Daily Devotion for May 31, 2025

Devotion:

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Read Romans 12:21.

Evil is real—and it wears many faces: hatred, injustice, indifference, cruelty, oppression. We see it in the world, and sometimes we feel it creeping into our own hearts. Paul’s command is not a naïve hope—it’s a powerful call to action. We are not to be overcome by evil, but to overcome it with good.

At our baptism, we vowed to “accept the freedom and power God gives us to resist evil, injustice, and oppression in whatever forms they present themselves.” That is not a passive promise. It means we speak when others are silent. We stand up when it's risky. We love when it's easier to hate. And we act—not in anger or vengeance—but in Spirit-filled goodness.

The power to resist evil doesn’t come from our own strength. It comes from God—who transforms us so that we may transform the world. Overcoming evil with good is slow, steady, and often costly. But it is the way of Jesus. And it is the work we were baptized into.

Personal Worship Option:

Pray: Holy God, remind me of the vow I made—or was made on my behalf—at baptism. Strengthen me with Your Spirit to resist evil and injustice, not with bitterness but with bold, compassionate goodness. Make my life a reflection of Your love in a broken world. Amen.

Daily Devotion for May 30, 2025

Devotion:

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Read Acts 2:39.

When we experience Christ, those around us are touched too. Pray for your family and community to feel the ripple effects of your faith. It is in the joy and the hard times that our faith is displayed for the honor of Christ. Especially in the hard things of life. Those hard things present a unique opportunity for God to use our faith to impact the lives of others - even those that we are unaware of.  

Personal Worship Option:

Meditate on the lyrics of the song, “The Blessing” by Elevation Worship.

The Lord bless you And keep you Make His face shine upon you And be gracious to you The Lord turn His Face toward you And give you peace May His favor be upon you And a thousand generations And your family and your children And their children, and their children May His presence go before you And behind you, and beside you All around you, and within you He is with you, He is with you In the morning, in the evening In your coming, and your going In your weeping, and rejoicing He is for you, He is for you

Daily Devotion for May 29, 2025

Devotion:

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Read Matthew 23:11-12.

Having greatness in the kingdom of God is not found in ruling over others but in serving them. We need to remember that this statement from Jesus comes in the middle of one of the clearest condemnations of religious hypocrisy ever uttered. The scribes and the Pharisees do everything to be seen by others in order that they might gain power over them. Jesus calls his followers to do everything to serve others, in order that Christ’s power and love might be displayed among them.

Our society calls for us to promote ourselves, to demand authority, and to impose our desires on others. Christ calls us to demote ourselves, treasure opportunities to serve, to allow our God’s will to run our lives. Jesus contrasts the self-serving religion of the scribes and Pharisees with the serving attitude and faith He asks of His followers. He flips the worldly order of things on its head to function as the rule for His people. It is those who serve Christ that demonstrate the real authority, not necessarily those who are reigning on earth. Jesus is not calling us to something that He did not first demonstrate for us.

Personal Worship Option:

Dear God, Help us to be humble servants for you and give you all of the glory. Amen.

Daily Devotion for May 28, 2025

Devotion:

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Read Psalm 18:16-19.

When we baptize someone in The United Methodist Church, here are the first two questions we ask them: “Do you renounce the spiritual forces of wickedness, reject the evil powers of this world, and repent of your sin?” and “Do you accept the freedom and power God gives you to resist evil, injustice and oppression in whatever forms they present themselves?” The first question gives us the opportunity to state what we seek to keep out of our life. The second question gives us the opportunity to acknowledge that we can’t do that by ourselves, that we need and want God to help us.

The Psalmist expresses gratitude to God for rescuing him “from my powerful enemy, from my foes, who were too strong for me.” Those foes and enemies can show up in all kinds of ways and forms. And yes, they can be very powerful.

Celebrate these truths today: God’s power breaks through human limitations. God shakes the ground beneath us when we are trapped. Whether your chains are fear, addiction, or despair - God still liberates. Thanks be to God!

Personal Worship Option:

Offer this prayer or one in your own words: Almighty God, thank you so much for the many times you have rescued me. Guide me to be a resource for you in helping to rescue others. Through Christ, Amen.

Daily Devotion for May 27, 2025

Devotion:

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Read Habakkuk 3:17-18.

These words come from a prophet who saw devastation on the horizon. Habakkuk wasn’t blind to the coming storm—he foresaw ruin, drought, and loss. And yet, he didn’t let his circumstances dictate his worship. In the face of empty fields and silent barns, he chose to rejoice.

