Daily Devotions

Can’t Get The Tune Out Of My Head

April 9, 2025

KEY FROM GOD’S WORD:

Deuteronomy 31:21
And it shall come to pass, when many evils and troubles are befallen them, that this song shall testify against them as a witness; for it shall not be forgotten out of the mouths of their seed: for I know their imagination which they go about, even now, before I have brought them into the land which I sware.

 

THOUGHTS ON GOD’S WORD:

   

    All too often, you will hear someone say, “It is only music” or “What harm might that do, it is just a song?” For some reason, people do not believe music makes a big impact on our lives or on what we think or do. Today we hear many “so-called” musicians who sing of killing, suicide, drugs, immoral relationships, and the list goes on and on. Do you think this will not affect the way we might think if this evil message in the song is played over and over again? Moreover, it is not just Rap, Rock, or Pop music. All forms of music have jumped on the sing about sin bandwagon. It is not just the latest and so-called greatest. It has been going on for a while. Still, people think, “Well what can this hurt, it is just a song, right?”

 

    Well, it does not matter what you or I think. What matters most is how God looks at the role of music in our lives. By looking at just one verse, we see God knew back in Moses’ time, (and I am sure before) music affects the thinking and memories of the Children of Israel. God did not ask Moses to write another book, paint a picture, or build a monument. A book might not be read, a picture can only be in one place, and a monument never leaves its location. However, a song, that people hear, remember, and take it with them in their hearts forever.

  

CARRYING THAT THOUGHT THROUGH THE DAY:

 

    Do you still think music never affects you? Then what do you think of when you read this? “JESUS LOVES ME THIS I KNOW…” Yes, we learned that favorite chorus as a child. Read it again, “JESUS LOVES ME THIS I KNOW…” Now, that will be stuck in your head for a while. You see, music and lyrics make a big difference in our lives. 

 

What are you going to feed your heart today?

 

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:  April 8, 2025

THROUGH THE BIBLE ACCELERATED READING
^{(O.T.-1,   N.T. & PS.-2,   Prov. – Monthly)}
Deuteronomy 31, 32 – Psalm 85
Proverbs 9 – Galatians 5, 6

 

THROUGH THE BIBLE OLD & NEW TESTAMENT DAILY
Joshua 18-20 – Luke 9:1-27

 

Is This An April Fool’s Joke?

April 1, 2025

KEY FROM GOD’S WORD:

Acts 11:26
And when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people. And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch.

THOUGHTS ON GOD’S WORD:

    Wait a minute. Is this an April Fool’s Joke? What I mean by that is this. Today’s verse must have been written backwards. Read it with me again. “And when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people. And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch.” Did you see it? It must be backwards. If not, then we must have it all backward.

    What do I mean? Look at the last line of the verse which says, “And the Disciples were called Christians first in Antioch.” They were disciples first and then called Christians. Today we want people to first become Christians and then become disciples. The danger is you then have people who think they are Christians yet have no earthly desire to be disciples. They do not want to learn about and fall in love with God and His Son Jesus Christ. All they really want is to be able to say a prayer that will keep them out of hell.

    In the Bible, they were disciples first. This means they had a desire to follow and be like Jesus. They not only wanted to know Him, but they wanted to be just like Him. Is this what you want? Is that what you had in mind? Are you a disciple of Christ? Are you trying to learn more about how you might be more like Him? If we are not a disciple, can we really call ourselves a biblical CHRISTIAN? 

  

CARRYING THAT THOUGHT THROUGH THE DAY:

    Giving our heart to Christ is the first step in walking the Christian life. There are many believers in this world, who believe in Jesus for Salvation. However, how many real disciples are there? People who desire to be more like Christ. My prayer today is, “Lord I want to be a genuine Christian.” AMEN.

What is your desire for your walk with the Lord?

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:  April 1, 2025

THROUGH THE BIBLE ACCELERATED READING
^{(O.T.-1,   N.T. & PS.-2,   Prov. – Monthly)}
Deuteronomy 15, 16 – Psalm 78:34-55
Proverbs 1 – Acts 11, 12

THROUGH THE BIBLE OLD & NEW TESTAMENT DAILY
Deuteronomy 32–34 – Luke 5:27-39

Minding My Own Business

March 26, 2025

KEY FROM GOD’S WORD:

Proverbs 26:7
He that passeth by, and meddleth with strife belonging not to him, is like one that taketh a dog by the ears.

 

THOUGHTS ON GOD’S WORD:

   

    “Keep to yourself and mind your own business.” I can remember my dad telling me as a young boy these same words of wisdom many times. I guess he had to keep telling me this because I did not seem to listen well the first time. Most often, he would tell me this right after I had got myself into yet another situation in which I had no business being involved.

 

    Meddling in others’ affairs can often come back to bite you. It just seems all too often, when you try to help two people, before long they are both friends again, but they have turned on you! So why does this happen? It could be simply that they never asked for any help to begin with. It can come from meddling in affairs where our nose does not belong.

