Daily Devotions

1 Corinthians 7:24

According to The Message: “Friends, stay where you were called to be. God is there. Hold the high ground with him at your side.”

It seems the church in Corinth may have been caught up in the “grass is greener on the other side” syndrome. Paul reminds them—and us—that God is present where He has placed us. We are not to be restless, comparing ourselves with others or envying their calling, but to remain faithful in our own.

The Old Testament offers a warning in the story of Aaron and Miriam (Numbers 12). They became critical of Moses, not out of righteousness, but out of envy and selfish ambition. Their discontent led them away from God’s will. In the same way, when we covet someone else’s ministry, position, or gifting, we lose sight of the unique purpose God has for us.

Instead, Scripture calls us to celebrate the diversity of gifts in the body of Christ. Each role is vital. Each calling matters. God’s purpose for your life is not diminished because it looks different from someone else’s—it is unique, beautiful, and woven into His greater plan. The key is to trust His design, to rejoice in what He is doing in us and through others, and to remain faithful where we are.

Paul’s counsel here is simple but profound: contentment and faithfulness in our present circumstances honour God, because His purpose can be fulfilled in any context.

Prayer

Dear God,
Thank You for calling me and for being with me in the circumstances of my life.
Guard me from envy and comparison,
and help me to recognise and embrace the calling You have given me.
Grant me wisdom to walk with integrity,
patience to remain where You have placed me,
and joy in seeing how You are working in me and in others.
May my life be a faithful part of Your greater plan,
through Jesus Christ my Lord.
Amen

Daily Devotions

Proverbs 30:8

"Remove far from me falsehood and lying; give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with the food that is needful for me."

The book of Proverbs is often overlooked by disciples today, yet it is full of short, piercing insights into how to live wisely before God. Here, in a single verse, we find a prayer worth repeating often: a prayer for honesty, humility, and contentment.

Clovis Chappell, in his book Feminine Faces, tells a haunting story from the excavations of Pompeii. When the volcanic ashes of Mount Vesuvius were cleared, the body of a woman was discovered. Her feet were turned toward the city gate—the way of escape—but her arms were stretched backward, fingers clutching for a small bag of pearls. Death was pressing in, yet she could not release her grasp. Chappell wrote: “Though death was hot at her heels and life was beckoning to her beyond the city gates, she could not shake off their spell... But it was not the eruption of Vesuvius that made her love pearls more than life. It only froze her in this attitude of greed.”

This is the danger Proverbs warns us against. Wealth can captivate, even enslave. Poverty, on the other hand, can drive us into desperation. Both extremes carry dangers. And so the prayer wisely asks God: “Give me neither poverty nor riches, but only my daily bread.”

It echoes Jesus’ own teaching in the Lord’s Prayer: “Give us this day our daily bread.” It is a prayer of sufficiency—not too little, not too much, but enough. Enough to meet our needs, to keep us humble, and to remind us that our security rests not in possessions, but in God’s faithful provision.

Prayer

Generous Father,
Thank You for the blessings You have poured into my life.
Protect me from falsehood and dishonesty in thought, word, and deed.
Guard me from the snares of greed and the despair of poverty.
Teach me to be content with what You provide,
trusting You daily for the food and strength I need.
May my heart rest in gratitude,
and may my life reflect Your generosity to others.
Through Christ my Lord,
Amen.

Sunday Thought – 21 September 2025

This Week’s Readings

• Jeremiah 8:18–9:1 – The prophet grieves deeply over the suffering of God’s people, longing for healing where none seems to be found.
• Psalm 79:1–9 – A communal lament cries out for mercy and forgiveness after devastation, pleading for God’s deliverance.
• 1 Timothy 2:1–7 – Paul urges prayer for all people and leaders, affirming Christ as the one mediator who gave himself for all.
• Luke 16:1–13 – Jesus teaches through the parable of the shrewd manager that true disciples must choose between serving God or wealth.