Worship isn’t just for good times. It’s not reserved for answered prayers, full tables, or victories won. True worship rises from a heart that trusts God even when everything else is falling apart. It’s a declaration of faith that He is still worthy—even if the healing hasn’t come, the job hasn’t opened, or the relationship hasn’t mended.

When hope seems dim, worship becomes a defiant act of trust. It tells your soul: “God hasn’t changed, even if everything else has.” Habakkuk teaches us that joy in the Lord isn’t rooted in circumstances—it’s rooted in who God is: faithful, sovereign, and good.

Reflection: Are you facing a “tough” moment like Habakkuk? What would it look like for you to say, “Yet I will rejoice”?

Personal Worship Option:

Lord, when life feels empty and uncertain, help me worship You still. Strengthen my faith to declare, “Yet I will rejoice in You.” Teach me to trust You not just when blessings flow, but when I’m waiting in the silence. You are still God—and that is enough. Amen.

Daily Devotion for May 26, 2025

Devotion:

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Read 2 Corinthians 3:17-18.

This week, our Bible passages will look at how true freedom is found in Christ. Today’s passage is rooted in the way the law depended upon obedience. Paul recalled earlier in this chapter how Moses veiled his face after seeing God and receiving the stone tablets containing the law. The veil was there to keep the Israelites from seeing how the glory of God’s presence was fading from Moses’ face. Paul says that the veil still remains when the law is read, because that covenant is fading away, and the veil covers the hearts of the Jewish leaders.

The covenant in Christ is based upon grace, God’s love that we do not earn or deserve. Through Christ, we are considered righteous because of his sacrifice for us. We are now free from the bondage to the law. As we turn our lives over to God through Christ, we are transformed into God’s image, the image in which we were created. Through Christ, we are free from the guilt associated with the law and are free to learn, grow, and mature in our spiritual lives.

Personal Worship Option:

Let the words of this Chris Tomlin version of “Amazing Grace” soak in: “My chains are gone, I've been set free. My God, my Savior has ransomed me, and like a flood His mercy reigns…unending love, amazing grace!” Amen!!

Daily Devotion for May 25, 2025

Devotion:

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Read Romans 12:1-2, 21.

I have shared with you before that this is a foundational chapter of the Bible for me. It offers what it looks like to live the way of Jesus Christ. Paul’s letter to the Romans is seen by many as the best and highest of his teaching and this chapter begins the portion of the letter where he states what it looks like to put our beliefs into action.

There is a lot of core teaching in just the first two verses and the last verse. To live our life for Jesus Christ is to give ourselves as “a living sacrifice” to God. That’s what it means to worship God all the time and to be totally committed to our Lord. And by allowing the Holy Spirit to renew our mind, we will always be seeking to know and do God’s will. That’s what Jesus taught us to seek with his prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane. Then finally, it is constantly a challenge to not let the forces of evil control how we live our life. We tend to want to fight evil with evil (or “a tooth for a tooth” as we looked at yesterday). But as the people of Christ, we are called to “overcome evil with good.”

No, that is not easy. In fact, I am convinced it is impossible on our own. That’s why we need a higher power than ourselves living in us, One who told his disciples “I have overcome the world.” Jesus Christ showed us how to overcome evil with good. And he is willing and able to help you do the same.

Personal Worship Option:

Pray this prayer or one in your own words: Holy God, I thank you for the power and guidance you offer for my life. I seek to be your agent in the ongoing battle to “overcome evil with good.” In Jesus’ name, Amen. 

Daily Devotion for May 24, 2025

Devotion:

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Read Romans 12:17-20.

As humans, we tend to want to give back to someone what they give us. If they hurt us, we want to hurt them back. I have heard many parents say with pride “I told my child to never start a fight, but if somebody else starts one with you, finish it.” Most people think the Old Testament teaching of “an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth” is a good rule to live by.

However, Jesus taught that living his way included going beyond this teaching (Matthew 5:38-42). Paul continues Jesus’ teaching by writing “Do not repay anyone evil for evil,” then follows that up just two verses later with “Do not take revenge…” He reminds us to let God take care of dealing with injustice. And he gives us practical instructions for Jesus’ teaching that we are to “love our enemies” by being willing to help them when they are in need. (While “heap burning coals on his head” sounds harsh, I believe that is intended as an image of purification.)

