Daily Devotional
A daily devotional to strengthen your relationship with God.
Today's Devotional
Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you
Our God is alive and wants to dwell in our hearts. But for Him to remain among us, it is important that we change our attitude. God cannot dwell in the heart of someone who delights in lies or lives in sin. Therefore, it is necessary for us to turn away from sinful practices and dedicate ourselves to faith. The “Kingdom of God is taken by effort,” and the first step is to cleanse our hearts.
The apostle James the Just shows us the importance of purifying our hearts in order to draw near to the Father. First, James tells sinners to cleanse their hands. This indicates that we need to review our actions. We must turn our hands toward practicing good works; our attitudes should match what we believe.
Another important point is the need to purify our hearts. To purify the heart is to have our faith in Jesus Christ firmly established. When we meditate on and listen to the Word of God, all the impurities of doubt disappear. As we strengthen our faith, our hearts become focused only on Christ, leaving no room for a divided mind.
This change of attitude proposed by the apostle brings a result: we draw near to God, and God draws near to us! He loves us and wants to be with us, but a change of attitude is necessary so that we may be filled with His power.
Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.
- James 4:8
God draws near to those who draw near to Him
- Examine yourself and analyze your testimony. Identify the areas where you can change your attitude.
- Seek the Lord in prayer. Ask God for forgiveness for attitudes that do not come from Him.
- Read the Bible. This is the best way to strengthen your faith and purify your heart.
Prayer
Lord, I want to draw closer to You! Shape my heart and remove the doubts from my mind. I want to walk in Your ways and be transformed; I surrender my heart to You. Fill me with Your power and favor. In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
Yesterday's Devotional
I had only heard about you
My ears had heard of you
but now my eyes have seen you.
Job 42:5
If it were today, Job's story would probably be reported in every newspaper, newscast and social network you know. "A man loses all 10 of his children, his property, his assets and falls ill all at once...". We really can't imagine the pain in that heart.
If we look at the whole book, we find a long dialog between Job and his friends and, at the end, between Job and God. Job's words don't always sound reassuring. Much more so after being accused (by his own friends) of having done wrong, to receive such a tragedy. Job didn't understand the reason for his pain. But God did not condemn his anger or his questions. Unlike us, God speaks and lets us speak...
He doesn't resent our words, but helps us to know him better. In this verse we see that Job was able to get to know God more intimately after what he had been through. God reminded him that his ways are not always understandable to men. He doesn't always give us a full explanation as to why bad things happen to good people. All you need to remember is that He is the all-powerful Creator, sustainer of everything and everyone. Trust in the Lord!
- Pray and ask the Lord for help so that you can get to know Him better through adversity.
- Allow God to speak to you through His Word - read more, study, reflect and practice!
- Want to trust God, even if you don't understand everything He does.
- Be honest with God, pray, cry out and deepen your relationship with Him.
Pray:
Lord God, I entrust all my pain and difficulties to you. May I not try to understand everything that happens to me, but may I quieten my heart and trust in you. I pray life's experiences, whether good or bad, all lead me closer to you. Help me to know you more, not just by hearing about you, but by walking with you. In Jesus' name, amen!
Day Before Yesterday's Devotional
Overcoming resentment and hurt
Resentment is a negative, almost hateful, reaction to deep disappointment or hurt. A resentful person allows a painful experience to influence every area of life, even affecting how they relate to others in the present. Resentment is always tied to something unresolved in the past.
Living with resentment is living weighed down, and God does not want you to live that way:
Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.
- Matthew 11:28–30
The Christian life is not sailing on a “bed of roses”; on the contrary, it is sailing on the open sea. The difference is that Christ is in our boat and that makes all the difference. We go through storms, tempestuous winds, great waves, disappointments… we go through them, but we overcome!
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.
- 1 Corinthians 13:4–5
Only the love of God enables us to overcome hurt, pushing us toward a future filled with hope. Through the love of Jesus, we can forgive and ask for forgiveness, we can overcome traumas and throw out all the unnecessary weight from our boat. Do not hold on to resentment.
Problems may arise, storms may come, but with Christ we will cross safely through every challenge in life.
Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.
- Philippians 3:13–14
Remove hurt and resentment from your boat!
• Do not feed resentment. It may seem obvious, but over time a small hurt becomes torment.
• Keeping the boat clean takes effort. Ask for forgiveness and forgive those who hurt you. This is the best way to stay light.
• Ask God to search your heart. Only He can heal deep wounds and restore a hurting heart.
Prayer:
Lord, remove hurt and resentment from me and relieve my soul. Cleanse my heart and mind through Your Spirit, filling me with Your peace. I want to move forward, leaving behind everything that immobilizes me. In Jesus’ name, amen!
Suggested reading: Prayers to Calm the Heart, For Peace and Tranquility
What is the Daily Devotional
The Daily Devotional is a special moment of your day that you dedicate to having a precious time of intimacy with God. It is very simple to establish an exciting routine of discovery and spiritual growth. You will achieve this by setting aside a moment each day to draw near to the Lord. During the Devotional, you will read a Bible verse with a meditation on the text. Then, you will meditate on the teachings and how to apply them in your life. In the end, you can pray.
How to do your Daily Devotional
Here are some tips for making the most of reading the Bible message during the Daily Devotional:
- Set aside a moment and choose a specific place: your devotional time will be more beneficial if you set aside the hustle and bustle and invest in a pleasant time alone with God.
- Read the verse or Bible passage attentively: develop a lifestyle committed to the Word of God every day and avoid distractions.
- Read the daily meditation: reflect and try to understand God's purpose for your life through the comments.
- Practical application: jot down your findings and don't forget to put into practice everything you have learned through the Bible.
- Share what you learned: try to share with people around what God has been teaching you in your moments of daily devotion as you go about your daily conversations and interactions.
Don't forget the importance of living a life fully committed to the Word of God!