Daily Devotional

Come As A Little Child

August 26, 2025

KEY FROM GOD’S WORD:

Luke 18:17
Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child shall in no wise enter therein.

 

THOUGHTS ON GOD’S WORD:

 

     Babies are so cute. One of the joys of Grandparenting is that you get to love on those grandchildren, spoil them rotten, and then send them home with their parents. Observed closely, you will see several common traits in small children. For example, if an adult shows a child some attention, they will come to them and be excited to be around them. They love to have your attention. They are also expecting you to be happy and playful. Babies want to be around joyful people.

 

   Little children are also coming to you, dependent on and desiring your care for them. Small children will do almost anything they are asked to do by someone bigger than they are. Adults tell them things like, “Jump off the counter, I will catch you!” What do they do? They jump! Why? Because they trust completely in your ability to catch them and believe you will. They are obedient without question.

 

     Children are also imitators. Have you ever seen someone trying to work on something with small children around? The next thing you know, the child is right there trying to do it too, asking that age-old question planted in the heart of every child. “WHY?” Why is this, and why is that? Why do they ask why so much? Because they have come to you expecting to learn and wanting your help.

 

     This is probably just scratching the surface of what Jesus meant when He said we, as adults, must come as little children.

 

CARRYING THAT THOUGHT THROUGH THE DAY:

 

   

We must come to the cross believing and trusting. We should run to Jesus excited, happy, and wanting to be in His presence. We must realize our dependence on Him and that He will take care of us. We should always be asking Him why, how, and what. Ever seeking the answers, He has written for us in His Word. We should want to be around Him and desire to help do what He is doing. Simply stated, we should come to Him as little children.

 

What does it mean to you to come to God as a little child 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: August 26, 2025

THROUGH THE BIBLE ACCELERATED READING
^{(OT-1, NT & PS-2, Prov-Monthly)}
Isaiah 31-33 / Psalm 51
Proverbs 26 / Luke 18

 

THROUGH THE BIBLE OLD & NEW TESTAMENT DAILY
Psa. 103-105  /  1 Co. 1

 

Live On Purpose

August 19, 2025

KEY FROM GOD’S WORD:

Isaiah 14:24
The LORD of hosts hath sworn, saying, Surely as I have thought, so shall it come to pass; and as I have purposed, so shall it stand:

 

THOUGHTS ON GOD’S WORD:

 

     “Oops, Oh Oh, WOW, did not mean for that to happen, whoops, Oh No not again!” What do all these statements have in common? First off, these are statements I am sure you have made from time to time. They are also comments you have heard others make on occasion.

 

     There is something else unique about these statements as well. They are all statements you will never hear God make. Why is it impossible for God to have ever uttered these words? It is because nothing ever catches Him off guard. He never makes a mistake. There is never a time when something does not turn out exactly as He knew it would.

 

     Our verse today says, as God has thought or purposed, it will be, exactly as He thought or purposed it to be. If you read a promise from God in the Bible, it is sure to happen just as He said. Why, because whatever He has purposed, will happen. God never does things by chance or accident. He does everything on PURPOSE.

 

CARRYING THAT THOUGHT THROUGH THE DAY:

 

     You were not created or born by accident. God has a purpose for you and your life. You are living on this day and at this time for a reason. Ask God today to show you His will for your life and strengthen you in your service to Him. You have a gift God intends to use to bring fulfillment to your life and ministry to His church. You are not an accident, so live on purpose. 

 

When thinking about the purpose God has for your life,
what will you do today to fulfill that purpose?

 

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: August 19, 2025

THROUGH THE BIBLE ACCELERATED READING
^{(OT-1, NT & PS-2, Prov-Monthly)}
Isaiah 13, 15 / Psalm 44:9-26
Proverbs 19 / Luke 11

 

THROUGH THE BIBLE OLD & NEW TESTAMENT DAILY
Psa. 73-77  /  Rom. 11

 

Making The Right Choice

August 12, 2025

KEY FROM GOD’S WORD:

Psalms 38:13-15
But I, as a deaf man, heard not; and I was as a dumb man that openeth not his mouth. Thus I was as a man that heareth not, and in whose mouth are no reproofs. For in thee, O LORD, do I hope: thou wilt hear, O Lord my God.

 

THOUGHTS ON GOD’S WORD:

 

     I am sure you have seen those three little monkeys sitting beside each other. One has his eyes covered with his hands, the next has his hands over his ears, and the last has covered his mouth with both hands. Under them is the caption “See No Evil, Hear No Evil, Speak No Evil.” However, there is a problem. The monkey, with his hands over his eyes, can still speak and hear evil. The one with his hands over his ears can see and speak evil. Finally, the one with his mouth covered sees and hears everything. Nevertheless, the idea is biblical.

 

     The author of today’s verse is saying I will act as a deaf and dumb man to the world’s temptations. What he is implying is that he wants to hear and speak only things that are glorifying to you, Lord. It seems almost impossible today to avoid all worldly influences. With so much being pumped our way with Television, Computers, Radios, DVDs, CD players, MP3s, and the list goes on. However, we do have a choice as to what we watch on TV. We can turn off the computer or delete bad materials. We can tune our radios to Christian Channels and purchase only God-honoring music for our CD players and MP3s. The idea is this: it is our choice what we look at and listen to for the majority of our lives. When you have a choice, what do you select? Choose to see no evil and hear no evil. If you avoid those two, speaking no evil seems to come almost naturally.

