that we cannot ever have those days, we can. However, they should be prepared for, planned on, and then enjoyed with no remorse. It is those unexpected days that hurt us most.

 

     Have goodhearted friends thought of our total well-being when they say, “Go ahead?” Well, not really. We must remember that they are not intentionally trying to hurt us. The fact is that it is easier for them to think of seeing us happy now than to figure out what it will do to our health and self-esteem later. It all boils down to the fact that we are the only ones who can control our dietary habits and ourselves.

 

     Life as a believer is often the same. People in the world who do not know Christ as Saviour tell others, “Live for today, life is too short to be miserable.” However, living for today with no eternal plans will cause them to miss the greatest joy of all, eternal life with Christ. Jesus has a plan for today, which you can enjoy now, and if you will trust in Him, an eternal future that is even better. Which plan of life sounds best to you? In the end, you must choose.

 

CARRYING THAT THOUGHT THROUGH THE DAY:

 

     Life is too short not to enjoy it. However, living life without Christ is not joy. He said, “I came that you might have life more abundantly.” Christ brings real life, real joy, and a real plan for the future. Choose Christ.

 

How might you enjoy your REAL LIFE in Christ today?

 

IF YOU ARE JOURNALING:

Ask yourself what MY THOUGHTS are concerning this Passage and today’s Devotion?

 

Do I find within this reading a CHALLENGE for my life?

 

What are one or two things I WILL DO today or this week to accept that CHALLENGE?

 

  

GOD TALKING TO ME:  September 23, 2025

THROUGH THE BIBLE ACCELERATED READING
^{(OT-1, NT & PS-2, Prov-Monthly)}
Jeremiah 14, 15 / Psalm 74:12-23
Proverbs 23 / Acts 4

 

THROUGH THE BIBLE OLD & NEW TESTAMENT DAILY
Pro. 30-31  /  2 Co. 11

THEY WERE CAUGHT!

September 16, 2025

KEY FROM GOD’S WORD:

Jeremiah 2:26-27
As the thief is ashamed when he is found, so is the house of Israel ashamed; they, their kings, their princes, and their priests, and their prophets, Saying to a stock, Thou art my father; and to a stone, Thou hast brought me forth: for they have turned their back unto me, and not their face: but in the time of their trouble they will say, Arise, and save us.

 

THOUGHTS ON GOD’S WORD:

 

     Children are naughty by nature. I can prove it. You tell a child, “Do not get into the cookies.” A minute later, you turn around and the child is gone. Where are they? Probably in the cookie jar, enjoying what you told them not to. Then, when you walk up behind them and say, “What are you doing?” it simply scares the socks off them. Why? Not because they realized the cookie was bad for them at the time, but because it may spoil a nutritional meal they need! Not because they are sorry for what they have done and will probably never do it again. (Yeah, right!) Why are they upset? “THEY WERE CAUGHT!”

 

     Now, before you get too upset with the little one, think about this. When times are going well and everything is ok, do you spend as much time talking with God as you do when things are bad? If things are going well, we find many other things to do besides spending time praying. An occasional “thank God” seems sufficient. However, let things get bad, and we are on our knees crying out, “Oh God help us.” The worse things are, the more time we spend talking with Him. However, it is often not until WE WERE CAUGHT! Caught neglecting God. Caught making other things more important to us than God. Caught maybe falling in love with something else, and it becomes an idol that has taken the place of God. I wonder if sometimes God does not allow those trying times in our lives, just so we will stop and talk with Him a bit.

 

CARRYING THAT THOUGHT THROUGH THE DAY:

      Could it be our days would be better and less trying if we spent more of our good times with God and not just our sad times? I love to talk with happy people more than I do mad and sad people. I believe God might feel that way too!

 

What might you share with god today that would bring a smile to His face?

 

IF YOU ARE JOURNALING:

Ask yourself what MY THOUGHTS are concerning this Passage and today’s Devotion?

 

Do I find within this reading a CHALLENGE for my life?

 

What are one or two things I WILL DO today or this week to accept that CHALLENGE?

 

  

GOD TALKING TO ME:  September 16, 2025

THROUGH THE BIBLE ACCELERATED READING
^{(OT-1, NT & PS-2, Prov-Monthly)}
Jeremiah 1-2 / Psalm 70
Proverbs 16 / John 16-17

 

THROUGH THE BIBLE OLD & NEW TESTAMENT DAILY
Pro. 18-19  /  2 Co. 4

 

The Only Way To Look Is Up

September 9, 2025

KEY FROM GOD’S WORD:

Psalm 65:3
Iniquities prevail against me: as for our transgressions, thou shalt purge them away.