Reflection – “When Mercy Meets Profit”

Jeremiah grieves for a people whose joy is gone—“the harvest is past, the summer is ended, and we are not saved”—yearning for healing where there seems to be none  . Psalm 79 echoes this lament, crying out in anguish over violence, destruction, and the ruin of God’s people. Into such brokenness, Paul calls the church to intercede— “pray for all” and “lift up holy hands” to witness to God’s sway over every human heart. 

In Luke, the shrewd manager’s parable confronts us with hard truths about faithfulness, stewardship, and the currency of grace. It asks: when the world measures success in profit, will we invest in eternity? Will our faith shape our loyalty and our actions, even when doing so seems counter-intuitive?

This week, may we mourn injustice, pray without ceasing, and steward the riches of grace with wisdom.

Prayer: God of mercy, meet us in our sorrow, teach us to pray and to steward your grace with integrity. Amen.

Hymn Reflection – Singing the Faith 719

“God, give us peace…

With you to lead us on,

through death or tumult, 

peace will come.” 

Daily Devotions

Psalm 37:7

"Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him; fret not yourself over the one who prospers in his way, over the man who carries out evil devices!"

Here, David gives us yet another key to contentment: waiting patiently before the Lord.

In schooldays past, punishments were often lines of repetition. One teacher of mine in the 1960s chose an unusual phrase: instead of the familiar “I must not…,” he insisted on writing out one hundred times, “Patience is a virtue I must endeavour to possess!” At the time, it seemed little more than tedium—but the truth of those words echoes Scripture.

Leonardo da Vinci once described patience like clothing in winter: “Patience serves as a protection against wrongs as clothes do against cold. For if you put on more clothes as the cold increases, it will have no power to hurt you. So in like manner you must grow in patience when you meet with great wrongs, and they will then be powerless to vex your mind.”Patience shields the heart from bitterness.

David goes further by warning against fretting. The Hebrew word used here literally means “to burn” or “to be kindled.” We might say, “to get hot under the collar,” or “steaming mad.” When we see the wicked prosper, envy and anger can ignite within us. But God’s word directs us away from agitation and toward calm surrender. The believer’s task is not to rage or fret but to be still, to rest in God’s sovereign care, and to trust His timing.

To wait on the Lord is not passivity—it is active trust. It is the quiet strength of knowing that God is just, His purposes are good, and His plans will not fail.

Prayer

Lord of peace,
I come before You today acknowledging Your sovereignty and power.
Teach me to be still in Your presence and to wait patiently for Your hand at work.
When life feels unfair, when the wicked seem to prosper,
protect me from anger and fretting, and root me instead in trust.
Help me to surrender to Your timing,
to rest in Your love, and to shine with Your peace
even in the midst of unrest.
Thank You for Your unfailing love
and for guiding me on this journey of patience.
Through Christ my Lord I pray,
Amen.

Daily Devotions

 

1 Timothy 6:7–8

"For we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world. But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content."

Paul’s words strike at the heart of contentment. Life begins with empty hands and ends the same way. Possessions may fill our homes, but they cannot cross the threshold of eternity. True peace is found not in what we accumulate, but in trusting God to provide for our daily needs.

John Wesley understood this perspective well. When he learned that his home had been destroyed by fire, his response was calm and striking: “The Lord’s house burned. One less responsibility for me!” His possessions never possessed him.

Martin Luther expressed a similar truth when he wrote: “I have held many things in my hands and I have lost them all; but whatever I have placed in God’s hands, that I still possess.” His security was not in what he owned, but in whom he trusted.

A story is also told of Dr. George W. Truett, a Baptist pastor, who once dined with a wealthy oil baron. After the meal, the man proudly showed him his vast holdings—oil wells to the north, grain fields to the south, cattle to the east, forests to the west. “It’s all mine,” he declared with satisfaction. Expecting admiration, he paused. But Dr. Truett gently placed a hand on his shoulder, then pointed upward and asked, “And how much do you have in that direction?” The man lowered his head and confessed, “I never thought of that.”

A Word for Us

1 Timothy 6:7–8, along with these testimonies, reminds us that contentment is not about how much we hold, but about where we look. Greed looks outward and downward, always wanting more. Faith looks upward, entrusting all things to God, and finding peace in Him.

