October 27, 2026

Luke 14: 27 (NIV)

“And anyone who does not carry his cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.”

There are no uncrucified disciples.*

“I guess it’s just my cross to bear.” How often do we hear that expression? Do you ever hear it and think that somebody is exaggerating the weight of their load? In response to this sentiment, Oswald Chambers writes: “We are apt to imagine that the cross we have to carry means the ordinary troubles and trials of life, but we must have those whether we are Christians or not. Neither is our cross suffering for conscience’s sake. Our cross is something that comes only with the peculiar relationship of a disciple to Jesus Christ; it is the evidence that we have denied our right to ourselves.”* 

Our daily burdens – however heavy they may be – are not our cross. Our cross is not even the sacrifices we make in order to live a Christian life. When we submit to carrying our cross, it is a private matter between us and the Lord. What we see that looks like cross-bearing is only an outward indication that we might be carrying a cross. When I deny my right to myself, there should be  external, visible signs of the change in me, but only God knows the rebellions that my heart clings to, the idols of self that stand between me and him.

Some of Jesus’ disciples are called to more sacrifice and suffering than others but all of us are called to give up ourselves. When you let go of yourself, your cross is not your burden but your honor as you shoulder it on the path behind Jesus and his cross.

If you will give God your right to yourself, He will make a holy experiment out of you. God’s experiments always succeed.*

October 26, 2026

John 13: 23 (NIV)

One of them, the disciple whom Jesus loved, was reclining next to him.

Stop and ask Jesus to remind you how He sees you.*

In the sensitivity training required by my job, we were taught to refer to a handicapped individual as “a person with a disability” rather than as “a disabled person.” Not being so very sensitive myself, I failed to see the distinction at first. Then I thought of it in terms of myself being referred to as “the lady with blonde hair” as opposed to “The Blonde.” How much of our self-worth is tangled up with how we identify ourselves?

Is John being just a little bit arrogant, claiming a special relationship with the Lord?  I have heard that this may have been a literary device employed in the Jewish culture at this time. Also, I sense humility in John’s refusal to include his own name in the story - though there might be a hint of pride – or gratitude, perhaps – in knowing that he is loved by Jesus.

Philip Yancey, in his book, What’s so Amazing about Grace? poses these questions: “What would it mean, I ask myself, if I too came to the place where I saw my primary identity in life as ‘the one Jesus loves’? How differently would I view myself at the end of a day?”* I think that someone who can define himself as “the one whom Jesus loves” has a clear idea of his value. This person knows the price that Jesus paid for him; and knowing that price, longs to be more worthy of the honor and the sacrifice.

What do you see as your primary identity in life? Are you a mom? A loyal employee? A good person?  Is this your most valuable quality? Or is your worth factor determined by the blood of the Lamb?

What a value hath God set upon the soul! He made it after his image, he redeemed it with Christ's blood.*

October 25, 2026

Psalm 27: 8 (NIV)

My heart says of you, “Seek his face!” Your face, Lord, I will seek.

Once you have seen his face you will forever long to see it again.*

All I have to do is login to Facebook and I can see pictures of the precious little faces of three of my grandchildren. Pictures of my other two grandchildren are texted to me several times a week.  I am thankful that my daughters-in-law take advantage of modern technology which allows us to stay in touch even when we can’t be together. But nothing can take the place of face-to-face, in-person interaction with someone you love. In this psalm, David expresses that longing to be in the presence of God and to see his face. But in Exodus 33: 20, God told Moses, “You cannot see my face, for no one may see me and live.”

In the 1985 movie Cocoon, a group of extra-terrestrial aliens has come to earth on some unfinished business. They don’t actually have bodies – they’re just wispy, shapeless beings – so they inhabit human bodies in order to accomplish their mission without alarming the people around them. Similarly, God is spirit and has no physical body in which to move about among his people – until he inhabited the body of Jesus. Before Jesus shed his physical body, he promised to send his Spirit in his place to dwell in his people.

