Daily Devotion: A Touch of Faith

Scripture:
Mark 5: 24-34

Main Verse:
Mark 5: 28

Observation:
The unnamed woman who had been bleeding for 12 years in the apostle Mark's story is a story of faith. By simply touching the hem of Jesus' garment, she was healed of all her pain and sickness. She was just like any of the other people in the crowd that day, wanting to see the Messiah but more than that, she wanted to experience healing from Jesus. There were many other people in that crowd who have also touched the Lord Jesus, but as soon as the woman touched the hem of Jesus' garment, both the Lord and the woman sensed something. She knew right there and then that she had been healed as her bleeding stopped, while Jesus felt strong faith from the person who touched his garment. It was not the touch that Jesus sensed; rather, it was the faith radiating from that touch that came from the woman.

Application:
There is hope in Christ alone.

When nothing is working in order, when everything else has failed, when you think healing is impossible, or when your burden is too heavy to carry, believe and trust that God will not fail you.

All it takes is a touch of faith for the Lord our God to perform a miracle in our lives.

Prayer:
My Lord and my God Jesus, you are the God of the impossible. I will put my trust in you because you can move in miraculous ways, and I do not even have to lift a finger in order to experience your wonder. Thank you once again, Lord, for revealing to me your greatness. I will praise you and worship you for you alone are the Great and Almighty One. AMEN.

Daily Devotion: The Heart of Esther

Scripture:
Esther 4-8

Main Verse:
Esther 4: 14
"For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father's family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to royal position, for such a time as this?"

Observation:
I've been following a Bible reading plan these days about strong women in the Bible, and it's amazing to see how God uses people's lives unexpectedly. Thus was the case of Esther, an orphan who rose to become queen of Xerxes' empire. I believe that God will never put someone in a position or situation by accident. When God works, there are no accidents. Everything He does, He does according to His divine will.

We can see in Esther an obedient, courageous, and humble heart. When Mordecai asked her to speak with the King to save the Jews from the wrath of Haman, she followed Mordecai's instructions. She knew that it was not easy to speak with the King, and she could die unless the king favored her. She fasted and requested all the Jews to do the same. At this moment, she could only depend on the Lord. Perhaps, just like what Mordecai has said, God had sent her in that royal position so she could rescue the Jews.

Application:
When Joseph's brother's sold him as a slave, God allowed it because he will save all of Israel from the famine. When God sent Moses back to Egypt, God did it to deliver the Hebrews from slavery. Esther may be lacking in many things as an orphan, but God chose her to become queen for a very specific purpose--to save the Jews from annihilation. When God sent His Son Jesus Christ to die on the cross, He did it to deliver us from death.

When God puts us in a specific position or a special circumstance, He does it because we have a crucial purpose in his divine plan. Let's have a heart like that of Esther's--obedient, courageous, humble--a heart with the willingness to be used to perfom God's miracle in the lives of others.

Prayer:
Father, I can never thank you enough for your rich blessings and favor in my life. You have been so gracious to me. Thank you for your love and kindness. I pray, oh Lord, that I may always have a compliant heart, a heart that loves to obey your Word and your instructions. May I be able to act courageously like Esther when I'm in a challenging circumstance. In Jesus' mighty name I pray. AMEN.

Daily Devotion: Sincere Prayers from the Silent Heart

Scripture:
1 Samuel 1: 1-20

Main Verse:
1 Samuel 1: 20
So in the course of time Hannah became pregnant and gave birth to a son. She named him Samuel, saying, "Because I asked the LORD for him."

Observation:
Hannah was barren. It has been several years, yet she had never experienced holding her own child in her arms. She was mocked and taunted by her husband's second wife, Penninah, for not giving him a child. In Hebrew tradition, an infertile woman is looked down by society. She was probably mocked not only by Penninah, but also by the women in the village where she lived.

She's had enough of the bullying.

It was that time of the year again to visit the tabernacle to worship the Lord. There, Hannah poured out her spirit unto the Lord. In one corner of the tabernacle, she silently cried unto the Lord, asking Him to grant her prayer and end her agony. Deep in her heart, she was sincerely praying to the Lord not only for a child. She was seeking the Lord for comfort and encouragement. And God listened. Hannah's face was no longer downcast after praying (1 Samuel 1:18), she gave birth to a son because God heard her prayer (1 Samuel 1: 20), and the Lord graciously gave her three more sons and two daughters (1 Samuel 2:21).

Who do we talk to when we are feeling down? When we're in agony, how often have we knelt or bowed down really low and cried out to the Lord? We can learn two things from the way Hannah approached her misery:

1. Seek God in your sadness. Instead of coming to others, Hannah poured out her soul to the Lord. She sought God because she believed that only God has the power to answer prayers and provide her the encouragement she desperately looked for. After praying, the Lord granted her comfort from the misery she was experiencing from her husband's second wife.