Prayer

Holy God,
Forgive me for the times I have been consumed by greed,
by covetous desires, and by chasing after excess.
Teach me to be content with what You provide—
to see food and clothing, shelter and community,
as gifts of Your loving care.
May my joy be rooted not in possessions,
but in You, and in the people You place in my life.
Help me to live with open hands and a trusting heart,
so that what I hold is always Yours.
In Jesus’ name I pray,
Amen.

Daily Devotions

Ecclesiastes 4:6

"Better is a handful of quietness than two hands full of toil and a striving after wind."

This verse presents a vivid contrast: one hand at rest with contentment versus two hands grasping endlessly at toil and futility. It reminds us that peace and satisfaction with a little are far better than restless striving for more that never satisfies.

There are different ways to interpret this wisdom:

1. An Excuse for Laziness – Some might misuse it to justify idleness, claiming that doing little is better than working hard. But that misses the heart of the passage.

2. A Call to Balance – Others see Solomon urging balance: not relentless striving for abundance, nor careless neglect of responsibility, but a wise middle way that brings stability to life.

3. Contentment over Ambition – Most commonly, this verse is taken as a call to contentment. True blessing is found not in the abundance of possessions, but in the quietness of heart that enjoys and gives thanks for what God has already provided.

At its core, Ecclesiastes 4:6 invites us to step away from endless grasping and restless ambition, and instead to embrace the peace of trusting God with what we have.

A Word for Disciples of Jesus

As followers of Christ, we are called to guard against misplaced ambition. Ambition itself is not wrong—but when it becomes self-centred, it can easily turn us away from God. The pursuit of success or wealth for our own glory can lead to pride and self-absorption. The gospel calls us to a better ambition: to be shaped into the likeness of Jesus, to use what we have to bless others, and to measure greatness not by achievements, but by grace, humility, and love.

Prayer

Loving Lord,
Make our ambition not for wealth or status,
but to become more like You in word and deed.
Shape us to extend grace to those around us,
renewing our hearts and minds with Your vision of greatness.
Replace the lies of unhealthy ambition
with the truth of the gospel—
that our worth and security are found in You alone.
Thank You for Your patience with us,
and for the endless grace You pour out through Christ.
Amen.

Daily Devotions

Psalm 34:8

"Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good! Blessed is the one who takes refuge in Him!"

This verse is an invitation, not just to hear about God’s goodness, but to experience it personally. It calls us to move from theory into practice, from knowing about God to truly encountering Him in our lives.

The phrase “taste and see” is metaphorical. It points us to a deeper truth: God’s goodness is not abstract, but real and tangible. Just as food must be tasted to be enjoyed, so God’s grace must be experienced to be understood. Those who trust in Him discover His blessings, protection, and joy—even in seasons of difficulty.

This is not a passive command but an active one. We are urged to seek God, explore His ways, and test His promises for ourselves. Trusting in Him means stepping into a relationship of reliance, learning by experience that He is faithful.

Eugene Peterson once drew a vivid picture of meditation on Scripture by comparing it to his dog chewing on a bone. With soft purrs and low growls, the dog savoured and worked at it, unwilling to let it go. Peterson suggested that the same is true for us as we “chew” on God’s Word—rolling it around in our hearts, drawing strength, flavour, and nourishment from it. In that way, we taste and see the goodness of the Lord, and we find contentment in His presence.

Prayer

Gracious Lord,
We come before You with hearts open to Your goodness.
Teach us not only to hear of Your promises,
but to taste and see them at work in our lives.
May we find in You our refuge and strength,
our daily bread and our lasting joy.
Guide us to trust in Your love,
to savour Your Word,
and to live out of the abundance of Your goodness.
Through Christ our Shepherd we pray,
Amen.

Daily Devotions

1 Timothy 6:17–19

"As for the rich in this present age, charge them not to be haughty, nor to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy. They are to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, thus storing up treasure for themselves as a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is truly life."