In Ephesians 2: 22, Paul writes that we are being built to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit. Now, when we long to seek God’s face, we find him looking out from the faces of his faithful followers. If we find God’s face by looking into the faces of his people, then we should also see his face looking back at us from the mirror. Next time you work on your hair or brush your teeth, examine your face more closely. If you don’t see the face of God, perhaps you need to take some time to seek his face and his presence in your life. He rewards those who earnestly seek him (Hebrews 11: 6).

He takes his children to higher levels of fellowship so they may hear him speaking “face to face.”*

October 24, 2026

Isaiah 65: 24 (NIV)

“Before they call I will answer; while they are still speaking I will hear."

Don’t think thoughts you don’t want Jesus to hear.*

Often, while riding in the car or hiking along a trail, my husband would bring up a subject and I would say, “I was just thinking about that!” One night as he was presenting the lesson to our small group, he asked a question which I proceeded to answer with one of my typical smart remarks. He said, “When I was writing the lesson I knew that’s what you were going to say!”

Sometimes we’re just attuned to another person’s train of thought. Whatever triggers a notion in one mind fires the same brain waves in the other. It’s nice to be close to someone who knows us so well. It’s even better when the other person is God.

We are not the original intended audience for today's verse but it expresses a truth that can be found throughout scripture. God is so in tune to us, so anxious to hear from us, that he answers before we have even called. He hears what we have to say before we’ve finished saying it. Sometimes we forget how interested God is in our thoughts. When we allow unwholesomeness to occupy space in our minds, we are crowding God out.

How do impure thoughts get into our minds? We put them there with what we see and hear. Sometimes we don’t mean to expose ourselves to bad influences – life happens all around us if we aren’t living in a cave – but we contaminate our own minds by what we read, watch, listen to, and dwell on. The antidote to a dirty mind is to fill it with cleanliness. We must be selective in what we put in there. Read Philippians 4: 8 for some helpful hints on what to think about. Then perhaps when God leans in to listen to your thoughts, you won’t be embarrassed by what he hears.

It’s not enough to keep the bad stuff out. We’ve got to let the good stuff in.*

October 23, 2026

Proverbs 12: 18 (NIV)

Reckless words pierce like a sword, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.

Even truthful words can damage.*

I find it easy to recall some of the reckless words that have pierced my spirit. Sadly, I can also remember a few occasions when such words came from my own mouth to cause damage to others. Whoever came up with, “Sticks and stones may break my bones . . .” didn’t know what he was talking about. We might wish that we were so thick-skinned that harsh words couldn’t penetrate to our heart. And I wish that my idle, thoughtless speech didn’t have the power to hurt others.

If words can have such power for evil, can’t they also have power for good? Yes; it just seems to take a little more prompting for us to recall those words. This proverb’s reminder that “the tongue of the wise brings healing,” was just what I needed to bring to mind some of those soothing words. I think of a Christian counselor who helped me when my first marriage was coming to an end. I often say that he wasn’t able to save my marriage but he saved me. My parents helped soothe my soul during that same chapter of my life. Many sermons have spoken words of wisdom just when I needed them. And God’s word has never failed to be the voice of comfort, encouragement, or admonition according to my need.

If you have been bruised by someone else’s words, immerse yourself in the word of God. Let his Spirit speak to you and soothe your soul. If Jesus can calm the sea with a simple command, he can certainly bring peace to the storms of your life. And when his healing has washed over you and restored your soul, allow yourself to be his instrument – his wise and gentle mouthpiece – of healing for others.

I am often amazed at the power of God’s Word, but I shouldn’t be.*

October 22, 2026

Nehemiah 4: 1, 8, 10 (NIV)

When Sanballat heard that we were rebuilding the wall, he became angry . . . He ridiculed the Jews. . . . They all plotted together to come and fight against Jerusalem and stir up trouble against it. . . . Meanwhile, the people in Judah said, “The strength of the laborers is giving out, and there is so much rubble that we can’t rebuild the wall.

