Daily Devotion for April 15, 2026

Devotion:

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Read Isaiah 49: 5-6.

Happy April 15! Have you sent in your tax return yet?  Whether we like it or not (often not), our lives are full of duties and burdens that need to be done.  Like many other folks, I tend to take some joy in complaining about my particular duties and burdens. But when I read this morning’s passage, I am reminded that I don’t have much to complain about.  Isaiah has been called by God to “gather Israel to him,” which in itself is a pretty big task. But then in verse 6, the Lord says, “It is too light a thing that you should be my servant, to raise up the tribes of Jacob and to restore the survivors of Israel; I will give you as a light to the nations, that my salvation may reach to the end of the earth.” Isaiah has been given the task of sharing the good news not only to Israel but beyond.  But as the Lord explains, this is not a duty or a burden or an “opportunity,” but a joy. 

To be “called” can be challenging and even frustrating at times, but it is also exhilarating, because we are never called alone. God always goes with us and gives us strength for the journey. Where are you being called to in your faith journey? 

Personal Worship Option:

Lord, thank you for the variety of ways that you call us. Amen.

Daily Devotion for April 14, 2026

Devotion:

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Read Deuteronomy 7:1-6.

In Deuteronomy 7, Moses reminds the people of Israel that they were about to enter a land filled with nations stronger and more numerous than themselves. Yet God promised to go before them and give them victory. The command that follows may seem severe at first glance: Israel was instructed not to make covenants or intermarry with these nations. The reason was spiritual, not ethnic—God knew that their influence could turn His people away from Him.

Verse 6 reveals the heart of the passage: “For you are a holy people unto the Lord your God: the Lord your God has chosen you to be a special people unto himself.” God had set Israel apart. Their identity was not based on their strength, numbers, or achievements, but on God’s choice and covenant love.

The concern was that if Israel blended its worship with the surrounding cultures, their devotion to God would slowly fade. History shows that this warning proved true whenever Israel ignored it. Compromise in faith often begins subtly but can lead to a gradual drifting away from God.

For believers today, the principle still applies. While we are called to love and engage the world, we are also called to live differently. Our values, priorities, and devotion to God should reflect that we belong to Him. Holiness means being “set apart”—living in a way that honors the One who has called us His own.

When we remember that we are chosen and loved by God, it shapes how we live, what we pursue, and whom we follow. We don’t separate ourselves out of pride, but out of devotion to the God who first set His love upon us.

Personal Worship Option:

Lord, thank You for calling us to be Your people. Help us live lives that reflect our identity in You. Guard our hearts from influences that pull us away from Your truth, and give us the courage to remain faithful. Amen.

Daily Devotion for April 13, 2026

Devotion:

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Read Leviticus 20:20-26.

God told Israel before they entered the Promise Land that they were called to be different from the people in the land of Canaan.  The people of Canaan practiced idolatry, immorality, and many forms of wickedness. The Israelites were called to be holy and to worship Almighty God only. Holiness means to be set apart for God’s purposes.

The call to holiness did not end with Israel. In the New Testament, the apostle Peter quotes this same principle, “Be holy, for I am holy” (1 Peter 1:16). Followers of Christ are called to live differently from the world. That doesn’t mean we live our lives in isolation, but it does mean our values, character, and conduct should be Christ centered. Instead of conforming to this world our lives should show God’s love, purity, and truth.

Personal Worship Option:

Almighty God, You are holy, and You have called us to be holy. Help us to live in a way that reflects Your character. Give us the strength to resist the ways of the world. In Jesus' holy name we pray. Amen.

Daily Devotion for April 12, 2026

Devotion:

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Read 2 Samuel 22:29-37.

2 Samuel 22 is David’s Psalm of Deliverance. It comes near the end of his life and after a series of revolts where David gets the victory. He believed that with God’s help he can accomplish anything. He said, I can run at a troop of warriors; by my God I can leap over a wall. He compares the stability he feels to that of a deer. Out of all God’s creatures, the deer must be one of the most sure footed of all the animals. Deer can run through thick forests and negotiate steep hills and mountains. They can run swiftly through the flat lands and navigate the deep valleys.

