Daily Devotion for February 24, 2026

Devotion:

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Read Mark 13:24-27, 35-37.

Jesus speaks these words in a moment filled with uncertainty. He describes cosmic signs—darkened skies, shaking powers, and upheaval that feels overwhelming. Yet at the center of this dramatic language is not fear, but hope. “Then they will see the Son of Man coming in clouds with great power and glory.” What looks like the end is actually the revealing of Christ’s victory.

In verses 24–27, Jesus reminds us that history is not spiraling out of control; it is moving toward Him. When the world feels unstable and familiar structures seem to crumble, Christ is still gathering His people. Nothing is missed. No one who belongs to Him is forgotten. Even in chaos, God is actively at work bringing redemption to completion.

Then Jesus shifts from cosmic events to personal responsibility. “Keep awake,” He says. Not because we should live in panic, but because we are called to live with intentional faithfulness. Staying awake means living each day ready—ready to love, to serve, to forgive, and to obey. It’s the posture of a servant who trusts the Master’s return, even when the timing is unknown.

These verses challenge us to ask: Are we spiritually alert, or spiritually distracted? It’s easy to drift into complacency, assuming there will always be more time. Jesus lovingly warns us not to sleep through what truly matters. Every moment becomes meaningful when we live with expectancy.

Personal Worship Option:

Lord Jesus, keep my heart awake and attentive. When the world feels uncertain, help me trust Your promises. Teach me to live faithfully today, watching with hope and obedience for Your return. Amen. 

Daily Devotion for February 23, 2026

Devotion:

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Read Revelation 3:20.

Now, be honest! When you saw that today’s verse is in Revelation, did you conjure up images of strange imagery and visions? Rest easy, as this verse comes in the early part of the book, before all the imagery takes place. Jesus was dictating letters to John to seven churches in Asia Minor. This verse comes in the letter to the church in Laodicea and is one of the harshest of the letters. That church is “lukewarm…neither hot nor cold,” and Jesus says he is about to spit it out of his mouth! Yet, here is this invitation, even to this lukewarm church, in which Jesus offers to come in and to be with them.

I hear this as a personal invitation to every person who reads this verse. Jesus could kick down our doors, the barriers to entry into our hearts. But he does not do that; instead, he stands at the door and knocks. Jesus seeks to be in relationship with us! This is prevenient grace. Jesus assures us that if we open the door to him, he will come in and we will eat together. In his culture, eating together was the ultimate relationship. Our part in this is simply to open our heart’s door and invite Jesus inside.  

Personal Worship Option:

Jesus, sometimes I put up barriers around my heart…barriers of apathy, busyness, and arrogance. Help me to remember that you want to be near me and in my life, so I need to push those barriers aside and open the door wide for you. Amen.

Daily Devotion for February 22, 2026

Devotion:

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Read Matthew 18:21-35.

The parable about the unforgiving servant, is not just about unforgiveness.  It is also about: poor money management, selfishness, greed, the love of money, a critical spirit, grace and mercy. There are many different lessons in this story. One of the major lessons Jesus is teaching us is about forgiveness. It is better to forgive and let go of the injustices of the past than to allow them to remain and let bitterness take root and poison the rest of our life.

The king in this story models for the man who owed him a huge debt, what forgiveness, mercy and grace looks like. The lesson did not take because when he was forgiven of all he owed he found someone who owed him a small amount of money, and he refused to forgive. He showed him no mercy or grace and had him thrown in prison. When the king found out he was very upset and said, should you not also have had mercy on your fellow slave, in the same way that I had mercy on you? God has forgiven us of every sin. Since God has forgiven us of our many sins, let us forgive others.

Personal Worship Option:

Merciful God, thank You for showing us what true mercy looks like. You have forgiven us of our sins, our failures, and our moments of pride. We now forgive everyone who has ever treated us bad. Let our life reflect Your mercy and forgiveness. In Jesus name. Amen.

Daily Devotion for February 21, 2026

Devotion:

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Read Matthew 6: 14-15.

At the closing of The Lord’s Prayer Jesus gives us a lesson about forgiveness.  Forgiveness is important. Holding on to resentment and holding a grudge hurts you more than the other person. Most of them do not know you are holding a grudge and some of them do not care. It is healthier for our emotional wellbeing to let it go and not allow the anger to fester in our hearts. If we do not forgive, it will hinder our prayer life.