Paul’s words here are strikingly ahead of their time. He reminds us that wealth is uncertain—like the disclaimer at the end of an investment commercial: “the value of your investments may go up as well as down.” Riches may appear secure, but they can vanish in a moment. Our trust must be placed, not in possessions, but in God, the One who provides abundantly all that we need.

For those who do have wealth, Paul issues both a warning and a calling. The warning: do not be arrogant or place hope in riches. The calling: be “rich in good works”—generous, ready to share, and using resources to serve others and glorify God. In this way, wealth becomes not a stumbling block, but a tool for blessing.

Yet Paul takes it deeper. The ultimate goal is not generosity for its own sake, but to “take hold of what is truly life.” True life is not found in accumulation, but in a relationship with God—a life marked by faith, love, and eternal hope.

The 19th-century statesman Charles Francis Adams once wrote in his diary: “Went fishing with my son today—day wasted.” That same day, his son Brook wrote in his own diary: “Went fishing with my father today—the most wonderful day of my life!”

What the father thought was a waste of time, the son saw as an investment of love. The difference between wasting and investing lies in our purpose. Paul urges us to invest in what truly lasts—generosity, good works, and eternal treasures—so that we may grasp real life.

Prayer

Holy God,
You reach out in love through Jesus Christ
so that we may live as faithful servants of You alone.
Unchain us from our restless desire for wealth and power,
and teach us to set our hope on You,
the One who richly provides all things.
Make us generous and ready to share,
that others may be freed from poverty, hunger, and oppression.
And lead us always to take hold of what is truly life,
in Christ our Lord.
Amen.

Daily Devotions

 

Proverbs 28:25

"The greedy stir up conflict, but those who trust in the Lord will prosper."

In Hebrew, the word translated prosper carries the sense of being “fattened”—to be enriched, anointed, or satisfied. It speaks less of financial gain and more of a deep inner fullness. Perhaps the key to contentment is not the pursuit of more, but the experience of God’s satisfying presence.

Greed, on the other hand, never satisfies. It breeds conflict, envy, and strife—turning relationships sour and communities fragile. In contrast, those who trust in the Lord find themselves enriched, not simply with material things, but with peace, joy, and the assurance that their needs are in God’s hands.

In our 21st-century world, the word prosper often makes us think of financial success. But maybe a better word here is enriched. The person who places faith in God discovers a richness of life that cannot be measured by a bank account: contentment, peace, gratitude, and generosity.

A wealthy businessman was once asked, “How much money is enough?” He smiled wryly and replied, “Just a little more.”

That’s the problem with greed—it always asks for more, yet never satisfies. It keeps us chasing what cannot fill the soul. But trust in God shifts the question. Instead of asking, “How much is enough?” we begin to say, “The Lord is enough.”That’s the enrichment Proverbs points us toward.

Prayer

Gracious Lord,
Guard me from the trap of greed and restless striving.
Teach me to trust in You as my source of true enrichment.
Satisfy my soul with Your presence,
so that I may find joy not in possessions,
but in Your faithful love.
Make me generous in spirit,
peaceful in relationships,
and content in all circumstances.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Sunday Thought – 14 September 2025

This Week’s Readings

• • Jeremiah 18:1–11 – God compares Israel to clay in a potter’s hands, reminding the people that their actions can be reshaped through repentance.
  • Psalm 139:1–6, 13–18 – The psalmist marvels at God’s intimate knowledge and care, recognizing that we are wonderfully made and fully known.
  • Philemon 1–21 – Paul appeals for Onesimus, a runaway slave, to be welcomed back not as a servant but as a beloved brother in Christ.
  • Luke 14:25–33 – Jesus calls his followers to count the cost of discipleship, emphasizing that loyalty to him must take priority over all else

  
  

Jeremiah laments a people who have forgotten how to do good, and the psalmist echoes that “all have gone astray.” Yet the New Testament offers a word of grace: Paul, once a persecutor, now marvels at God’s mercy, declaring, “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the foremost.”

In Luke’s parables of the lost sheep and the lost coin, Jesus reveals the heart of God—tireless, searching, rejoicing when what was lost is found. Heaven celebrates every life reclaimed by grace.