Where do you feel the ground shifting? Is it because of a difficult decision? A health concern? A financial need? Bring it to God and ask Him to give you deer’s feet and make you steady, balanced, and sure footed. Not because the path is easy but because God is our strength.

Personal Worship Option:

Mighty God, uphold me when the ground beneath me feels unstable. Guide me when the climb feels steep and remind me that with your help, I can advance, endure, and overcome. Thank you for being my refuge, my strength, and the one who equips me for every challenge. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Daily Devotion for April 11, 2026

Devotion:

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Read Habakkuk 3:18-19.

Habakkuk lived in an era when everything around him felt unstable. His nation was collapsing, judgment was coming, and nothing in his world felt secure. Yet, instead of despair, he ends his prophecy with, God will make my feet like deer’s feet. Habakkuk teaches us that God gives His people the ability to stand, move, and keep going even when the path is steep. Sometimes God does not make the path easier but strengthens us so we don’t slip. Sometimes God changes our path and at other times changes our footing.

A wildlife photographer captured an image of a mountain goat standing on the side of a vertical cliff. It was calm, steady, and sure-footed on a surface that seemed impossible. Their hooves can grip cracks on a cliff. When life feels steep, rocky, and dangerous, God gives us the ability to move with balance, faith, and courage in places that should overwhelm us. Let us trust in God’s strength for stability and steadiness.

Personal Worship Option:

Gracious God, You are my strength. When life feels steep and uncertain, make my feet like the feet of a deer. Give me confidence where I feel afraid, stability where I feel shaky, and peace where I feel overwhelmed. Lead me to the high places where I can see Your faithfulness more clearly. In Jesus holy name. Amen.

Daily Devotion for April 10, 2026

Devotion:

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Read John 7:37-39.

If we are thirsty for God, let us go to Jesus so He can fill us to the point that out of us come rivers of living water. We long for this filling yet it just seems to be out of reach at times. Maybe it’s HOW we try to quench this thirst.   

Think about the difference between a cistern and a well. A cistern has to be filled with water or collect water from the outside. It is not self-renewing and can run dry. On the other hand, a flowing artesian well has water that bubbles up under its own pressure with its cool and refreshing blessing. This same difference exists between a person trying to be spiritual based on his or her own efforts and a Spirit-filled person. When we become Christians, Jesus blesses us with his Spirit. The Spirit's presence and power in our lives make all the difference in the world. The Spirit is living water inside of us, renewing us, refreshing us, empowering us, slaking our spiritual thirst, and giving us life. Living for Jesus is more than just a spiritual commitment on our part requiring our effort; it also depends on the gift and the blessing of Jesus enabled by his Spirit. (excerpt from heartlight.org) Each day we have the opportunity to be renewed and refreshed by the Spirit. May we choose to be embraced by His love so that flows to everyone that crosses our path today.

Personal Worship Option:

Lord, I feel drained and weary in my spiritual walk with you. I have looked and run after things that leave me unsatisfied. Help me to seek fulfillment and contentment from you alone. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Daily Devotion for April 09, 2026

Devotion:

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Read Psalm 143:6.

This verse models an honest cry for God's presence. When life feels dry, overwhelming, or broken, this verse invites us to stop trying to fix things ourselves and surrender our needs to the only One who can truly satisfy our souls. In this Psalm David describes his inner life as a "parched land". It is a picture of total dependence, a dry, cracked landscape that must have rain to survive. Similarly, our souls often feel depleted by stress and anxiety. This verse encourages us to stop pretending we have it all together and admit our desperate need for God's refreshing presence and love. 

Spreading out our hands is a gesture of surrender. It means letting go of control and acknowledging God as our source of life. It is a shift from focusing on the problem to focusing on God. We need to make sure that our soul stays full with God’s spirit.  

Personal Worship Option:

God, I confess that sometimes my soul feels dry and weary. Like a parched land, I need the rain of Your presence. Fill me with Your Holy Spirit and satisfy my thirsty soul today. Amen.