2. Seek God silently. Hannah was praying in her heart. Her lips were moving, but her voice could not be heard. Our prayers do not need to be loud and repetitive. Sometimes, the most sincere prayers come from the most silent of hearts. Come to the Lord, have a silent conversation with Him, and tell Him your pains and suffering. He is waiting.

Application:
God is always there to meet us. Whether we are in agony or in a difficult circumstance, He is always more than willing to give us His grace and meet our needs. We may have a husband who can offer a shoulder to cry on, a family who can listen to our problems, or a friend who can offer a drink when we're troubled, but there is no one like our God who listens intently to our prayers and pleas. When we pour out our anguish and grief directly unto the Lord, God will graciously answer our prayers. The comfort and peace that God offers after talking with and lifting up everything to Him is more than enough answer to our prayers.

And we all know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to His purpose. 

Romans 8: 28

Prayer:
Our Father in Heaven, thank you for hearing our voices. You know the pains that we have in our heart and you are always there to listen to us. Forgive me, Father, for not putting you first when I am in anguish. Let me experience your grace at all times. I pray that I may always have a grateful heart for everything that you have done in my life. Teach me to always remember your blessings. In Jesus name I pray. AMEN.

Daily Devotion: A Seeking and Obedient Heart

Scripture:
The Book of Ruth

Main Verse: 
Ruth 4: 14-15
"Praise be to the LORD, who this day has not left you without a guardian-redeemer. May he become famous throughout Israel! He will renew your life and sustain you in your old age. For your daughter-in-law, who loves you and who is better to you than seven sons, has given him birth."

Observation:
Ruth's life story in the Bible was another occasion when God showed that He always works for our good if we continue to seek Him.  She led a difficult life. She grew up in Moab, a land that did not worship God. She lost her husband, and she did not bear a child. Her brother-in-law who was supposed to redeem her to continue the family line also died. But these circumstances did not stop her from following Naomi, her mother-in-law. Ruth could have just stayed in Moab with her people. But she followed Naomi believing in her heart that God is with them and that God has a beautiful purpose in spite of what happened to her and her mother-in-law. Ruth continued to seek the Lord by moving to Judah with Naomi instead of staying with her pagan relatives.

We witness in Ruth a woman of character. She respected and honored her mother-in-law. She worked hard to provide food for her and Naomi. Ruth had a teachable heart, so she obeyed what Naomi requested her to do. She obeyed Naomi, knowing in her heart that her mother-in-law had nothing but the best intentions for her. In the end, God rewarded her obedience. She became the wife of Boaz, and they had a son Obed. Obed  gave them a grandson Jesse, who gave them a great-grandson, King David. 

Application:
God wants us to commit our life to Him. He wants us to continue to seek Him and trust Him with all our heart, mind, soul, and strength. Ruth may not have known what God had laid out for her, but she just trusted the Lord. 

We may have gone through tough times, or perhaps, you may be experiencing an uncomfortable situation right now. But if we earnestly seek God, He will grant the desires of our heart. If we remain humble and continue to obey our God the Father, believe that He will be good to us.

The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him, 

to the one who seeks him. 

Lamentations: 3:35

Prayer:
Father, I will continue to put my trust in You, even though times are difficult. I believe in my heart that your great purpose in my life does not end when I experience obstacles. You use these circumstances to build in me a character in the likeness of your Son Jesus, so I will endure and remain in your presence. Thank you, Lord, for teaching me to have a humble heart, and for always finding ways to bring me close again to your arms. I thank and praise you in the name of Your Son Jesus. AMEN.

Daily Devotion: Powerful Faith

Scripture: 
Judges 4: 1-7

Main Verses:
Judges 4: 6-7
She sent for Barak son of Abinoam from Kedesh in Naphtali and said to him, “The Lord, the God of Israel, commands you: ‘Go, take with you ten thousand men of Naphtali and Zebulun and lead them up to Mount Tabor. I will lead Sisera, the commander of Jabin’s army, with his chariots and his troops to the Kishon River and give him into your hands.’”

Observation:
The Israelites were one disobedient nation. Kings, rulers, prophets, and judges would rule them and their country would be in peace for some years, but on many occasions, they would go back to their old ways, worshipping idols and stubbornly refusing to change. And when the Lord punished them, they came back to the Lord who graciously accepted them back into His arms. In more ways, many Christians are like the Israelites. We would sin, go back to our old ways, forget about the Lord, and become miserable. And then we recognize that we have sinned because we realize we are reaping the consequences of our sins.

Deborah was one of the judges, a prophetess, who ruled during a time when Israel was once again a shattered nation. Tired of her nation's contempt against God, she decided to lead her country through victory. Through the power of God's command, she ordered Barak to gather his men and lead his army towards Sisera. Deborah's powerful faith in the Father led to the destruction of their enemies. Her authority as a spokeswoman of God led Barak to trust in her and believe that God is with them.