Jesus doesn’t say forgiveness is easy, but He does make it clear that it’s essential.  To forgive doesn’t mean pretending the hurt didn’t happen. When we pray a prayer to forgive them, at first, we may feel a bit like a hypocrite because emotionally we did not mean it. We said the words, but our heart is not in it. But, if we will pray a prayer for forgiveness every day, at some point with the help of the Holy Spirit, we will mean it, and our emotions will catch up to our prayers.

Let us choose grace over grudges and forgive.

Personal Worship Option:

Merciful God, thank You for forgiving me. Your mercy is amazing and gives me a fresh start each day. I admit that sometimes it’s hard to forgive others. When forgiveness feels impossible, fill me with Your Spirit and give me strength to let go. In Jesus name. Amen.

Daily Devotion for February 20, 2026

Devotion:

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Read Mark 11:22-26.

Prayer is powerful, but it loses some of its power when we do not forgive.  Have you prayed today?  What about this week?  What about this month?  Have you had God answer a prayer in a snap?  Many of us have prayed and prayed a bunch of times but haven't seen the answer yet.  Sometimes it takes a while to see an answer to prayer.  Sometimes God wants to increase our faith.  He makes us stronger when we keep praying to Him.  But there are times when prayers are blocked.  

Prayers can be hindered if we refuse to forgive people.  If we hold on to anger and unforgiveness it’s like having a big rock in our heart that blocks our prayers.  Forgiving doesn’t mean what someone did was okay - it means letting go of the hurt so God can fill our hearts with peace.  When we forgive others, God forgives us and answers our prayers. 

Personal Worship Option:

Prayer for today: “Dear God, thank You for loving me and hearing my prayers. Help me to trust You, to talk to You every day, and to forgive others just like You forgive me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”

Daily Devotion for February 19, 2026

Devotion:

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Read Isaiah 1:18.

I love how God begins this verse regarding forgiveness with the phrase, “Come now, and let us settle the matter.” The picture God paints of forgiveness in Isaiah 1:18 is bold and profound.  At first glance, we might only notice the imagery of the colors.  Sin, scarlet red, being made white as snow, crimson like wool.  Christ’s blood forever took away our sin if we ask for forgiveness.  In Christ’s death and resurrection lies the only hope of a restored relationship with God. Christ redeemed and destroyed sin on the cross.  Only His blood could settle that.

At the time God spoke these words through Isaiah, the people of God offered the blood of animals as atonement for sin.  This blood covered over their sin, but it could not take it away.  Only the blood of the Christ to come would purify and change lives. Hundreds of years later, Jesus settled the matter once and forever.   His life was offered so that we might be fully forgiven.

Personal Worship Option:

Dear God, thank you that because of your sacrifice on the cross, I can be forgiven. Thank you for making me new by the blood of your son Jesus. In His name I pray, amen.

Daily Devotion for February 18, 2026

Devotion:

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Read Psalm 103:8-12.

I have always appreciated Ash Wednesday, certainly for what it signifies on the church calendar, but also for how it is perceived and received by the general public in our area. Years ago, when I was teaching history at a (now defunct) local college, I can still remember the reaction of one of my students on that Ash Wednesday. That morning, I had stopped by a local United Methodist church for their Ash Wednesday service and received the ashes from the minister. When I was teaching that afternoon, I noticed one of the students on the front row staring at me during class. Afterwards with a look of concern, she came up and asked me, “are you okay? And why is there dirt on your head?” It was definitely a teachable moment, and the start of a good discussion. 

Ash Wednesday is a day of remembrance, and the applied ashes are to remind us of our mortality. But they are also a reminder of who we belong to (we are children of God) and who we are as forgiven sinners. Through the love and sacrifice of Christ we are forgiven. But the wonderful news about Ash Wednesday is that Jesus came not just for our forgiveness, but that the whole world would know about his forgiveness and love. That’s a message for us to share not only on Ash Wednesday, but every day.

Personal Worship Option:

Lord, help us not to keep this good news to ourselves. In Jesus’ name, Amen.