Daily Devotional

A daily devotional to strengthen your relationship with God.

Today's Devotional

Living with power!

But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.

2 Corinthians 12:9

When we think of a life of power, we immediately imagine someone who is strong, unshakable, full of authority and abilities, right? Yes, that's usually what everyone thinks, but the reality isn't quite like that... Sometimes we only discover great strength when we are at our weakest... It's intriguing how God's logic seems to confuse our natural understanding of strength and power. But when we are weak, in our own strength, then we are strong, in God's strength.

In this verse we read the answer given by God to Paul, after he had prayed three times asking for great suffering to be taken away from him. God's grace is enough! And His power is perfected in us when we are weak. Paul's "thorn in the flesh" served to activate his total trust in God's strength. So too, when we are weakened by life's sufferings, we find the greatest power that comes from Jesus Christ. We can only live with real power when we rely on God's strength and not on ourselves...

Live empowered by God's grace

  • If you feel weak, debilitated, "broken" physically or emotionally, gather all your strength to believe in God with all your heart.
  • Pray and cry out to the Lord when you go through afflictions, He will give you grace and power to overcome!
  • The Holy Spirit gives you power to overcome sin and authority to testify about Christ (Acts 1:8).
  • Take advantage of your troubles to develop a deeper friendship with God.
  • Give thanks for God's grace and presence in your life. He makes you strong!

Pray:

Lord God, help me to live with power through the grace of Jesus Christ! I am small and weak, Father... Without you I can do nothing! Your grace alone is enough for me. You are good, you are the almighty God... Teach me to trust in you in the moments of greatest weakness and suffering that I face. I thank you for your presence, which renews me every day. Be with me, now and always, God! In the name of Jesus, I ask you, amen!

Yesterday's Devotional

Humility: an antidote to vanity

"Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves,"
Philippians 2:3

If there's one thing that can lead us away from God, it's vanity. Vanity - or egotism - is a dangerous trap set for us by Satan. If we allow vanity to grow in our lives, we will be in trouble. The devil fell from grace because of his ambition - he thought he was better than God and this led to his expulsion and condemnation. There is no way to be in God's presence if you are fed by selfishness and vanity. Identifying these feelings is very important so that vanity doesn't grow.

A life of vanity is not a life in which we can flourish. No one can bear to live with an arrogant person for long, so those who live an egotistic life - full of vanity - unfortunately tend to end up alone.

In this verse to the Philippians, Paul teaches us a principle that can help us fight vanity: considering others to be superior to ourselves. When we think we are "greater" than someone else, we deceive ourselves and at some point, we will fall into the trap of vanity. Being submissive to God, considering others greater than ourselves, literally brings us closer to the Lord and we become a channel of God to people.

A distinction should be made between ambition and vanity, although we need to keep our ambitions in check; Paul speaks of his ambition in Romans 15, saying "It has always been my ambition to preach the gospel where Christ was not known", his ambition is no vanity, it is invested in the kingdom. We too can show ambition, as long as it too is invested in heavenly goals, not our earthly desires.

Jesus is a great role model of humility and submission to God. Even though he was the Son of God - he was The Servant King - he came to serve and not to be served. Christ never humiliated anyone to be recognized. Everyone wanted to be by his side, and his presence drew crowds. Jesus still attracts crowds today of those who practice his teachings. Humility is the key to a broken heart and a life founded on God's love.

Feeding humility and not vanity:

  • Try to learn more about Jesus in his teachings. He is the greatest example of humility we can have.
  • When we are polite to people, we create a peaceful environment. Even when there is a conflict, a humble attitude eases tensions.
  • If you are the target of arrogance, avoid 'giving back in kind'; your good testimony can bring the person who treats you badly to repentance.
  • Before showing off your qualities, try to appreciate the qualities of others. Jesus always saw value in the lives of those whom people ignored.

Pray:

Lord Jesus, I am nothing in the presence of your power. I was saved by your grace and not by my own deeds. Help me to be a good servant. I want to learn more from You, my heart is open. In Jesus' name, amen.

Day Before Yesterday's Devotional

Trials bear good fruit

Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.
- James 1:2–3

Trials, when lived with the Lord, will bring blessings in due time. It may seem hard to believe that difficulties can produce something good in our lives. But the truth is that God uses even these difficult moments to bless us. We do not control our circumstances, but it is up to us to decide how we will face life’s difficulties,,with faith or with complaint?

Trials can produce the fruit of perseverance, resilience, and maturity if we understand that the Lord is above all things. God is shaping our character, molding us into upright children, increasingly more like Jesus Christ. This should fill us with joy!

Take heart, even when you do not understand. The heavenly Father can use these adverse situations to help you grow, leading you to depend more on Him to overcome.

I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.
- John 16:33

Bear good fruit, even while going through trials!

  • Complaining, stressing out, or becoming discouraged will not improve a difficult situation.
  • Change your attitude! Pray, believe, praise, and rejoice in God.
  • Ask the Lord to teach you how to bear good fruit during life’s trials.
  • God is with you! He brings order to chaos and brings life to your desert.
  • Be courageous! Christ has already overcome the world, and through faith in Him, we also overcome.

Prayer:

Lord God, Almighty! Give me strength and courage. The battles are hard and difficult, but with Christ I will overcome them all. Teach me to pass through the most sorrowful and challenging days with faith and maturity. May Your joy accompany me in the pains of growth. Make me strong and persevering, even when trials try to shake me. Father, do not leave me, for alone I cannot move forward. But with You, Jesus, I am more than a conqueror, through Your love! Amen!

See also:

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:

  1. 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.
  2. Read the verse or Bible passage attentively: develop a lifestyle committed to the Word of God every day and avoid distractions.
  3. Read the daily meditation: reflect and try to understand God's purpose for your life through the comments.
  4. Practical application: jot down your findings and don't forget to put into practice everything you have learned through the Bible.
  5. 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!

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