Daily Devotion for November 30, 2025

Devotion:

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Read Luke 2:1-7 .

When Joseph and Mary arrived in Bethlehem there was no room for them in the Inn. The Inns in that day were extra rooms in people’s homes. Today it would be like staying at a Bed & Breakfast. They often had large crowds in Jerusalem because of their various feasts and celebrations. Bethlehem is just six miles or so from Jerusalem. They were accustomed to large crowds but because of the census being taken, Bethlehem was unusually crowded. There was no room for Joseph, Mary and Jesus.  One Inn Keeper offered them his barn and that is where Jesus was born.

 

What an amazing image. We are inspired and overwhelmed by the Son of God; the creator of the universe being born in a common barn in the small town of Bethlehem. I have often thought that if Jesus can be born in a filthy barn, he can be born in my heart. My heart resembles a barn more than a luxurious spotlessly clean palace. Has he been born in you?

Personal Worship Option:

Loving God, thank you for the gift of your Son. I humbly ask you to forgive me and come into my heart. In Jesus name I pray. Amen.

Daily Devotion for November 29, 2025

Devotion:

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Read 2 Peter 1:2-4 .

Christ is in us and God has given to us His divine power and everything we need to live for Jesus. Peter writes that because God is present in us and because of His precious and magnificent promises, we have become partakers of the divine nature.  Being a partaker of God’s divine nature means we have in us the very nature and character of God.  How awesome is that?  To realize who God is and what God is like is in us is amazing. We were originally created in the image of God.  That image was tainted by sin. But, by the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit, God is restoring that tainted image so we can be transformed into Christ’s likeness.

 

What does God’s Divine Nature in us look like? I think it looks like the fruit of the Spirit. Galatians 5:22-23  22But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control… The fruit of the Holy Spirit is not only character traits God wants to work in us; it is part of the very nature of God.  Let us yield to the power and presence of the Holy Spirit and allow God to fill our hearts, minds and life with His divine nature.

Personal Worship Option:

Ever present God, thank you for filling me with your Holy Spirit and your divine nature. May the fruit of your Spirit permeate in my life. In Jesus name. Amen.

Daily Devotion for November 28, 2025

Devotion:

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Read 1 John 4:1-6.

It is good for us to be reminded that there are spirits and influences around us that are not from God. The world today, and probably in John’s time as well, offers us so many things that sound good only on the surface. Marketers have learned well how to appeal to our wants and desires. There are books, blogs, and podcasts that tell us we can make it on our own, so who needs God? This passage reminds us that we are to test the influences around us, letting the Christ in us guide our thinking.  We are reminded here that Christ who is in us is greater than the world’s influences.

 

We must also remember that God loves the world. In fact, God loved the world so much that God sent His one and only Son into the world to save it. So, we are to love the world without being of the world. This is not easy, is it? We must turn away from things the world offers without judging those who offer them. We can only do this through Christ in us.   

Personal Worship Option:

Pray today for the determination and will to let Christ be active in our lives, helping us to turn away from the world’s temptations. At the same time, Lord, help us to invite the world and those in it to follow Christ.

Daily Devotion for November 27, 2025

Devotion:

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Read Ephesians 5:15-20.

On this day of Thanksgiving, we have so much for which to be thankful. It is good to pause and reflect on some of those things, because sometimes we take our blessings for granted. We continue in our exploration of passages in which we read that Christ is in us. In today’s passage, Paul reminds us not to get drunk on wine but rather be filled with the Spirit. Was that meant to be a play on words regarding “spirits?” If we allow the Holy Spirit to guide our lives, we will sing and worship together, expressing the joy that comes from God.

 

Then Paul reminds us to “always (be) giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of Jesus Christ.” This passage fits perfectly our theme of allowing Christ and the Holy Spirit to be in us, and it is so timely on this day of Thanksgiving.  Give thanks on this day and on every day, for God is so good!    

Personal Worship Option:

Praise God from whom all blessings flow! Thank you, Gracious God, for food and home, for friends and family, for our churches, and for so many other things. Most of all, thank you for your love we know as grace. Amen.

