By His Word “Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.” — Philippians 2:12 When a child receives a complicated gift, opening the package is only the beginning. The gift may belongContinue reading “The Gift We Learn to Live”
Author Archives: Intentional Faith
Today’s Spiritual Disciplines
Today’s Spiritual Discipline Theme: Receiving God’s grace and allowing it to shape obedient action. Welcome to a new day of spiritual disciplines, daily devotions, and Scripture reflections. Each reading will guide us from hearing God’s truth to trusting Christ, following His call, practicing mercy, responding faithfully, and resting beneath the Holy Spirit’s illumination. The GiftContinue reading “Today’s Spiritual Disciplines”
What We Allow Through the Door
As the Day Ends “The thoughts of the wicked are an abomination to the LORD: but the words of the pure are pleasant words.” —Proverbs 15:26 Words do not remain quietly on a page. They enter the imagination, influence our judgments, and sometimes provide language for desires that were previously unformed. Proverbs 15:26 contrasts corruptContinue reading “What We Allow Through the Door”
The Detail That Did Not Look Like Hope
DID YOU KNOW Life sometimes places us in the middle of a chapter where God’s purpose is difficult to see. Stephen is dead, Saul is persecuting Christians, believers are scattering, and the church appears to be losing ground. Yet Luke quietly shows us that God is still directing the story. What first appears to beContinue reading “The Detail That Did Not Look Like Hope”
When Mercy Outlives the Offense
On Second Thought “Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven.” —Luke 6:37 “There—that is the last time. No more chances.” Most of us have either spoken those words or silently rehearsed them. Perhaps someone apologized, promised to change, and thenContinue reading “When Mercy Outlives the Offense”
When God Makes the Ruins Bloom Again
The Bible in a Year “This land that was desolate is become like the garden of Eden; and the waste and desolate and ruined cities are become fenced and are inhabited.” —Ezekiel 36:35 Ezekiel spoke to people who knew what ruins looked like. Jerusalem had fallen, communities had been emptied, and the people of JudahContinue reading “When God Makes the Ruins Bloom Again”
When the Familiar Hides the Savior
In the Life of Christ “Today this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.” —Luke 4:21 I try to imagine the silence in the synagogue when Jesus finished reading from Isaiah, returned the scroll, and sat down. Every eye was fixed upon Him. Then He preached a sermon consisting of one astonishing sentence: “Today this ScriptureContinue reading “When the Familiar Hides the Savior”
We Become What We Behold
As the Day Begins “But we all, with unveiled face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.” —2 Corinthians 3:18 Paul reminds us that spiritual formation is taking place whether we notice it orContinue reading “We Become What We Behold”
Joy That Circumstances Cannot Steal
By His Word “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice.” —Philippians 4:4 Paul’s command may sound impossible when life becomes painful. How can we rejoice while grieving, worrying about someone we love, facing illness, or watching a cherished plan collapse? Paul was not asking Christians to pretend that sorrow does not hurt.Continue reading “Joy That Circumstances Cannot Steal”
A Day of Truth That Transforms
Today’s Spiritual Disciplines Welcome to a daily faith journey designed to carry us through Scripture, prayer, reflection, application, and evening rest. Each devotion invites us to receive God’s truth and allow it to shape one more area of our Christian walk. Today’s Spiritual Discipline Theme: Receiving God’s truth until it reshapes how we see, respond,Continue reading “A Day of Truth That Transforms”