Today's Devotions

  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
  • 6
  • 7

Showcase: Assorted Treats

  • Transforming this World: The Hope of Glory by NT Wright +

    Wright confronts the perspective that this world doesn’t matter, and that we live only to be in heaven. He shows Read More
  • What is Good in a World that Defies Hope: a talk by NT Wright +

    This is the second part of three talks by NT Wright at Harvard University in November, 2008 on the topic Read More
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3

SylviaAs a kid, did you ever make a trade, "no trades back"?

I'd always draw back, thinking, "Now wait a minute. What does he know that I don't? I may decide that what I had was better and want it back!" In every need, Jesus invites us to exchange our insufficiency for His all-sufficiency, no trades back. He longs for us to substitute our "I don't have" for "I have all I need in Jesus." We take great hope that more than what God does, it is who He is that really makes the difference.

Who He is to us is so much more than what He does for us. His person is inseparable from all His power and presence. Your momma may have told you "Be a brave boy" or "Be a brave girl," but Jesus tells us not to worry about feeling brave or putting on a happy face: just let Him be for us who He is for every need.

His strength shines best in our weakness. Jesus says to us, "My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness." Like Paul, we can say, "I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong" (2 Cor. 12:9-10).

Aren't you glad? It's called grace--God's enabling presence. "And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work" (2 Cor. 9:8).

Pray this way:

Come, Holy Spirit, and give___________ a new revelation of Your covenantal-keeping love and power, and minister to _________, spirit, soul, and body at this moment.

Where they are weary, give them Your strength in the resurrection power of Jesus.

Where they are hurt, rub in Your healing oil of comfort and peace.

Where there is self-doubt, minister the truth of Christ in them, their hope of glory.

Where they are striving, give them rest in Your grace, Your trustworthiness, and Your timing.

Where they are spiritually dull, give them fresh Bread of Life to eat and Living Water to drink and draw them into greater intimacy with You.

Where they are afraid, banish fear with the sound of Your voice, assuring them of Your nearness in love and faithfulness.

Where they are despairing, give them hope that You do all things well. Let them know whom they have believed and be persuaded that You are able to keep what they have committed to You.

Where there deceived by sin, convict and grant repentance. As they repent, forgive and cleanse them, and break strongholds of evil from their lives.

Where they are under fire, give them understanding of the larger spiritual battle, and reveal to them the power they have in You to defeat the schemes of the evil one.

Where they feel alone and abandoned, surround them with covenantal relationships to encourage them, and make them aware of always being in Your presence wherever they are.

For their every need, be their Jehovah-Jireh provision.

Reflections to Consider

  • 1

Publications

  • 1

Music

  • 1

Audio & Video

  • 1

Favorites

  • Eat This Book, Eugene Peterson +

    Eugene Peterson’s book, Eat This Book gets its name from Revelation 10:9-10 when John asks for the scroll containing God’s Read More
  • Interview with Eugene Peterson +

    On March 6, 2011, Eugene Peterson was interviewed on NPR concerning his new memoir, Pastor. In the book, Peterson described Read More
  • God is Personal: Eugene Peterson on prayer +

    The following is from Jesus Creed, Scot McKnight on Jesus and Orthdox faith in the 21st century. There is a Read More
  • The Working Pastor-Eugene Peterson +

    Eugene Peterson spends a few minutes discussing the importance of the pastor in communicating the gospel. He asks "How does Read More
  • 1

Hidden Blessings

  • Difficult People to Love +

    Loving others is not easy, Read More
  • The Surprise of His Love: Psalm 90 +

    Surprise us with love at daybreak; Read More
  • Does God Control Everything?: Tim Keller sermon +

    Tim Keller, pastor of Redeemer Presbyterian Church in NYC, has an insightful discussion about free will, pre-destination and God's omnipotence, Read More
  • Christ In Everything +

    Do we care about each other as much as Christ does? Am I willing to love others, and sacrifice my Read More
  • 1