Daily Devotion

Preparing Our Hearts, Not Just Our Schedules

As Lent draws near, we often start planning what we’ll give up or add to our daily routines – maybe sweets, social media, or extra prayer time. But true preparation begins not with our to-do lists, but with examining the state of our hearts.

The prophet Joel calls us to "rend your heart and not your garments" (Joel 2:13). This ancient invitation reminds us that outward acts mean little without inward transformation. Lent is a season of turning – turning away from what distracts us from God, and turning toward deeper connection with Him and others.

Why not take a moment today to ask: What in my life is creating distance between me and what matters most? It might be a habit that keeps me focused on myself, a relationship that needs mending, or a fear that holds me back from living generously. Preparation isn’t about perfection; it’s about being honest with ourselves and open to God’s work in us.

As we count down the days to Ash Wednesday, let’s begin by creating space in our hearts – making room for reflection, repentance, and renewal.

Illustration

A wealthy merchant rushed to a tailor’s shop with his expensive cloak – deliberately torn down the front.

"My neighbour’s house burned down," he explained. "Everyone’s wearing torn clothes in mourning, and I didn’t want to look untouched – but I couldn’t ruin my best cloak for real."

The tailor mended the tear so well it was nearly invisible, then handed him a large bill.

"This is too much!" the merchant protested.

"You paid me to fix what you tore to look like you cared," the tailor said. "But true mourning isn’t about our clothes – it’s about what happens in here." He touched his heart. "That work can’t be stitched by any tailor. It has to come from within, and it costs far more than gold."

God doesn’t want symbolic gestures alone. When we "rend our hearts" instead of just our garments, real transformation takes root – changing not only how we look, but how we live.

Prayer

Gracious God,

we return to you with honest hearts.

Tear away what hardens us —

our pride, our fear, our excuses.

Open us to your mercy and reshape us by your love,

for you are gracious and compassionate,

slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.

Amen.

Challenge

Today, choose one place where you will let God work on the inside —

not just changing how you appear,

but how you listen, forgive, pray, or love.

Return to the Lord with your heart,

and trust God to do the restoring.

Daily Devotions

Sharing the Gospel Boldly 

Acts 8:4 “Forced to leave home base, the followers of Jesus all became missionaries. Wherever they were scattered, they preached the Message about Jesus.”

A farmer once gathered a small group of children and showed them a handful of seeds.
“If I keep these safe in my pocket,” he said, “nothing will grow.” Then he scattered them across the field. To the children it looked careless—almost wasteful. But the farmer smiled and said, “This is how life begins.”

Reflection:

The early church must have felt anything but hopeful as persecution forced believers out of Jerusalem. Homes were lost, friendships broken, plans disrupted. They were scattered—not by choice, but by fear.

Yet Luke tells us something extraordinary: “Those who were scattered went about preaching the word.” What looked like the enemy’s victory became God’s mission strategy. The believers carried the gospel with them, not because they had a programme, but because they had a story—what Jesus had done in their lives.

God often works not only through what he gathers, but through what he scatters. New jobs, new homes, retirement, illness, upheaval, or loss can feel like displacement. Yet in God’s hands, scattering becomes sowing. The gospel travels on the feet and lives of ordinary people, living faithfully where they find themselves.

The church did not shrink when it was scattered—it multiplied.

Lord God,
when the first believers were scattered,
you turned fear into faith
and disruption into mission.

When our lives feel unsettled or our plans undone,
help us to trust that you are still at work.
Where we are scattered—into new places,
new relationships, and unfamiliar routines—
may we carry your good news with humility and love.

Give us courage to speak when the moment is right,
grace to serve without drawing attention to ourselves,
and faith to believe that nothing in your hands is wasted.

Send us out, not as strangers to your kingdom,
but as witnesses to your grace,
for we go in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.

Challenge: Finding courage to share faith naturally.

Daily Devotions

Integrity in Work and Speech 

Colossians 3:23-24 “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.”

Reflection

In a small cathedral in Europe, visitors marvel at the soaring arches, stained glass, and intricate stonework. Few, however, ever notice the wooden beams hidden high above the ceiling—supporting the roof, unseen and unnamed.

Centuries ago, a carpenter shaped those beams by hand. He knew they would never be admired or applauded. Yet historical records suggest he carved his initials on the inside of one beam—out of sight. Not for recognition, but as a quiet act of faithfulness.

He worked as though God alone would see.

Paul’s words to the Colossians speak directly into such moments:

“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters… It is the Lord Christ you are serving.” (Colossians 3:23–24)

Much of our life is lived in the “hidden places”: routine tasks, caring for others, voluntary roles, unseen acts of kindness, faithfulness when no one thanks us. The world may measure worth by visibility or reward, but God measures the heart.

When we work—whether paid or unpaid, public or private—as an offering to Christ, even the most ordinary task becomes holy ground. The reward Paul speaks of is not applause, but inheritance: the deep joy of knowing that our lives, in all their quiet faithfulness, are held and honoured by God.

Prayer

Lord Jesus,
You see the work that others overlook
and the faithfulness that goes unpraised.
Help us to offer all we do—
our labour, our service, our care for others—
as an act of love for you.
When our work feels small or unseen,
remind us that we serve not for approval,
but for your glory and your kingdom.
Amen.