Daily Devotion for November 26, 2025

Devotion:

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Read John 14:15-21.

It is important to step back for a moment and understand the setting or context of these words. It is Jesus’ last night on earth. He had gathered with his apostles earlier in the evening for their final Passover meal together and had washed their feet. He had predicted his betrayal by Judas Iscariot and his denial by Peter. Now, he addresses them and us with some of his most powerful teachings. He promises that the Holy Spirit will come to them and to us. Then, in Verse 20, he assures us that he is in the Father, we are in Christ, and He is in us. 

We should live each day with the assurance that Jesus Christ lives in us; after all, that is what he promised. But then, he offered a simple challenge: whoever knows and keeps his commands is the one who loves him. I am reminded of our church’s mission…learning the way of Jesus Christ and inviting all to follow him.  

Personal Worship Option:

Sometimes I find myself hoping that we just all get to have eternal life, but then I read a passage like this and am reminded that grace is free, but it is not cheap. Let’s pray for grace to serve Christ more fully.

Daily Devotion for November 25, 2025

Devotion:

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Read 1 Corinthians 15:12-22.

You may want to read this passage a second time! The message in it goes to the very core of Christian faith and teachings. When we are taught difficult subjects, we must begin with what we know. Then, step by step, more complex teachings can be learned, building on the expanding foundation. Paul reminds us that the very foundation of our beliefs is the sure knowledge that Jesus Christ rose from the dead. Once we accept that, we can move on to understand other important things such as the belief that we too have the hope of eternal life.

 

Paul reminds us that our human nature came out in Adam, and left alone in our weakness, we will be dead to sin. In other words, we cannot save ourselves. But in Christ, we are made alive! There are so many nuances and small things over which Christians can disagree, but this is a truth that every one of us can celebrate!   

Personal Worship Option:

Give thanks today that, because of Christ’s death and resurrection, we are alive in Christ. Find someone who needs to hear that and share the good news…we are alive in Christ!

Daily Devotion for November 24, 2025

Devotion:

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Read Romans 8:9-11.

This week, we are exploring further what it means to have Christ in us, giving us identity and purpose in life. In this chapter, Paul is contrasting life in the flesh and life in the spirit. Sometimes, the word “flesh” in Scripture refers to sexual sin, but here Paul is using it to mean anything that is driven by our desires that are not consistent with the teachings of Christ. So, if I live by the flesh, I may let my desire for material possessions, for power or popularity, set my priorities and consume my time and energy.

 

Paul assures us that, because we have accepted Christ into our lives, we are no longer subject to the flesh. Because Christ is in us, we are not subject to eternal death. While it is true that our physical bodies are subject to death, we have the promise and hope of eternal life in Christ. Let Christ live in me!

Personal Worship Option:

Pray with me: Eternal God, help me to more completely put away those things of the flesh and to let Christ fully live in me. I desire this, but I need your help and power to do it. Thank you for the gift of Christ. Amen.

Daily Devotion for November 23, 2025

Devotion:

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Read Colossians 1:24-27.

Paul talks about a mystery hidden in ages past that was being revealed through the saints. I like mysteries. I like movies that have twists and turns so you do not know how it will end. God gave glimpses into this mystery through the prophets, but they did not completely understand what God was going to do. For them it was a wonderful surprise. That mystery is, Christ in you, the hope of glory. The very idea that the Holy Spirit would live in us was not something they considered.

 

In the Old Testament God primarily spoke to and through the Prophets, Priests and Kings. The Spirit of God would come on them, and they would proclaim the Word of the Lord or complete the task at hand. The anointed Holy Spirit that was present would then leave them. God was with them but not in them. In the New Testament God fills the heart. We see Paul praying for Christ to be in us in Ephesians 3:17: "so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith." God is in us when we put our faith and trust in Jesus.

