There is a quote from Shakespeare that says, “Our doubts are traitors, and make us lose the good we oft might win, by fearing to attempt.”

How, you may ask, is this relevant in a Christian devotion?

Matthew 14 includes the account of Jesus walking on water. Peter sees him and when Jesus says “come” Peter begins walking on the water toward Jesus. However, verse 30 writes, “But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!”
When Peter takes his eyes off of Jesus he begins to sink. His commitment weakens as he sees the wind and waves, begins to sink and cry to be saved. Verse 31 says, “Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?”

Our faith is the path through which God saves, supports, and motivates us on our Christian mission. Our doubts are traitors to that mission.

Dear Lord, Thank you for the support you give us in our mission. Help us push away the doubts that hold us back from living our faith fully, knowing that when we trust in you, we will have your peace and joy. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

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There is a power in what we say. It is like putting our signature on a contract. We can have a contract in front of us to purchase a car, or sell our house, or purchase a business, and that document may have been drafted in great detail with every contingency considered, but until we sign it, it has no power.

I think in some ways our beliefs are like this. We can think about what we believe, and know all the related scriptures, but when we say it out loud, we are putting the power in our belief.

Jesus tells the disciples in Matthew 17:20, “I tell you the truth, if you had faith even as small as a mustard seed, you could say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it would move. Nothing would be impossible.”

When we say negative things like, “I can’t figure this out,” or “I always get this wrong,” “I am a terrible test taker,” “I am bad at math,” “I am always late,” we are putting power into these beliefs, and keeping ourselves in those holes.

Paul says in Philippians 4:13, “For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.” If we believe this, we should say things like, “Lord willing, I will get an A,” or “I will get accepted to that school,” “I will make the sale,” “my friend will accept my offer to come to church with me on Sunday.”

Saying what we believe, out loud, strengthens our faith and shows our commitment, which is one reason we say the creed every Sunday. “I believe in God the Father Almighty…..”

Dear Lord, our power comes from you. Help us believe that we can do all things through you, and say so with our words. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

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I am sure you have heard the expression “I’ll believe it when I see it.” That is the opposite of how we need to live as Christians.

The Bible tells us is that we have to believe before we can see. We must have faith described in Hebrews 11:1 as, “..confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.” or as Hebrews 11:6 says, “..because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.” and Psalms 27:13 says, “I would have been without hope if I had not believed that I would see the loving-kindness of the Lord in the land of the living.”

Just like a builder does not start construction until he “believes” he will complete his project and see the result, we need to believe in the promises God gives us, to answer our prayers, protect us, and guide us, and most of all forgive us, while we wait to see the result.

Dear Lord, help us put our confidence in you, and have the strength to believe before we can see. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

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Do you read biographies? You can find the stories of many famous and historic people in bookstores and libraries.

I heard an interesting description of the Book of John in the Bible, calling it, “the fourth biography of Jesus Christ.”

Though we may not typically think of it this way, the gospels, Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John are biographies of Jesus Christ.

The final two verses in, John 21:24-25 write, “This is the disciple who testifies to these things and who wrote them down. We know that his testimony is true. Jesus did many other things as well. If every one of them were written down, I suppose that even the whole world would not have room for the books that would be written.”

The Bible is part, history book, part biography, and part instruction book, inspired by God to bring us to Jesus. Paul tells us in Romans 10:17, “So faith comes from hearing, that is, hearing the Good News about Christ”

Dear Lord, How wonderful it is to have the Bible, your path to hearing the Good News of Salvation. Help us never forget that the Bible is Your words, written by men. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

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Have you ever felt you loved someone so much that it was as if they were part of yourself; Your spouse, children, siblings, parents. You felt such connection with them that it seemed that you could feel what they felt, and you experienced what they were experiencing. What a powerful love this is.

John tells us in 1 John 4:19, “We love because he first loved us.”

As deeply as we may love others, God loves us. So much that he, as Jesus, endured humiliation, agony and death for us, to save us.

Paul also tells us in Romans 11:33, “Oh, how great are God’s riches and wisdom and knowledge! How impossible it is for us to understand his decisions and ways!

When we experience tragedy, uncertainty, pain, loss, we may feel that God has abandoned us. He has not. Within those ways which we may not understand, is his love for us. We can trust in his plans.

James 4:8 tells us, “Draw near to God and he will draw near to you.”

Dear Lord, We cannot understand your ways, but we can trust in your love for us. Comfort those in need, and give them confidence that comes from trusting you. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

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