 

CARRYING THAT THOUGHT THROUGH THE DAY:

 

    Think carefully today about what you allow to influence you in the way of media and literature. Realize you are making the choice to look at, listen to, or read whatever it is that is influencing you. Then make the right choice.

 

What might help you make the right choices 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: August 12, 2025

THROUGH THE BIBLE ACCELERATED READING
^{(OT-1, NT & PS-2, Prov-Monthly)}
Hosea 8-10 / Psalm 38
Proverbs 12 / Luke 4

 

THROUGH THE BIBLE OLD & NEW TESTAMENT DAILY
Psa. 42-47  /  Rom. 5

 

He Is Staring At You

August 5, 2025

KEY FROM GOD’S WORD:

Proverbs 5:21
For the ways of man are before the eyes of the LORD, and he pondereth all his goings.

THOUGHTS ON GOD’S WORD:

 

     Do you ever get frustrated, irritated, or downright hate when people stare at you? You are walking down the street or driving along in your car, and you notice someone just staring. I am not even talking about that “glance and then turn” movement, to make you think they were not looking. I am talking about the person who just drills a hole right through you with a glare in their eyes. For whatever reason, it seems to drive us crazy. Then, almost hypnotically, they have us hooked. We cannot quit looking back at them, glancing, peeking, and looking to see if they are still looking. I wonder all along why they are staring. Is it something I am wearing? Did I forget to brush my hair today? Did someone put the “kick me” sign from school back on me again? Or could it possibly be that these people are just weird? Why are they looking at me? Are they a rapist or killer? Are they possibly an admirer? We begin to wonder what is going through their mind. It makes us want to run over and say, “What is your problem? Why are you looking at me?” You can’t get them off your mind, and cannot seem to stop looking back at them.

 

     The Bible says God is watching our every move. He is staring at us. He is never taking His eyes off us. Now that you know that God is staring, do you wonder or care what He is thinking? Do you realize He is watching? The Bible says He ponders all our goings. Another way of saying it is, He watches our every move. If a mortal person who has no control over you can make you look at them just by looking at you, could an almighty all all-loving God who created and controls the universe do the same thing?

 

CARRYING THAT THOUGHT THROUGH THE DAY:

 

    At least we know God is no rapist or murderer. He has no motive to do anything that is not in our best interest. He is an admirer. He is interested in how we may present ourselves, especially if we claim to be representing Him. However, He is more interested in our hearts toward Him. Will you even give Him a second look today? Will you look to Him at all? Whether you look or not, He is staring at you.

 

Does God watching you give you peace, or anxiety?

 

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: August 5, 2025

THROUGH THE BIBLE ACCELERATED READING
^{(OT-1, NT & PS-2, Prov-Monthly)}
2 Kings 24, 25 / Psalm 33
Proverbs 5 / Mark 13

 

THROUGH THE BIBLE OLD & NEW TESTAMENT DAILY
Psa. 11-17  /  Acts 28:1-16

 

Be Not Afraid!
July 29, 2025

KEY FROM GOD’S WORD:

Mark 6:50
For they all saw him, and were troubled. And immediately he talked with them, and saith unto them, Be of good cheer: it is I; be not afraid.

THOUGHTS ON GOD’S WORD:

     Troubles seem to come at terrible times. But then, when is a good time to have trouble? However, problems still always seem to take us by surprise. Sometimes, it starts small with a minor situation, and then the problem gets bigger and bigger. Or it may be that instead of that particular problem getting bigger, more and more problems accumulate on top of the one you already have. The pressure often feels too much to bear. We try, scheme, and work at fixing them, but many times the harder we try, the worse the situation becomes. Then old Satan causes us to start believing we must have done something terrible for all this to be happening to us. Why else would God allow all this to happen? In addition, we often become afraid to go to Jesus with our problems.

     Well, it is possible that there may be an area of your life that you may still need to yield to Him. However, it could also be that He wants you to learn to rely on Him more. It could be that you have not spoken with Him in a while, and He simply longs to hear your voice! Perhaps, He is trying to tell you something, but you have not opened the pages of your Bible in so long that you do not hear Him speak. He may want to deliver into your life the peace that only He can provide. In any case, the last three words of today’s verse ought to bring us comfort. Whatever the reason for our situation, God is still in control. He says to you, Christian, “Be not afraid!”

CARRYING THAT THOUGHT THROUGH THE DAY:

     To be afraid of Jesus makes no sense at all. He loves you more than you can ever know. He wants only what is best for you. To be so ashamed of what we may have done that we will not reach out to God is the Devil’s way of keeping you from real joy. Remember, all sin has been taken care of in His love for you on the cross. Confess it, and He will restore the fellowship you had before. What He wants most with you and what you should want with Him is an everyday, personal, one-on-one relationship. “Be Not Afraid.”

Have you ever felt afraid of God?

IF YOU ARE JOURNALING:

Ask yourself, what are MY THOUGHTS 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:  July 29, 2025

THROUGH THE BIBLE ACCELERATED READING
^{(OT-1, NT & PS-2, Prov-Monthly)}
2 Kings 11, 12 / Psalm 26
Proverbs 29 / Mark 6

THROUGH THE BIBLE OLD & NEW TESTAMENT DAILY
Job 30-31 / Acts 23