 

    I always wondered how my dad got to be so smart. Maybe he remembered this verse from Proverbs. Watch out where you stick your nose, you might get it bit off!  

  

CARRYING THAT THOUGHT THROUGH THE DAY:

 

    The Bible tells us as Christians to help one another and if possible, to keep a brother or sister from sin and falling. However, it also says to do so in truth and love. Before you get involved, be sure you get God involved. It just might be with a little patience and prayer God will handle the situation all on His own. If He really needs your help, He will most often let you know.

 

Can we get ahead of God in the affairs of others?

 

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:  March 26, 2025

THROUGH THE BIBLE ACCELERATED READING
^{(O.T.-1,   N.T. & PS.-2,   Prov. – Monthly)}
Deuteronomy 4 – Psalm 74:12-23
Proverbs 26 – Acts 5

 

THROUGH THE BIBLE OLD & NEW TESTAMENT DAILY
Deuteronomy 18-21 – Luke 2:25-52

 

HE SLAPPED GOD!

March 19, 2025

KEY FROM GOD’S WORD:

John 18:22
And when he had thus spoken, one of the officers which stood by struck Jesus with the palm of his hand, saying, Answerest thou the high priest so?

THOUGHTS ON GOD’S WORD:

   

    Can you even imagine a mortal man reaching out his hand and slapping the face of The Almighty God in the person of His Son Jesus Christ?

    First, there is the fact that God even allowed it to happen. The same God who parted the Red Sea for His children of Israel and then let the waters fall and destroy Pharaoh and his army which followed after them. This is the same powerful God who opened the earth and swallowed alive several of the children of Israel for disobedience in the desert. The same God who commands the winds, the waves, the sun, the stars, and controls all that is, allowed a simple man to slap His Son and in doing so slap the face of God.

    Then there are those who stood around. People who realized that Jesus was the Messiah. Those who openly had said they loved Him and would follow Him. Yet they allowed this man to strike the face of the one they said they loved. Would they have died if they had stepped forward? Possibly, but that is what they said they would do. Even die for Him.

    Then there is the Officer Himself. Who, after hearing that this was possibly the Son of God, the King of Kings, The Jewish Messiah, chose still to reach out his hand and strike our Lord in the face. It is hardly imaginable.

    But wait, look in the palm of that officer’s hand. What is written there? I can hardly believe my eyes. It is my name. It was I who caused this to happen. As this hand swipes across the face of my Lord, it bears in it the image of me and my sin. It was I who has beaten the precious body of my Lord. It is my fault.  

  

CARRYING THAT THOUGHT THROUGH THE DAY:

    In Isaiah 53:5 it says: “But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed” Oh Lord, forgive me for all I put you through. AMEN.

Can you imagine the love of God for you?

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:  March 19, 2025

THROUGH THE BIBLE ACCELERATED READING
^{(O.T.-1,   N.T. & PS.-2,   Prov. – Monthly)}
Numbers 27, 28 – Psalm 70
Proverbs 19 – John 18

THROUGH THE BIBLE OLD & NEW TESTAMENT DAILY
Deuteronomy 2-3 – Mark 15:24-47

Job Security

March 12, 2025

KEY FROM GOD’S WORD:

Numbers 14:11
And the LORD said unto Moses, How long will this people provoke me? and how long will it be ere they believe me, for all the signs which I have showed among them?

THOUGHTS ON GOD’S WORD:

    Can you imagine being the CEO in charge of a large group of people? When it came time for raises, you gave them all way more than they deserved. When it came to workload, you made sure it was divided more than evenly so no one had to pull too much of the weight. When it comes to company strength and being solid in your market, you have made sure there is no way that your company can be beaten and in doing so they can be sure their position with this company was secure. Then, after all that you have done to aid in their peace of mind and financial security, when it comes time for you to need them to pitch in a little and help with a project they say, “No way, what have you ever done for me?”

    If you can even imagine that for a moment, then can you also imagine God’s disgust with us at times? You see He has blessed us with all spiritual blessings. He has given us no more to do than we can handle and even said, “my yoke is easy,” to let us know that He was working alongside us. For security, there is no one more secure than God Himself, who is all-powerful. As believers, we are secure in our position with Him, as He has sealed us with His own Holy Spirit. However, when He tells us in His Word to go, to tell, to love, to help, and to exhort, we sort of look at Him and say, “Why should we do that?”

  

CARRYING THAT THOUGHT THROUGH THE DAY:

    Oh, it is so good to be living under the grace of God. However, should we take that grace for granted? I think Paul said it best in Romans 6:15 when he said, “What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid.” We should be obedient to all that God calls us to do. Look how much He has done for us.

There is a song that says, Count your many blessings.”
Have you taken time to stop and count some of yours?

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:  March 12, 2025

THROUGH THE BIBLE ACCELERATED READING
^{(O.T.-1,   N.T. & PS.-2,   Prov. – Monthly)}
Numbers 14 – Psalm 65
Proverbs 12 – John 9

THROUGH THE BIBLE OLD & NEW TESTAMENT DAILY
Numbers 26-27 – Mark 12:28-44