Daily Devotion for May 12, 2026

Devotion:

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Read Matthew 7:13-14.

Jesus gives a vivid picture in this passage: two gates, two roads, and two destinations. One gate is wide, the road is easy, and many people travel it—but it leads to destruction. The other gate is narrow, the road is difficult, and only a few find it—but it leads to life.

The wide path is appealing because it requires little of us. It aligns with our natural desires, cultural pressures, and the comfort of going along with the crowd. There’s no need for sacrifice, no call to surrender, no urgency to change. But Jesus warns us that what seems easy and popular is not always right or life-giving.

The narrow path, on the other hand, is marked by intentionality. It requires choosing obedience over convenience, truth over opinion, and Christ over self. It’s a road of daily surrender—turning away from sin, forgiving when it’s hard, loving when it’s costly, and trusting God even when the way feels uncertain. It is not crowded because it demands something of us: a yielded heart.

Yet, this narrow road leads to something infinitely better—life. Not just eternal life, but a full, rich, meaningful life even now, rooted in a relationship with Christ. The difficulty of the path is outweighed by the joy of walking with Him and the hope of where it leads.

Jesus doesn’t just describe these paths—He invites us to choose. Every day presents decisions about which road we will walk. Will we drift with the crowd, or will we deliberately follow Him?  

Personal Worship Option:

Lord, help me to recognize the paths before me each day. Give me the courage to choose the narrow way, even when it’s difficult or lonely. Shape my heart to desire what leads to life, and guide my steps to follow You faithfully. Amen.

Daily Devotion for May 11, 2026

Devotion:

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Read 1 John 5:13.

My father was not a very religious person. His language was, shall I say, “salty.” He drove us to church but did not attend. Sometimes he said things that were clearly racist, yet he was quick to defend and speak up for the African-American man who worked on our farm. He had a keen sense of integrity. He read the Bible and studied it in depth. He easily quoted passages from the Bible and would give chapter and verse so we could look it up for ourselves. With rain threatening and hay on the ground on a Sunday, he would never, ever go into the field and haul it in, as that would be breaking the Sabbath. My older brother became concerned about Dad’s salvation late in Dad’s life and asked him one day, “Are you a believer?”  Dad was quiet for a few moments and then said, “I believe in Jesus Christ, the Messiah, the Son of the Living God.”  

John, in this verse, reminds us that belief in Jesus should give us confidence or assurance that we will have eternal life. Faithful living should spring from our deep belief and faith in Christ.  

Personal Worship Option:

Help me, Almighty God, to refrain from questioning the faith of others but to focus instead on strengthening my own faith and belief in you through your Son, Jesus Christ. And always help me to live out my faith through my thoughts, words, and actions. Amen.

Daily Devotion for May 10, 2026

Devotion:

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Read John 13:31-38.

In John 13, Jesus is hours away from the cross. Judas has just left the room. The weight of betrayal and denial is in the air. And what does Jesus choose to talk about? Love. “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; just as I have loved you…”  Jesus knows Judas will betray Him and Peter will deny Him. He knows the disciples will scatter, yet He loves them. Isn’t that the heart of a godly mother’s love? Many of us learned our first lessons about Christ not in a classroom, but in a kitchen, a bedside prayer, or a mother’s embrace.

Mother’s Day is beautiful and very meaningful. The tenderness of a mother is a reflection, a shadow, a glimpse of the greater love of our Savior. When mothers love sacrificially, they mirror the cross. When they forgive, they echo grace. When they remain faithful, they reflect Christ.  Thank God for our mothers who have invested their hearts and lives in ours

Personal Worship Option:

Loving God, Thank You for the love You command and the love You show. Thank You for mothers who have reflected Your patience and sacrifice. Help us love others as You have loved us. In Jesus Name. Amen.

Daily Devotion for May 9, 2026

Devotion:

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Read 2 Timothy 1:5-7.

Timothy had a rich heritage of faith.  His grandmother Lois and his mother Unice were women of faith who were followers of Jesus.  They obviously taught Timothy well. Timothy was Paul’s apprentice and helped him by preaching, teaching, and delivering letters to the churches.