This is another teaching that tells me living life as a follower of Jesus Christ is not easy. But Jesus himself showed us that it can be done, and many have followed in his footsteps in living life this way. Are you one of them?

Personal Worship Option:

Offer this prayer or one in your own words: Lord, I admit that this is a hard teaching. It is difficult to refrain from seeking revenge, even in small ways. Please give me the courage to live by this teaching, so that I may help even my enemies come to know you. Through Christ, Amen.

Daily Devotion for May 23, 2025

Devotion:

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Read Romans 12:15-16.

The Apostle Paul offers more good guidance on what it looks like to live as the people of Jesus Christ. To celebrate with those who are celebrating and to mourn with those who mourn are prime examples of how we, as God’s family, honor one another. There are times this might present a challenge, however with God’s perspective it becomes a gift we give those in our lives.

Christ demonstrated that we should treat all people with honor and respect - those of a different race, the handicapped, the poor, young and old, male and female. We must never consider others as being beneath us. Paul says we need to live in harmony with others and not be too proud to enjoy the company of ordinary people. Are you able to do humble tasks with others? Do you welcome conversation with unattractive, non-prestigious people? Are you willing to befriend newcomers and entry -level people? If we love someone the way God loves us, labels will be inconsequential.

Personal Worship Option:

Who can you show honor to today? Make an effort to share God’s love in an unexpected way.

Daily Devotion for May 22, 2025

Devotion:

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Read Romans 12:13-14.

This is Paul’s message instructing that Christians should be meeting the needs of the body of Christ. Do you see any needs around you? Can you meet those needs? It is crazy to think about it in today’s culture, but what if we met all the basic needs for everyone? Paul challenges us with hospitality in the second half of this verse. He wants to push us to open the doors of our homes and let others in. Verse 13 is a big one, in my opinion. It calls Christians to act like Christians. It calls the church to be the church. Let’s not wait. Let’s meet the needs of our brothers and sisters around us. Let’s make the effort to show hospitality. We may just start looking like the church in Acts 4.

Paul, in verse 14, also says we are supposed to bless those who persecute us. That seems so unnatural, doesn’t it? Everything inside of us wants to get back at the ones who hurt us in any way. This idea of blessing those who persecute us must be driven by love. True Christians should choose to bless the ones who persecute them. Fight your natural urge to retaliate. Bless them. Do not curse them. Do what Paul tells us to do a few verses later and overcome evil with good.

Personal Worship Option:

God, guide us to help all of those around us that can benefit from our resources. Give us joy in sharing. Also lead us to pray for those who hurt us and teach us to forgive those who damage us with their words and actions. Amen.

Daily Devotion for May 21, 2025

Devotion:

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Read Romans 12:11-12.

When we live with passion for God, it naturally overflows into how we treat others. Paul’s charge to keep our spiritual fervor isn’t only about our personal walk—it’s about how we show up in community.

Joyful hope helps us bring encouragement to those who are struggling. Patience in affliction allows us to walk alongside others in their suffering without rushing them or growing weary. Faithfulness in prayer reminds us that we’re not meant to fix people, but to lift them up and trust God to work in their lives.

A life of spiritual fervor doesn’t isolate—it connects. When our hearts burn with God’s love, we serve others with compassion, endure with grace, and pray with a heart wide open to the needs of the people around us. In a world quick to criticize and slow to support, this kind of living stands out. It builds trust. It reflects Jesus.

Personal Worship Option:

Pray: Lord, help me to carry Your Spirit into every relationship. Let my hope be contagious, my patience be healing, and my prayers be filled with compassion. Teach me to serve others with joy, not duty—and to love others the way You love me. Amen.

Daily Devotion for May 20, 2025

Devotion:

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Read Romans 12:9-10.

Relationships — whether in family, friendships, marriage, or community — thrive not by accident, but through intentional care. In Romans 12, Paul gives us three powerful attitudes that fuel both our personal lives and our relationships: zeal, hope, and faithfulness.

First, “never be lacking in zeal.” In any relationship, it’s easy to grow weary or to let apathy creep in. But God calls us to keep our spiritual passion alive — not just for Him, but for those around us. Healthy relationships are fueled by consistent attention and warmth. Small acts of love, words of encouragement, and a servant’s heart can reignite connections that feel dry or strained.

Second, “be joyful in hope.” Every relationship will face seasons of challenge, miscommunication, and disappointment. Hope anchors us. When we expect good things — not because people are perfect, but because God is faithful — we create space for grace and growth. Joyful hope keeps us from giving up on one another too quickly.