This week, may we believe that we too are sought and loved, and may we reflect that mercy by seeking out the forgotten.

Prayer: Merciful God, find us, forgive us, and help us to rejoice with you. Amen.

Hymn Reflection – Singing the Faith 409

“Let hope and joy and peace be mine,
Lord Jesus Christ;
hope that endures, and peace divine,
Lord Jesus Christ.”

Daily Devotions

 

Contentment in Every Circumstance – Philippians 4:12

Paul writes:
"I know what it is to be brought low, and I know what it is to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need."

These words reflect a deep spiritual maturity. Paul had discovered that contentment does not come from outward circumstances but from an inner reliance on Christ. Whether life brought him blessing or hardship, he could rest secure in God’s strength.

For us, this is both a challenge and an encouragement. A challenge, because we so easily tie our peace to circumstances. But also an encouragement, because Paul shows us that true contentment is something we can learn—it is cultivated through trust in God’s faithful provision.

The story is told of a frustrated choir director preparing for a Christmas concert. Rehearsals had been poorly attended, and at the final practice he stood up to say,
"I want to personally thank the pianist for being the only person in the entire choir to attend every rehearsal over the past two months."

At that, the pianist rose, bowed politely, and replied,
"It was the least I could do—since I won’t be able to make the concert tonight!"

It’s humorous, but it highlights something important: life rarely goes as expected. Challenges and disappointments come, often when we least anticipate them. How do we respond when life doesn’t follow our plan?

The Christian Response

A follower of Jesus faces the unexpected with trust in God’s sovereignty, leaning on His wisdom and grace. Faith allows us to see that even in setbacks, God is at work. As Frederick Buechner reminds us:

"The tears you shed—whether of joy or of sorrow—tell you something of who you are. More often than not, God is speaking through them, summoning you toward where your soul must go next."

Our tears, our struggles, and our joys are all places where God meets us, shaping us into Christ’s likeness.

Prayer

Heavenly Father,
Teach me, like Paul, to be content in all circumstances.
When I have little, remind me of Your daily provision.
When I have much, keep me humble and thankful.
In hunger or in plenty, in hardship or in blessing,
may I find my strength, my hope, and my joy in Jesus.
And whatever my situation, may my life bring glory to You.
Amen.

Daily Devotions

The Contented Life – Matthew 6:19–24

Jesus’ words about contentment are beautifully summed up in this part of the Sermon on the Mount. He teaches us not to store up treasures on earth—because everything here eventually fades, rusts, or gets stolen. Instead, He points us toward treasures in heaven, things that cannot perish or be taken away. He reminds us that “where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

Then Jesus shifts the image: “The eye is the lamp of the body.” In other words, what we choose to look at, value, and focus on determines the direction of our whole lives. If our eye is healthy—set on God and His kingdom—our whole life is filled with light. But if our vision is clouded—fixed on self, wealth, or temporary pleasures—darkness settles in.

It makes me wonder: is contentment really in the eye of the beholder? Or perhaps more truly—contentment lies in where our eyes are focused.

Think of a pair of binoculars. They don’t create something new, but they bring into sharper focus what was already there. Without them, we might see only a blur on the horizon; with them, we can bring the distant into view, centre on it, and make it larger in our sight.

Jesus calls us to use the "binoculars of faith"—to bring God’s kingdom into focus. He challenges us: What are you really looking at? What has your attention? Is it possessions and status, or is it God’s presence, goodness, and blessing?

A contented life is not about having more things, but about having a clearer focus. A healthy eye sees God at work in our circumstances, and responds with gratitude and compassion.

Prayer

Lord God,
Teach me to see as You see.
Keep me from being distracted by treasures that fade,
and help me to treasure what lasts forever.
Sharpen my focus on Your kingdom,
so that I may live with gratitude, generosity, and light.
Amen.

Daily Devotions

In our pursuit of the inner contentment that God desires for us, we are reminded of Proverbs 16:8 (ESV): “Better is a little with righteousness than great revenues with injustice.”