Crisis doesn’t necessarily make character, but it certainly does reveal it.*

Nehemiah had never been to Jerusalem, the capital city of his homeland, but it weighed heavily on his heart that 100 years after the first exiles had returned there from Persia, the city’s walls had not been rebuilt. His boss, King Artaxerxes, learns of Nehemiah’s concern for Jerusalem and sends Nehemiah off to Judah on a reconnaissance mission, armed with letters of safe conduct and a request for a donation of timber from the king’s forest.

After Nehemiah assessed the progress of the construction of the city walls, he was able to inspire the officials to exclaim, “Let us start rebuilding.” It didn’t take long before trouble arose, but they were not insurmountable obstacles. Instead of complaining or giving up, Nehemiah found solutions.

First problem: Some locals weren’t happy about the project and began to heckle the workers. They were led by Sanballat, who was a member of an influential political family, and Tobiah, an Ammonite official. 

Solution: Ignore them and keep on working. 

Second problem: A plot was hatched by Sanballat, Tobiah, and some other nasty characters. They were going to “fight against Jerusalem and stir up trouble.” 

Solution: Pray to God and post a guard 24/7; organize and arm the people according to family groups to stand guard. 

Third problem: The workers were exhausted. (Actually, they made the complaint sound like two problems: tired workers and lots of rubble.) But mostly they were afraid. 

Solution: While half the men work, the other half are equipped with weapons; establish an emergency procedure involving a trumpet call and a rally point; have the workers spend the night in relative safety within the city.

Nehemiah sets a wonderful example for us to follow when addressing problems. We first must note what he didn’t do: Look for someone to blame. Most of the culprits were easily identified but he didn’t waste time calling them names or indulging in “if only” speculations. And then there is what he did do: He prayed and looked for solutions. He prayed, he planned, he organized, he was positive; and he worked alongside his men, sharing every hardship they endured. (See verse 23.)

We find that Jesus demonstrated similar problem-solving skills in the performance of his first miracle (John 2: 1-11). When the complaint was brought to his attention, he didn’t stop to find out whose fault it was (again, it was pretty clear who was to blame), and he solved the issue – miraculously.

Next time you are faced with a complaint, don’t waste time pointing  fingers. Pray and get to work on the solution. You will get much better results that way!

Whatever your . . . challenges, you need only to ask the One whose resources are unlimited.*

October 21, 2026

I Samuel 3: 9 (NIV)

“Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening.

God speaks in our world. We just have to learn to listen for him amidst the ordinary.*

By the time Samuel spoke these words, God had already called to him four times. The first three times, he thought it was his mentor, Eli, calling him. After the third time that Samuel had run to where Eli was sleeping, Eli realized that it must be the Lord speaking to the boy so he advised him to say these words.

In Samuel’s defense: he was young and he “did not yet know the Lord.” (verse 7) In our defense: I don’t think we have one. If we don’t hear God calling, it’s because we’re not listening. We specifically ask him to reveal himself to us then we rush off without waiting for his answer. How rude is that?

Sometimes, though, God answers and we ignore him. I can testify to that. For years, I have had the idea in the back of my mind to write. I was busy working and raising my kids so mostly I only thought about writing. I got to do some writing as part of my job – business letters, procedure manuals, grant requests, press releases – but nothing that brought satisfaction. After my job ended and after I had determined that I was not going to be returning to the daily grind of a full-time job, I constantly asked God to reveal to me what he wanted me to be doing for him. Write. Write. Write. The answer came up time after time, but I wasn’t listening. I can’t tell you what finally opened the ears of my heart but here I am. I still have questions about the direction I should go. Publish or not? Continue blogging? Try something other than daily devotionals? Look for ways to reach a larger audience or be content that I am reaching the audience that needs to be reached? I believe that I am a better listener now and God is telling me this: Do what you’re doing. I’ll let you know when you need to do something else.

Have you asked God to reveal his will but he hasn’t? Perhaps you aren’t listening. Next time you speak to him, give him a chance to speak back. Try Samuel’s approach: “Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening.” Give him some time. In the meantime, do what you’re doing. He’ll let you know when you need to do something else.

Faithful servants have a way of knowing answered prayer when they see it, and a way of not giving up when they don’t.*