January Devotions

Walking by Faith

2 Corinthians 5:7 — “For we walk by faith, not by sight.”

Walking by faith is ordinary and brave at the same time. It doesn’t demand dramatic leaps; it asks for steady, dependent steps. To walk by faith is to trust God for the next footfall rather than trying to map the whole journey from where we stand.

Faith often looks like small obedience: answering a call, saying a hard word in love, choosing hope when the next outcome is unclear. It refuses the tyranny of needing to see everything before it moves. Instead, it leans into God’s presence and says, “Lead me.” The path may twist, the weather may change, but the One who calls us goes before us.

This verse is an invitation to live expectantly — not because we have solved every problem, but because we trust the One who holds tomorrow. Walking by faith steadies our feet for the next step and frees us from the paralysis of seeing only obstacles.

Think of a parent teaching a small child to walk. The child can’t see the far side of the room or the parent’s face across it, but the child sees a reassuring hand, hears a gentle voice, and takes a step. The parent’s hand is a close, guiding presence — never letting go completely, but allowing the child to learn forward movement one step at a time.

So it is with God. He doesn’t remove the need to move; He accompanies us. We don’t need to map the entire journey — only to trust the hand that guides us and to place our foot where He directs, then the next, then the next.

Prayer

Lord Jesus,

You who walk beside me, steady my feet when I fear what I cannot see.

Teach me to trust You for the next step rather than the whole road.

When I grow anxious about tomorrow, remind me to look to You and not only at my circumstances.

Help me listen for Your gentle leading and obey, even in small things.

Lead me — one step at a time.

Amen.

Practice for Today: Pray “Lead me one step at a time.”

1. Quiet yourself for a minute. Breathe.
2. Pray aloud or silently: “Lord, lead me one step at a time.”
3. Name one small next step you believe God is calling you to (a conversation, a decision, an act of kindness, a moment of rest).
4. Do that single step today.
5. Repeat the prayer each time you feel stuck: “Lead me one step at a time.”

Faith grows in small, faithful steps. Take one today.

Daily Devotional

"In Our Weakness – Christ Meets Us with Strength"

Based on 2 Corinthians 12:9–10

In 2 Corinthians 12:9–10, Paul writes: “But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” On this day, we reflect on how Christ meets us in our limitations, bringing His strength to bear in our weakness and using our struggles to display His glory. Four key truths guide our reflection:

First, God’s Grace Is Enough for Every Weakness – We do not need to hide or overcome our weaknesses to be used by Christ. His grace is tailored to our needs, providing exactly what we require to stand firm and serve Him.

Second, Strength Is Made Perfect in Limitation – When we are weak, we cannot rely on our own abilities – this creates space for Christ’s power to work through us in ways that would be impossible if we were self-sufficient. Our limitations become platforms for His glory.

Third, Weakness Can Become a Source of Joy – Paul learns to delight in his weaknesses because they draw him closer to Christ and allow him to experience the fullness of His power. What we see as a burden can become a means of deeper relationship with our Lord.

Fourth, Our Struggles Point Others to Christ – When people see us relying on God’s strength rather than our own, our lives become a powerful witness. Our weakness testifies to the reality that true strength comes only from Christ.

Challenge – Today, identify one area of weakness or limitation you are facing. Instead of trying to hide or fix it on your own, bring it to Jesus and ask Him to make His strength perfect in it. Consider sharing your struggle with a trusted friend or mentor, letting it be a way to point them to God’s grace.

Prayer – "Lord Jesus, thank You for meeting me in my weakness and promising that Your grace is sufficient for me. Help me to stop relying on my own strength and to let Your power rest on me. Teach me to delight in my limitations, knowing that in them I can experience Your true strength. In Your name I pray, amen."

Conclusion

Our weaknesses are not barriers to following Christ – they are opportunities to encounter His strength in profound ways. May we embrace our limitations with faith, knowing that when we are weak, we are strong in Him.

January Devotions

We now turn to the theme of Small Steps of Trust starting with the idea of Letting God be God.

Psalm 46:1 — “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.”

Trust often begins with a small but difficult step: letting God be God.

We say the words easily, yet the heart wrestles with them. We plan, control, fix, manage, and worry — often in the same breath that we pray.

Psalm 46 invites us to a different posture.

It reminds us that God is our refuge and strength, not our own ability to hold everything together. It teaches us that God is ever-present — not distant, not indifferent, not delayed — but right here, right now, faithful and near.

Letting God be God doesn’t mean we stop acting responsibly. It means we stop acting as though everything depends on us. It means loosening our grip on situations we were never meant to carry alone. It is the quiet, courageous act of saying:

“Lord, I cannot fix this… but You can.”

“I cannot see the way… but You know the path.”

“I cannot hold this together… but You hold me.”

Trust grows in small steps — often beginning with one surrendered situation.

A man once described how he used to walk around with clenched fists whenever he was anxious — literally tightening his hands without realising it. One day his pastor gently pointed it out and said, “Maybe it’s time to open your hands.”

That simple physical act became a spiritual turning point.

Each morning he would sit in silence, open his hands on his lap, and pray, “Lord, I let You be God in this.”

He still faced challenges. But something shifted.

Problems no longer owned him.

Fear no longer defined him.