Challenge: Honesty in environments that reward shortcuts.

Daily Devotion

We now move onto the topic, “Faith in Action” focusing on: “Living out discipleship tangibly, as early believers did.”

Today we consider “Acts of Service” – Galatians 5:13-14 “My friends, you were chosen to be free. So don't use your freedom as an excuse to do anything you want. Use it as an opportunity to serve each other with love. All the Law says can be summed up in the command to love others as much as you love yourself.”

Reflection: I read of someone who was once sitting in a café, listening to two people at the next table talking about whether to join a local group. Every suggestion was weighed with the same unspoken question: How much time will it cost me? What will I get out of it? Will it help me feel better, look better, or get ahead?

Nothing they said was unreasonable. In fact, it all sounded very sensible. And yet beneath every sentence ran a quiet refrain: “What’s in it for me?”

That question has become the subtext of so much of modern life. We don’t often say it out loud, but it shapes our choices — relationships, church, work, even faith. We ask it when deciding whether to commit, whether to forgive, whether to serve. If the return on investment looks too small, we step back.

The gospel, of course, turns that question on its head. Jesus rarely asks, “What will you gain?” Instead, he asks, “Whom will you love?” and “Whom will you follow?” Discipleship is not a transaction but a transformation — a move from what’s in it for me to how might God use me for others.

And perhaps that’s the quiet challenge Jesus places before us: not to silence the question entirely, but to let it be reshaped, so that the deeper question becomes, “What’s in it for the kingdom of God?”

Prayer

Father, open my heart to the astounding truth of my freedom in Christ. Holy Spirit, conform my heart to be like Jesus' heart. Open my eyes to how I can serve others and bless them as they seek to walk in the light of their freedom in Christ. In His name, I pray. Amen.

Challenge: Serving others without seeking recognition.

Daily Devotions

Love in Action

Scripture: John 13:34–35

“Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.”

Reflection:

Jesus redefines love not as a feeling we fall into, but as a costly commitment we live out, shaped by His self-giving example. This love bears with one another in patience, chooses forgiveness over resentment, and responds with compassion rather than judgment. It is expressed in everyday decisions to serve, to listen, and to place others before ourselves. Such love is the true mark of discipleship. In a world fractured by division, fear, and indifference, Christ-like love becomes a powerful witness—quietly shining, healing wounds, and pointing others toward the transforming grace of God.

Henri J.M. Nouwen once commented, “Prayer for others, therefore, cannot be seen as an extraordinary exercise that must be practiced from time to time. Rather, it is the very beat of the compassionate heart.”

Illustration:

A candle doesn’t diminish by lighting another candle; instead, the light multiplies. Love works the same way—every act we offer increases the light.

Thought / Question:

How can I show Christ-like love to someone today?

Prayer:

Lord, fill my heart with Your love and help me share it freely with others. Amen.

Action Step:

Choose one intentional act of love today—an encouraging message, a small gift, a kind gesture, or a word of forgiveness.

Daily Devotions

Gratitude in All Circumstances

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 5:16–18

“Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances.”

Reflection:

Gratitude is not a denial of pain or struggle, nor is it a forced optimism. It is a faithful choice to notice God’s presence even when life feels incomplete. When we give thanks, our perspective changes: scarcity loosens its grip and hope quietly grows. Gratitude trains our hearts to see beyond disappointment and to recognise God at work in small mercies and unseen faithfulness. As we practise thanksgiving, our trust is strengthened, our hearts become more receptive, and we begin to notice grace threaded through ordinary moments, sustaining us day by day.

It was  G.K. Chesterton who said, “When it comes to life the critical thing is whether you take things for granted or take them with gratitude.”

Illustration:

Think of a camera lens adjusting its focus. When it shifts, what seemed blurry becomes clear. Gratitude refocuses our hearts to see God’s presence in everyday life.

Thought / Question:

What is one thing I can honestly thank God for today?

Prayer:

Lord, cultivate gratitude in my heart, even in challenging moments. Amen.

Action Step:

Write down three things you’re thankful for today—big or small—and offer them to God in prayer.

Daily Devotions

God’s Strength in Weakness

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 12:9

“My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”

Reflection:

Paul discovered that weakness is not something to be ashamed of, but a doorway into God’s grace. In a world that prizes strength, competence, and self-sufficiency, we are tempted to hide our struggles. Yet God works most powerfully when we stop pretending and honestly acknowledge our need. When we admit our limitations, we make room for God’s strength to take hold. In moments of vulnerability, grace does not abandon us; it meets us, upholds us, and quietly transforms our weakness into a testimony of God’s faithful power.

I recently read that “Many a humble soul will be amazed to find that the seed it sowed in weakness, in the dust of daily life, has blossomed into immortal flowers under the eye of the Lord.”

Illustration:

A cracked vessel cannot hold water perfectly, but when light shines inside, it glows through the cracks. Our weaknesses become places where God’s light is most visible.

Thought / Question:

Where do I need to rely more on God’s strength than my own?

Prayer:

Lord, let Your grace be my strength. Work through my weakness for Your glory. Amen.

Action Step:

Name one area where you feel weak or inadequate. Bring it honestly to God and ask for His sustaining grace.