Third, “be patient in affliction.” There will be trials: misunderstandings, betrayals, hard conversations. Patience is the steady commitment to stay, to forgive, and to work through hardships rather than abandoning ship at the first storm.

Finally, “be faithful in prayer.” Healthy relationships are not maintained by human effort alone. We need God’s help. Prayer invites His wisdom, His healing, and His supernatural love into our daily interactions. Praying for those we love — and even for those we struggle to love — strengthens the roots of every relationship.

Practical Guidance for Healthy Living in Any Relationship:

• Keep showing up with love and energy, even when it feels mundane.
• Hold on to hope, believing God can work miracles in hearts (including your own).
• Be patient with flaws — yours and others.
• Cover everything in prayer, asking God to be at the center.

Personal Worship Option:

Lord, breathe new life into my relationships. Give me zeal to love well, hope to believe for better days, patience to endure difficulties, and faithfulness to pray without giving up. Teach me to reflect Your heart in every relationship I have. Amen.

Daily Devotion for May 19, 2025

Devotion:

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Read Romans 12:3-8.

This passage begins with a call to living humbly, not thinking too highly of ourselves. It goes on to point out that each of us has gifts, given to us by the Holy Spirit; and these gifts are to be used in the church, the body of Christ. As an example, if I am given the gift of teaching, then I am to teach. If I do not use that gift, then the church body will not be fully functioning, just as my body would not be fully functioning if I were to choose not to use my left arm.

Sometimes in the church, we do well at helping people discover their gifts. We have tests or surveys that are really good at discerning what those are. But all too often, this discovery of gifts is seen as simply another aspect of self-discovery, like determining our personality types, whether we are introverts or extroverts, and so on. Each and every Christian should indeed know what their gifts are. But that discovery is only the first step in a process that is incomplete until the second step is taken – putting those gifts to work in the church and community.

Personal Worship Option:

Spend a bit of time today, reflecting on your gifts for ministry. Are you fully using those gifts in the church? If not, contact a staff member or church leader and find your next ministry.

Daily Devotion for May 18, 2025

Devotion:

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Read Jeremiah 17:7-8.

The prophet states that blessing comes from trusting in the Lord and compares that trust to a tree that is planted by the water, so that its roots can go deep. It is a good reminder of how life is sustained over time.

You have probably seen trees of various sizes which have fallen over, with their roots exposed. (If you haven’t seen them in person, maybe you have seen the pictures.) In some cases, the tree was rather large, and the roots were also of significant size. But the force of the storm was still enough to uproot the tree and bring it down.

At least one life lesson I see here is that we should never stop sinking the roots of our life deeper and deeper in the Spirit of God. The water in this image is a common Biblical illustration of a life-giving resource, reminding us of the God who gave us life. Wisdom tells us to put our roots down in soil that is near that water, because it will always be soft enough to let our roots go deeper. Then when the storms come, those roots will allow us to keep standing and to continue to grow after the storm.

Where are you sinking the roots of your life? And what are you doing to allow those roots to keep growing and going deeper?

Personal Worship Option:

Offer this prayer or one in your own words: Creating God, thank you for your invitation and encouragement to sink the roots of my life in you. Help me trust you more and more every day, in all situations, knowing that increasing trust deepens my roots in you. Through Christ, Amen.   

Daily Devotion for May 17, 2025

Devotion:

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Read Matthew 13:1-9.

Jesus’ parable of the sower primarily focuses on the different kinds of soil on which the seed landed: hard ground, rocky ground, soil filled with weeds and good soil. The hearer is invited to look in the mirror and ask, “What kind of soil am I for receiving the seeds the God seeks to plant in my life?”

However, our focus this week is on roots. There is a particular phrase in this parable that connects to this focus: “...and they withered because they had no root.” The seeds that fell on rocky ground were not able to go deep. The plant sprouted up out of the ground; it got started. But when the heat got to be too much (when the tough times of life came), the plant couldn’t survive. Why? “...because they had no root.”

You have probably seen this in the world of plants many times, whether they were in a garden or flowers, bushes or trees. You have probably seen this in the lives of people many times as well. How does this story speak into your life?

Personal Worship Option:

Offer this prayer or one in your own words: Lord Jesus, thank you for this story that reminds me of the options I have in how I live my life. Guide me to always be receptive to the seeds you seek to sow in my life. In your name I pray, Amen.