 

THOUGHTS ON GOD’S WORD:

     Have you ever heard the phrase “there is trouble on every side” or “trouble is everywhere?”  In today’s world, it seems to be so. We turn on the radio and hear someone using vulgar language. On TV, sinful lifestyles are not only portrayed but also applauded. In advertising today, sex is used to sell everything from shampoo to underwear. Wickedness seems to prevail on the street, in our workplace, in our towns, and even now in some churches, which have seemingly turned a blind eye to the truths that are written in scripture. Sadly, with sin so prevalent in today’s world, we find ourselves tempted and even falling into some of this worldly life from time to time. However, for the true Christian, this is quickly followed by a time of sorrow for our sin and shame in front of God and others

 

     The psalmist had the right feelings when he cried to the Lord, “iniquities prevail against me.” His sin became an overwhelming burden to carry. Nevertheless, the last part of the verse can make the first part null and void by the blood of Jesus Christ.

 

     There are not a lot of places we can look at any longer and not see sin, except up. Look up to Jesus. If you have trusted in Him as Lord and Saviour, the Bible says He is the Author and the Finisher of your faith. Ask Him for forgiveness, walk away from the sin in your life, and He shall truly “purge them away.” Jesus paid it all.

 

CARRYING THAT THOUGHT THROUGH THE DAY:

     James Nicholson penned the words in a song by the same name that fits so well here. “Whiter than snow, yes whiter than snow; now wash me and I shall be whiter than snow.”  Even so, Lord Jesus. Amen.

 

Have you ever felt overwhelmed by your sin?

 

IF YOU ARE JOURNALING:

Ask yourself what MY THOUGHTS are concerning this Passage and today’s Devotion?

 

Do I find within this reading a CHALLENGE for my life?

 

What are one or two things I WILL DO today or this week to accept that CHALLENGE?

 

  

GOD TALKING TO ME:  September 9, 2025

THROUGH THE BIBLE ACCELERATED READING
^{(OT-1, NT & PS-2, Prov-Monthly)}
Isaiah 62-64 / Psalm 65
Proverbs 9 / John 8

 

THROUGH THE BIBLE OLD & NEW TESTAMENT DAILY
Pro. 6-7  /  1 Co. 13

 

Read The Owner’s Manual

September 2, 2025

KEY FROM GOD’S WORD:

John 1:10
He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not.

 

THOUGHTS ON GOD’S WORD:

   

     At one point in my life, I bought a minivan and a 100,000-mile warranty. During the time I had the warranty, if anything went wrong with my minivan, I would take it to the manufacturer’s representative to have it repaired. Once the warranty was up (and as I am sure you are aware, more things began breaking after the 100,000 miles than before), I took it to another mechanic I knew. He referred continually to the manual for the minivan. When I brought it in and told him of a funny noise it was making, he got out a book and looked to see what parts were going to cost and what parts needed to be removed to replace that part. Why did he have those books? They were printed because the manufacturer of the minivan knew what mechanics would need to know to repair it.

 

     Today, our world is in a mess. People no longer count God as the one true God. Everyone thinks they have a better way of fixing things. This may sound new and unique to our time; however, it is not. Even when Jesus was living here on earth, people were rejecting him. They saw the miracles and still wondered if He was for real. We have the owner’s manual for life in the Word of Scripture. He tells us how to fix the situations of life. However, people do not want to look in the book. Through the church and the Holy Spirit, God is still in the world He made. He is still among the people whom He created. Yet they still are rejecting His advice. It is like tossing out the owner’s manual.

  

CARRYING THAT THOUGHT THROUGH THE DAY:

 

    Even God’s people seem to be too lazy to read the book for advice. They want to have the preacher or television tell them what God has said. You must be careful. There are still wolves in sheep’s clothing. If you do not know the Book, how will you know if they are right? READ THE OWNERS’ MANUAL! GOD’S WORD.

 

Have you checked Life’s Owner’s Manual recently?

 

IF YOU ARE JOURNALING:

Ask yourself what MY THOUGHTS are concerning this Passage and today’s Devotion?

 

Do I find within this reading a CHALLENGE for my life?

 

What are one or two things I WILL DO today or this week to accept that CHALLENGE?

 

  

GOD TALKING TO ME:  September 2, 2025

THROUGH THE BIBLE ACCELERATED READING
^{(OT-1, NT & PS-2, Prov-Monthly)}
Isaiah 47, 48 / Psalm 58
Proverbs 2 / John 1

 

THROUGH THE BIBLE OLD & NEW TESTAMENT DAILY
Psa. 120-129  /  1 Co. 7