This verse reminds us that true fulfillment does not come from wealth or material gain, but from living a life of integrity before God. Righteousness, even when accompanied by modest resources, is far more valuable than riches obtained through dishonesty.

Spiritual integrity means aligning our actions and beliefs with God’s truth and the values rooted in our faith. It is consistency of character—choosing honesty, faithfulness, and righteousness regardless of circumstances. This integrity finds its highest expression in the life and example of Jesus Christ, who perfectly embodied obedience to the Father’s will.

History gives us powerful examples of integrity under pressure. During the turmoil of the Civil War, President Abraham Lincoln faced immense criticism and challenges. Yet he resolved never to compromise his integrity. His conviction was so strong that he once said: “I desire so to conduct the affairs of this administration that if at the end, when I come to lay down the reins of power, I have lost every other friend on earth, I shall at least have one friend left, and that friend shall be down inside of me.”

As disciples, we are called to the same unwavering integrity. The late Pope Francis captured this challenge when he asked: “The Lord is knocking at the door of our hearts. Have we put a sign on the door saying: ‘Do not disturb’?” His words remind us that righteousness requires openness to God’s call, even when it disrupts our comfort.

A Prayer for Integrity and Contentment
Dear God, I come before You seeking wisdom and guidance. Your Word teaches me that righteousness is greater than riches, and that integrity is more valuable than worldly success. Help me to walk in Your ways, even when the path is difficult or less rewarding by earthly standards. Give me strength to resist the temptation of gain without justice, and courage to honor You in every decision I make. May my life reflect Your character, and may I find true contentment in Your presence and provision. Teach me to treasure righteousness above wealth, and faithfulness above success. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Daily Devotions

1 Corinthians 7:17 (Paraphrased):

"Let each person walk faithfully in the life the Lord has assigned and to which God has called them. This is the standard I set for all the churches."

Reflection: A Life Assigned by God

How satisfied are you with your lot in life?

Paul’s words draw us into a posture of holy acceptance—a sacred contentment with the life God has individually entrusted to each of us. This isn’t a resignation to fate, nor a passive drifting through life. Instead, it’s an active, peaceful surrender to God’s sovereign purpose—a joyful willingness to dwell where He has placed us and walk in the calling He has declared.

Satisfaction, in the Christian life, isn’t anchored in circumstance, status, or success. It flows from alignment. It emerges when our hearts are in sync with God’s will—when the joy of following Him outweighs the illusion of control. It’s not about having more; it’s about living in the center of where God wants us to be.

True satisfaction transcends temporary gains and outward accolades. It is a deep sense of purpose and belonging that comes from knowing we are part of a divine story—one written not by chance, but by the hand of our Creator.

For those in Christ, this connection is not abstract—it’s personal. Through Jesus, we don’t just find meaning; we are given a mission. We aren’t just welcomed; we are adopted. We are called by name into God’s family, and there we find not only our identity but our peace.

There’s a quiet power in the trust of a child. A mother once tucked her four-year-old daughter into bed on a dark night. The child, nervous in the shadows, caught sight of the moon outside the window.
“Mummy, is the moon God’s light?”
“Yes,” her mother said gently, “God’s lights are always shining.”
“Will God blow out His light and go to sleep?”
“No, sweetheart. God never sleeps.”
The little girl whispered, “Then I’m not afraid.”

That’s the quiet confidence of a soul satisfied in God.

Prayer

Father,
We praise You for being both sovereign and near. You have appointed to each of us a unique path—not random or arbitrary, but purposeful and full of meaning. Teach us to receive this life with gratitude, to walk in it with trust, and to live it with obedience.

Deliver us from the restless urge to escape or reinvent our circumstances. Instead, anchor our hearts in Your calling. Let us find joy not in striving, but in surrender—knowing that Your eyes are always upon us, and Your light never fades.

As long as You are awake—and You always are—we have nothing to fear.

In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Daily Devotions

Psalm 37:3–5 (ESV)

"Trust in the Lord, and do good; dwell in the land and befriend faithfulness. Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him, and he will act."