Paul sent Timothy to Thessalonica when he was fourteen years old and then to Berea when he was fifteen years old.  By the time he was eighteen years old, he had pastored, visited churches, preached and taught in the Churches at Philippi, Thessalonica and Corinth. In 64 AD, Timothy was twenty-eight years old.  Paul sent him to Ephesus to pastor the church there.

My grandmother went to church thirty-five years in a row without missing a Sunday.  She taught Sunday School for fifty years.  As she aged, she told me one day, “I can’t do much for the Lord anymore, I don’t have the health and energy.  So, I just pray six to eight hours a day.  I can do that.” Thank you Mamaw for being an amazing example and for making an impact in my life.

The impact these godly women had in Timothy’s life impacted his life in wonderful ways.  Thank you, moms, for the difference you are making in your children’s life.  Many times, they must grow up and have children themselves to fully appreciate your love and the sacrifices you have made for them.

Personal Worship Option:

Gracious God, we thank You for the sincere faith You plant in the hearts of mothers. A faith that is lived out daily in love, sacrifice, and perseverance. Just as Timothy’s faith was nurtured through his mother and grandmother, we thank You for moms who pass on faith through their words, prayers, and faithful example. In Jesus Holy name we pray. Amen

Daily Devotion for May 8, 2026

Devotion:

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Read Proverbs 31:25-28.

A mother works hard, gives good advice to her children, and does it with kindness.  This passage is not just about women, it is a model for all believers.  True strength is not in physical power or material wealth, but in the courage to face life’s challenges with a heart rooted in God’s Word and faith.  Dignity here means living with purpose and choosing to honor God in every area of life.  

So how can we incorporate these truths into our lives?  Cultivate inner strength by relying on God’s power and seeking His wisdom daily.  Speak with wisdom and kindness, reflecting God’s character in your words and actions.  Plan and work diligently in your responsibilities, avoiding complacency.  Trust God’s provision so you can face the future with confidence and joy.  Seek honor and blessing by living in a way that reflects God’s love and truth, so others will praise Him through you.

Personal Worship Option:

Reflect on your spiritual journey. How well do you demonstrate these qualities? What does God say to you?

Daily Devotion for May 7, 2026

Devotion:

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Read Psalm 127:3-5.

 I prefer the Message interpretation, so I have included it here: (Don’t you see that children are God’s best gift?  the fruit of the womb his generous legacy? Like a warrior’s fistful of arrows are the children of a vigorous youth. Oh, how blessed are you parents, with your quivers full of children! Your enemies don’t stand a chance against you; you’ll sweep them right off your doorstep.)

The psalmist begins by saying children are a heritage and a gift from God. They are not a burden or inconvenience, but a wonderful inheritance. Parents are not owners but stewards as the children belong to God. While the world measures wealth in material possessions, the psalmist suggests that a house full of godly children is a greater treasure. It is important to train and turn our children toward Christ by modeling his actions and helping our children grow in their faith. Whether they are our children or our community children, we need to lead them on the path that Jesus sets forth.  

Personal Worship Option:

Equip us, Lord, to train up children in the way they should go, for your sake, from one generation to the next. Amen

Daily Devotion for May 6, 2026

Devotion:

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Read Exodus 20:12.

“Honor your father and your mother, so that your days may be long in the land that the LORD your God is giving you.” (Exodus 20:12) There are a number of scriptures in the Bible that look good on the page but sometimes are hard to put into practice. At first glance, you wouldn’t think this is one of the tough ones. Honoring one’s parents is important in almost every culture and faith tradition. But families and family relationships can sometimes be problematic. Even Jesus had family issues from time to time. And the families in Genesis and Exodus and elsewhere in the Old Testament often had notorious issues and conflicts that went on across generations. Much of the time, there seemed to be more fighting than honoring!

But in this scripture, like the rest of the Bible, it seems that God is looking at things from a long view. And maybe we should as well. We are called to honor our parents, but it is also clear that none of us have perfect parents. It’s also clear that our parents didn’t have perfect children (despite the claims I make to my siblings). The older I get, the more I appreciate my parents, and the more I understand how hard it can be at times to be a parent. Perhaps we can honor the love that our parents tried to share with us on both the good and not so good days.

Personal Worship Option:

Lord, help us to honor our parents. Amen.