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.

I think one thing that many of us get wrong, when we come to God for help with the difficulties in our lives, is complaining and looking for God’s sympathy. We sometimes think if we show God how difficult things are for us, out of pity, he will help us. The problem with that approach is, it is not what God tells he responds to.

God responds to our faith. In Hebrews 11:6 we are told, “And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.”

God knows the challenges we face in our lives. In some cases he is allowing these difficulties to occur to bring us closer to him. So complaining to God about these things will not influence him. He tells us is to respond to our challenges with faith. When we want God to help us, we should come to him with a faithful petition like:

Dear Lord, You know the challenges we are facing, whether these are things we brought on ourselves, or they are trials you are allowing us to experience, to make us better, we come to you with no doubt that you will bring us through these trials better, stronger and more confident in your unlimited power, and closer to you. For this we thank you. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

I heard it said once that “you may be the only Jesus some people may ever know.” Meaning that some people may never go to church, read the Bible, or be exposed to Christianity in any way other than running into you at the mall, gas station, hospital, etc.

Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 12:27, “You are Christ’s body and each of you is an individual part of it.”

Since Jesus ascended into heaven, Christians have become the physical presence of Jesus’ will on earth. In a way, we are his hands, feet, and voice until he returns. So in addition to the Great Commission, “go and make disciples,” we are also the way Jesus can physically show his love to people in need, through our actions.

Dear Lord, you can give us the tools we need to be your physical presence on earth. Help us look for your will and act in faith, so if we are the only Jesus some people ever see, they will see and feel your love through us. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Growing up we all probably had an experience where we did something wrong and were punished by a parent or other adult. Do you remember saying, or hearing someone say, “I’ll never do that again.” after being punished or scolded?

Psalm 119:67 says, “I used to wander off until you disciplined me; but now I closely follow your word.” The NIV translation writes this verse like this, “Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I obey your word.”

It is pretty clear from this passage that sometimes things happen to us as a form of discipline, to get us back on the right track. I don’t think that every “affliction” is some kind of discipline from God, but when things are not going well, we should think about why that might be, and turn to God for help, and guidance. Whether we are bringing discipline on ourselves, or our trials are just part of life, turning to God is always the right response.

Psalm 139:24 says, “Point out anything in me that offends you, and lead me along the path of everlasting life.”

Dear Lord, much of life remains a mystery to us, but we know You are working Your plan for each of us. Help us turn to You when we are afflicted, and find Your will for us. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Do you know people who are just cheerful, upbeat, and cooperative all the time? It could be a coworker, checkout person at the grocery store, the postman/woman, or a relative. Though sometimes you may wonder how they can be so upbeat all the time, isn’t it nice to interact with that person?

Paul tells the Christians at Philippi, in Philippians 2:14-15 to have this demeanor, saying, “Do everything without complaining and arguing, so that no one can criticize you. Live clean, innocent lives as children of God, shining like bright lights in a world full of crooked and perverse people.”

Complaining is essentially telling others about our problems, and having some indirect expectation that someone else is responsible to solve them for us. God tells us we will have challenges, to make us stronger and better, and he will help us overcome them. When we complain, we are displaying our dis-belief in God’s promises and his power.

As Paul says, we should be striving to live clean innocent lives, and be that cheerful, upbeat, cooperative person that others wonder about.

Dear Lord, You know we are weak and struggle to follow your guidance in our lives. Help us improve. Help us believe your promises of support, guidance and protection, so we will live confident, cheerful lives and be the shining lights in this world that you intend us to be. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.