Have you noticed the beautiful duality woven throughout these verses? There’s a rhythm of action and consequence—a divine exchange. Trusting leads to doing good. Dwelling results in faithfulness. Delighting brings fulfillment. Committing produces divine action. These are not isolated commands, but invitations into a life shaped by trust in God.

Let’s take a moment to reflect on each verse:

Verse 3 calls us to trust in the Lord and to do good. Faith in God is not passive; it leads to active goodness. We are to dwell—root ourselves—in the place God has placed us, and in doing so, cultivate a life of faithfulness. There’s a sense of stability here: staying put, trusting deeply, and growing in obedience.

Verse 4 invites us to delight in the Lord—not just serve Him, but rejoice in Him. When our greatest joy is found in God Himself, something beautiful happens: He aligns our desires with His will, and those desires—rooted in Him—are fulfilled by His grace.

Verse 5 challenges us to commit our way to the Lord. This is not a half-hearted surrender, but a full entrusting of our plans, worries, and future to Him. And when we place our lives in His hands, we are assured: He will act.

There’s a story of a group of scientists exploring the Alps in search of rare flowers. Through binoculars, they spotted an exquisite, one-of-a-kind bloom nestled deep within a ravine. Eager to retrieve it, they spotted a local boy and offered him money to be lowered down on a rope to get it.

The boy peered into the chasm and replied, “I’ll be back in a minute.” Moments later, he returned with an older man and said, “I’ll go over the cliff and get the flower—if this man holds the rope. He’s my dad.”

That is what trust looks like. The boy was willing to go over the edge, not because the danger had lessened, but because of who was holding the rope.

Prayer
Loving Father,
I long to commit all my ways to You and to trust fully in Your Word. Help me to surrender my plans and desires, knowing You see far beyond what I can imagine. Keep my heart anchored in Jesus, my true delight. Lead me in Your perfect path, and let my life reflect a faith that moves in obedience. I pray this in His holy name,
Amen.

Daily Devotions

“You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in You.”

— Isaiah 26:3

What does perfect peace really mean?

For some, peace is the absence of conflict, noise, or stress. For others, it’s found in a sense of balance—a quiet moment, a full heart, or a life finally in rhythm. But the kind of peace Isaiah speaks of goes deeper. It isn’t fragile or fleeting. It doesn’t waver with circumstances. True peace—perfect peace—flows from a mind anchored in trust and a heart fixed on God.

There’s a story of a man who sought to portray this kind of peace through art. Unmoved by common images, he launched a competition, asking artists to paint their vision of peace. Submissions came from far and wide.

On the day of the unveiling, the crowd gathered in anticipation. One after another, the paintings were revealed—calm waters, glowing sunsets, sheep lying quietly in sunlit fields. Applause followed each. One painting stood out: a serene lake reflecting a pastel sky, bordered by soft trees and gentle hills. Many believed this was the winner.

But the final piece silenced the crowd.

It was wild. A crashing waterfall roared over jagged rocks, under a dark and stormy sky. Wind whipped the trees. Everything about the scene felt fierce and chaotic. But if you looked closer, nestled in the crook of a branch hanging over the torrent, a tiny bird had built her nest. There she rested, undisturbed—wings gently covering her young, eyes closed in peace.

That, the man said, was true peace.

Isaiah’s words remind us: peace is not found in the absence of storms, but in the presence of God.
"You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in You."
This is the peace that holds firm when everything else shakes. It doesn’t come from having all the answers, but from trusting the One who does.

A Prayer for Peace:

Lord,
You have said that the one who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, but delights in You, is truly blessed.
You promise that those who meditate on Your Word are like trees planted by streams of living water—deeply rooted, ever flourishing.

So today, I ask:
Bless me with love where there is hate.
With goodness in the face of hostility.
With peace in the midst of chaos.
With hope when despair creeps in.
With faith in times of testing.
And with joy—even in seasons of pain.

My trust is in You alone.
Grant me that peace which surpasses all understanding—
The peace that remains when the world trembles.
The peace that holds me fast, because I know You hold all things.

Amen.