His hands — and his heart — began to rest.

Letting God be God is not a grand gesture; it’s a simple release. It is opening our hands, one situation at a time.

Prayer

Faithful God,

You are my refuge when I am overwhelmed

and my strength when I feel weak.

Today I choose to let You be God —

to release what I grasp too tightly

and trust that You are already at work.

Teach me to rest in Your presence

and rely on Your power rather than my own.

I place my hope in You.

Amen.

Practice for Today: Hand One Situation Fully to God

Identify one situation that weighs on you — a worry, decision, relationship, or burden.

Then:

• Name it honestly before God.
• Imagine placing it into His hands.
• Release your grip, even just for today.
• Say: “Lord, I let You be God in this.”

Keep it simple. Keep it small.

Trust begins with one surrendered step.

January Devotions

Hospitality of the Heart

Hospitality in Scripture is far more than setting a beautiful table or opening our home. It begins much deeper. Hospitality starts in the heart.

It is the willingness to make space — emotionally, spiritually, relationally — for another person.

Paul’s words in Romans are addressed to everyday Christians living ordinary lives. He isn’t asking them to host grand events or entertain strangers with polished charm. He is calling them to a posture of openness:

Make room. Create margin. Let others in.

In a world that rushes, protects, and sometimes isolates, hospitality is countercultural. It slows down long enough to notice who is missing, who is near, and who is in need of welcome. Hospitality of heart says:

• “I see you.”
• “You’re safe here.”
• “You matter.”
• “I can share what I have — even if it’s small.”

God has made space for us through Christ — a place of forgiveness, belonging, and grace. When we make space for others, we reflect His generous heart.

A minister once described how a woman in his church transformed their fellowship simply by her presence. She didn’t lead from the front, organise big events, or speak often. But every Sunday, she stood near the door, smiled at each person, and said, “I’m so glad you’re here.”

Newcomers mentioned her more than any sermon.

Long-time members said her welcome made the church feel like family.

One man, going through a painful divorce, said, “That greeting was the only warm moment of my week.”

She never hosted a dinner party or led a hospitality team — she simply made space in her heart. A smile, a welcome, a moment of attention. And it changed lives.

Small welcomes often carry the greatest weight.

Prayer

Welcoming God,

Thank You that You have made room for me in Your love.

Today, open my heart to make room for someone else.

Slow me down to notice who needs time, attention, or simple warmth.

Teach me to practise hospitality in quiet, genuine ways —

not just through what I offer, but through how I see and value others.

May my presence create a safe place of grace.

Amen.

Practice for Today: Make Space for Someone

Choose one way to offer hospitality of heart:

• Give someone your full attention without rushing.
• Sit beside someone who seems alone.
• Invite a conversation with someone you might normally pass by.
• Offer a warm welcome to a neighbour, colleague, or stranger.
• Create a few minutes of margin to simply be present to someone who needs it.

Make space. Hold space. Share space.

Let your welcome be a quiet blessing wherever you go.

January Devotions

Generosity in Small Places

Proverbs 11:25 — “A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed.”

We often imagine generosity as something big or impressive—writing a large cheque, giving hours of our time, or doing something that makes a noticeable difference. But Scripture reminds us that God notices the small things just as much.

“Whoever refreshes others…” — the Hebrew idea behind refreshing is to give a breath of life, a moment of relief, a cup of cool water to someone weary. It doesn’t take much: a kind word, a brief message, a cup of tea placed in someone’s hand, a moment of listening.

In God’s economy, small generosity has large impact. Little acts create little ripples… that become big refreshment. And the miracle of it is this: as we refresh others, something in us is refreshed too. Generosity enlarges the heart. It opens us to joy. It frees us from the tight-fistedness that steals life from the soul.

Today, God invites you to be faithful in the small places where generosity is possible: the unnoticed corners, the fleeting interactions, the ordinary moments that often pass by without a thought. These are the spaces where heaven quietly breaks in.

A charity worker once told the story of a boy who came daily to their community centre. He came from a difficult home, rarely smiled, and spoke very little. One afternoon, a volunteer noticed the boy sitting alone and quietly placed a biscuit next to him with a simple, “This is for you.”

The boy didn’t respond at first. But the next day he came back to the same volunteer and whispered, “Thank you. No one’s been kind like that before.”

It wasn’t the biscuit that changed him—it was the message behind it: You are seen. You matter.

Years later, that same boy returned as a young man to volunteer, saying, “I’m here because someone once gave me something small… and it made me feel big.”

Small generosity creates large hope.

Generous God,

Thank you that you refresh us daily with grace we do not earn and kindness we do not deserve.

Open my eyes today to the small places where a gentle word, a quiet gift, or a simple kindness can bring life to another.

Make my heart generous in the ordinary moments, and may the refreshing I offer reflect the refreshing You give.

Use even my smallest acts for Your great glory.

Amen.

Practice for Today: A Small Act of Giving

Choose one simple, intentional act of generosity:

• Give someone an unexpected compliment.
• Leave a note of encouragement.
• Make a cup of tea for someone who needs a moment of peace.
• Send a short message of thanks or appreciation.
• Slip a small gift or treat into someone’s hand or pocket.

Let it be small. Let it be quiet. Let it be sincere.

And trust that God will multiply it.