Daily Devotion for May 16, 2025

Devotion:

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Read Ephesians 3:14-19.

Paul encourages his brothers and sisters in Christ, who are “.... rooted and established in love…” God’s love is complete. It reaches every corner of our experience. It is wide - it covers the breadth of our own experience, and it reaches out to the whole world. God’s love is long - it continues the length of our lives. It is high - it rises to the heights of our celebration and elation. His love is deep - it reaches to the depths of discouragement, despair, and even death. When you feel shut out or isolated, remember that you can never be lost to God’s love. As we grow in God’s love, we affect those around us through the overflow of His grace, mercy, and love.

Personal Worship Option:

Prayer for today: O, LORD, pour your love and mercy over me and cover all things in my life - - my joys, my hurts, my worries. I want to drink in your love for my every need. Help me to see those around me to offer your love and mercy in return. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Daily Devotion for May 15, 2025

Devotion:

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Read Colossians 2:6-7.

Paul tells us to be rooted in Christ and that will strengthen our faith. Tree roots serve two important functions. They give a tree stability, enabling it to survive fierce storms, and roots provide nutrients from the soil. Growing our faith requires us deepening our knowledge of God’s word, having a strong prayer life, and sharing the good news of Jesus with others.

Church worship services are one place to receive rich soil nutrients for our spiritual roots to grow. Small group studies can help us explore how Jesus wants us to live. But roots need more than just good soil. A spiritually healthy root system will find nourishment in the ordinary, daily living. God is always there with us. As we mature in our trust of God, our roots deepen and spread further out. With deep, secure roots we can weather the tough issues of our lives. Our lives are to be deeply rooted in Christ so that we may stand firm and bear much fruit. Bearing fruit helps us set an example to others.

Personal Worship Option:

Lord Jesus, may we be deeply rooted in you. Help us to withstand life’s trials as we continue to grow closer to you each day. Amen.

Daily Devotion for May 14, 2025

Devotion:

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Read 1 Timothy 6:7-10.

It’s not money itself that’s the problem—it’s the love of it. Paul warns Timothy that an unchecked desire for wealth can lure believers off course, leading them into a wilderness of sorrow. This isn’t just about dollars and cents; it’s about what rules our hearts.

When our desires are shaped by greed or the need to acquire, we often make compromises that corrode our character. We begin to justify decisions that hurt others or distance us from God’s grace. In the end, what promised to satisfy leaves us empty.

But there’s another way. Paul reminds us that “we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it.” Contentment, not accumulation, is the mark of a faithful life. And when we place God—not wealth—at the center of our longing, we find a peace that money can never buy.

Personal Worship Option:

Pray this prayer or one of your own choosing: Lord, help me to love You more than I love wealth, security, or success. Teach me to be content with what I have and generous with what I’ve been given. Keep my heart anchored in Your truth and let Your Spirit lead me away from temptation and toward abundant life. Amen.

Daily Devotion for May 13, 2025

Devotion:

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Read Psalm 1:1-2.

Imagine a great tree standing by the riverside. Its roots dig deep into the moist soil, drawing life from an unseen current. Even in times of drought or storm, this tree remains steady, green, and strong. Its secret lies not in its own strength, but in where it is planted — close to the water that sustains it.

In Psalm 1, the blessed person is compared to such a tree. They are not swayed by the changing tides of culture, temptation, or mockery. Instead, their roots are sunk deep into the Word of God. They delight in His law; they don’t merely study it out of obligation but savor it — like a tree eagerly drinking from a life-giving river.

When we choose to meditate on God’s Word “day and night,” we continually draw nourishment for our souls. Meditation here is not a hurried glance but a slow soaking, like roots absorbing water little by little, drop by drop. It shapes our thoughts, our character, and ultimately our destiny.

Notice also what the blessed person avoids: walking with the wicked, standing with sinners, sitting with mockers. It is a gradual descent — from walking, to standing, to sitting — a picture of how compromise grows when we allow ourselves to be influenced by ungodly voices. But the rooted person refuses to move away from the river. They refuse to let their life be dictated by dryness and deception.

Today, where are your roots? Are you planted beside the river of God’s truth, or are you trying to survive in dry ground? The invitation is open: sink your heart into His Word, dwell in His presence, and let His life flow into you.

Personal Worship Option:

Father, plant me by Your living waters. Teach me to delight in Your Word, to draw strength from You daily, and to resist the pull of ungodly influences. Let my life be a tree that bears fruit for Your glory. Amen.