Written by Chuck Swindoll, these encouraging devotional thoughts are published seven days per week.
Read Psalm 33:1-3
I cannot imagine anything more boring and less desirable than being poured into the mould of predictability. Few things interest me less than the routine, the expected, the status quo. A fresh run at life by an untried route will get my vote every time. Stay open-minded for a moment, and I’ll try to show you why.
Read Mark 12:29-30
Your mind is a muscle. It needs to be stretched to stay sharp. It needs to be prodded and pushed to perform. Let it get idle and lazy on you, and that muscle will become a pitiful mass of flab in a brief period of time.
How can you stretch your mind? What are some good mental exercises that will keep the cobwebs away? Here’s how Jesus said it:
Read Romans 2:1-4
Ever feel worn out by the spinning of your wheels in the muck of sin? Are you fatigued from fighting the battle against your dark nature? Do you sometimes feel like throwing up your hands and surrendering to the constant barrage of spiritual attacks that attempt to lure you away from a life of holiness and devotion?
Read Daniel 4:35
Dawson Trotman, founder of the Navigators, an organization discipling and mentoring ministry leaders around the world, drowned while saving a swimmer from certain death. Eyewitnesses tell of the tears and helpless disbelief in the faces of those who now looked out across the deep blue water of Schroon Lake. Everyone’s face except one—Lila Trotman. Dawson’s widow. As she arrived a close friend shouted, “Oh, Lila, he’s gone. Dawson’s gone!” She replied in calm assurance the words of Psalm 115:3:
Our God is in the heavens,
Read Luke 12:17-21
Practically speaking, greed is an inordinate desire for more, an excessive, unsatisfied hunger to possess. Like an untamed beast, greed grasps, claws, reaches, clutches, and clings—stubbornly refusing to surrender. The word enough is not in this beast’s vocabulary.
Read Hebrews 4:15-16
Perhaps you're fighting an inner battle with a ghost from the past. The spectre of a previous hurt haunts your mind and steals your peace.
Before you surrender your case as hopeless, consider the liberating evidence of freedom offered in the Bible. Take an honest look at men and women whom God used despite their past regrets.
Read Joshua 1:6–7
Read Galatians 5:22–23
The rare and remarkable virtue of patience is within the and-so-forth section in Galatians chapter 5. You know how we quote that passage...“the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, and-so-forth.” That lazy habit has caused a very important series of virtues to escape our notice. Let’s read it together as a refresher:
The Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. (Galatians 5:22-23)
Read Ephesians 4:3–6
Read 1 Corinthians 15:51–52
The feelings are familiar. Mouth open. Eyes like saucers. Chill up the spine.
“The flash of a mighty surprise” boggles the mind, leaving us somewhere between stunned and dumb with wonder. “Am I dreaming or is a miracle happening?” So it is with surprises. Surprises start parties and end partnerships. They solve murders, enhance birthdays and anniversaries, embellish friendships. Kids at Christmas love ’em. Parents expect ’em. Coaches use ’em. Politicians diffuse ’em.
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