As the Day Begins “Am I only a God nearby,” declares the LORD, “and not a God far away? Who can hide in secret places so that I cannot see them?” declares the LORD. “Do not I fill heaven and earth?” — Jeremiah 23:23–24 There are mornings when God feels very near. Prayer seems easy,Continue reading “Closer Than the Air You Breathe”
Tag Archives: morning devotional
The Face of God Walking Among Us
As the Day Begins “No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, He hath declared Him.” — John 1:18 There is something wonderfully reassuring about John’s declaration: if we want to know what God is like, we need only look at Jesus. WatchContinue reading “The Face of God Walking Among Us”
WHEN GOD AWAKENS THE HUNGER
As the Day Begins “Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.” —Matthew 5:6 There are mornings when we awaken hungry for breakfast, thirsty for coffee, or eager to begin something we have planned. Yet Jesus speaks of an appetite that reaches much deeper than the body. HeContinue reading “WHEN GOD AWAKENS THE HUNGER”
GOD IS FULLY GOD
As the Day Begins “I will mention the lovingkindnesses of the Lord, and the praises of the Lord, according to all that the Lord hath bestowed on us.” —Isaiah 63:7 Isaiah does not merely remember isolated blessings; he remembers the character of the One who gave them. The Hebrew word translated “lovingkindnesses” is ḥasadim, theContinue reading “GOD IS FULLY GOD”
WHEN THE OLD LIFE LOSES ITS GRIP
As the Day Begins “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” —2 Corinthians 5:17 Becoming a Christian does not merely add religion to the life we already have. Paul declares that the person who is “in Christ” has enteredContinue reading “WHEN THE OLD LIFE LOSES ITS GRIP”
When One Sinner Turns Toward Home
As the Day Begins “There is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repents.” Luke 15:10 Repentance is rare because the human heart usually prefers self-defense to surrender. We explain our conduct, minimize our failures, compare ourselves with others, and protect our respectable appearance. Yet Jesus teaches that heavenContinue reading “When One Sinner Turns Toward Home”
Morning Eyes for the Creator’s Glory
As the Day Begins The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork. Psalm 19:1 Psalm 19 opens the morning by reminding us that creation is not silent. The Hebrew verb often translated “declare” carries the sense of recounting, announcing, or making known. The sky does not preach with a humanContinue reading “Morning Eyes for the Creator’s Glory”
The Obedience That Leads Us Home
As the Day Begins “If ye will not obey…then shall the hand of the Lord be against you.” 1 Samuel 12:15 Obedience is not a popular word, but it is a necessary one. In 1 Samuel 12, Israel had asked for a king, and Samuel reminded them that no political structure, personal preference, or outwardContinue reading “The Obedience That Leads Us Home”
Aim Your Heart Where Christ Is
As the Day Begins Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. Colossians 3:2 Paul’s instruction in Colossians 3:2 is not a call to become emotionally detached from life on earth. It is a call to let Christ govern what captures the heart. The word translated “set your affection” carries theContinue reading “Aim Your Heart Where Christ Is”
Free Enough to Serve
As the Day Begins “Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.” Ephesians 5:17 Freedom is one of God’s great gifts, but Scripture teaches us that freedom without wisdom can become another kind of bondage. Paul writes to the church at Ephesus and tells them not to live “unwise,”Continue reading “Free Enough to Serve”