Application:
We can be a Deborah wherever we are today. If we remain in the Lord, we can have the confidence to declare that God is with us and will give us victory over all our enemies. When we put our trust in the Lord our God and in His promises, we will be brave enough to face difficulties and any troubles that Satan hurls at us. When you feel ignored or unsure of your direction, remember that like Deborah, you can always come to the Lord for guidance.

Prayer:
Thank you, Father, for revealing to me that I can be a Deborah whose powerful faith can win wars. Help me become a woman who listens to your Word. Teach me to be a powerful spokeswoman who can bring good change and victory in others. May I always learn to hear and recognize your voice clearly. This I pray in the mighty name of Your Son Jesus. AMEN.

Daily Devotion: Miraculous Faith

Scripture:

Joshua 2: 1-21; Hebrews 11:31; James 2:25

Main Verse:

Hebrews 11: 31

By faith Rahab the prostitute did not perish with those who were disobedient, because she had given a friendly welcome to the spies.

Observation:

There are several people in the Bible who used to be nobodies, yet God has chosen them to accomplish His divine purpose. Rahab was one of those women. She was a prostitute who welcomed men from her place in Jericho as well as guests coming from various parts of the land. But, she is no ordinary woman. She had this extraordinary faith in the God of Israel, who she knew little about. She was no Jew. She grew up from a family of Caananites, yet she believed in the God of Israel. Despite being in a frightening position, Rahab put her faith in the God that her parents never knew of. We are blessed because we have the Bible who teaches us of the great and wonderful deeds of our Lord, but during her time, she probably only heard bits and pieces about the the Great I Am. It was this remarkable faith in God that saved her AND her family from destruction!

We can also see God's love, grace, and mercy in action in Rahab's life. She was a nobody, a harlot, yet she was recorded in our Lord Jesus Christ's ancestral tree. It was no coincidence that Matthew has placed her name in Jesus' genealogy. Her miraculous faith stands as equally important as that of Abraham because her faith was very much alive in her life when she immediately helped hide Joshua's spies in her home.

Application:

What kind of faith do we have? We usually say "I have faith in God" or "I have faith in our Lord Jesus." When we say that, do we really know what it means, and do we mean what we say?

Our God wants us to have an earnest faith in Him. If you have experienced His grace and mercy in your life, you must continue to trust in Him, no matter how fearful or how bad the situation. There is no reason not to trust in the Lord our God because he is the God who fulfills promises!

Prayer:

Father, thank you once again for showing me how great You are, and for reminding me that your love and grace is boundless. You are ready to forgive and accept the worst in us if just put our faith in You. Thank you for forgiving me, and for giving me a chance to experience your lovingkindless. All honor and glory and praise belong to you forever and ever. AMEN.

Daily Devotion: Turn Your Worries Into Prayer

Scripture:
Philippians 4: 4-9

Main Verse:
Philippians 4: 6

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.

Observation:

Do you worry a lot? Paul's words in verse 4 tell us not to worry about anything, but we still do worry, don't we? It is hard not to worry, and we can't just tell ourselves to stop worrying. We can't just order our spirit to stop being anxious. But God wants us to bring our troubles to Him. There are many other verses in the Bible where God commands us to stop worrying.

"Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you." (1 Peter 5: 7).  

"Do not let your hearts be troubled." (John 14: 1)

"So do not fear, for I am with you;

do not be dismayed, for I am your God.

I will strengthen you and help you;

I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. (Isaiah 41:10).

When we worry, we are committing a sin because we doubt the Lord our God's capability to take care of us. Worry stops us from trusting that God is working in our midst. Worry makes us forget that we have a God who is bigger than the universe.

Application:

Is there a way we can stop ourselves from worrying? Paul shows us three things that Christians ought to do instead of being anxious. Paul's first instruction was to pray rather than worry, and again, he tells us that in "every situation," we should take everything to the Lord in prayer. When we pray, we lift up whatever it is that troubles us and let God do His work. Is anything too big to the Lord? Take your worries to Him in prayer. He also tells us to "present your requests to God." Do you know the reason God does not answer our prayers? It's because we fail to ask Him. Jesus said ask and it will be given to you (Matthew 7:7). Finally, we need to be thankful to the Lord, as we have the assurance that even before we ask something to the Lord in prayer, He is more than competent to grant us our requests. If you know who the Lord is and what He is capable of doing, worry will not have any place in your mind.

Prayer:

Lord, forgive me for worrying rather than praying. Forgive me when I forget that You are God, and there is nothing in this world that you are not capable of doing. Thank you because I have the assurance that I can cast my anxieties upon You. Teach me to always rely on you in prayer, and teach my heart to be forever thankful for your graciousness. In Jesus's name I pray. AMEN.