Personal Worship Option:

Dear Jesus, save me and come into my heart. Forgive me of my sins and give me new life so I can be part of this mystery hidden through the ages. Amen

Daily Devotion for November 22, 2025

Devotion:

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Read Matthew 8:8-10.

We all have faith, but some people’s faith is stronger than others. In this story a Roman officer called a centurion (the centurion was over one hundred soldiers), had a servant who was paralyzed. He came to Jesus seeking help. Jesus said, I will come and heal him. He told Jesus that was not necessary. Just say the word, and my servant will be healed. The centurion understood how authority worked. He was a man of authority who often told soldiers what to do and they obeyed because of his position. His soldiers recognized his authority, and he recognized the authority of Jesus. Jesus was amazed at his faith. He had not found such faith in Israel. 

What kind of faith do we have? It is easy to have faith when all is well but when life becomes hard and our need is greater than our supply, do we trust God? Let us put our trust in God so we, like the Roman Centurion, have great faith.

Personal Worship Option:

Loving God, I put my faith and trust in you. I pray for my family and for those who are sick, hungry, homeless, and grieving. I pray you meet their needs and comfort those who are hurting. Amen.

Daily Devotion for November 21, 2025

Devotion:

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Read Galatians 5:22-23.

The Fruit of the Spirit is the evidence of living and walking in the Spirit. Here is something that helps stay in step with the Spirit. God’s Spirit creates and distributes these characteristics (love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control). They are indicators on the spiritual dashboard. So, whenever you sense them, you know you are walking in the Spirit. Whenever you lack them, you know you are out of step with the Spirit.

To walk in the Spirit, respond to the promptings God gives you. Don’t sense any nudging? Just be patient and wait. God instills seasons of silence in his plan. Winter is needed for the soil to bear fruit. Time is needed for the development of a crop. And disciples wait for the move of God. Wait for him to move, nudge, and direct you. (Max Lucado - God’s story, Your story)

Personal Worship Option:

How is your spiritual dashboard? Reflect on how to improve your walk in the Spirit.

Daily Devotion for November 20, 2025

Devotion:

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Read Acts 1:8.

Before going back to heaven, Jesus called each of his followers to be a witness for him. A witness is someone who can talk about what they have seen or experienced personally.

This calling applies to all of us who follow Jesus today, not just the pastors. We are called to be reliable witnesses, sharing with others the grace of God that we have personally witnessed and experienced in our lives. Spreading the good news of Jesus Christ is a major responsibility of being a Christian. The task that Jesus has entrusted to us is to carry his life-saving message wherever we go. This began with Jesus’ first-century followers, and it continues with his followers today.

Empowered by his Spirit, we have a story to tell and a life-altering encounter to share. Jesus recognized that a transformed life becomes an unstoppable force for good and for God in this world. To the people around you, there is no one better to testify to the life-changing power of God than you. Think of a story you can share with someone about the Lord’s work in your life.

Personal Worship Option:

Dear Jesus, fill us with your Spirit. Empower us to be living testimonies of your grace and love, sharing with others our stories of your grace-filled work in us. Amen.

Daily Devotion for November 19, 2025

Devotion:

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Read Isaiah 26:9.

Today’s scripture leans forward. There is nothing past tense here - the prophet Isaiah is yearning for God and earnestly seeking God. There is an urgency here in both the telling and the reading, and the prophet clearly wants us to feel what he is seeking and experiencing. But why the urgency? Why the rush? I believe that Isaiah wants us to seek after God so that we might gain righteousness. I’m reminded of one of my favorite scriptures, Psalm 90, in which David asks God to “teach us to number our days, that we might have hearts of wisdom.” (v. 12) Isaiah is also wanting us to seek after God so that we and those around us might have hearts close to God’s own heart.  

 

Seeking after God is not only important for our spiritual life, but it benefits the world around us. As we seek to follow Jesus more closely, the change in our lives has a ripple effect on those around us. The witness of the earliest followers of Jesus made a noticeable impact on their neighbors and societies. Isaiah’s urgency is for us to do the same.  

Personal Worship Option:

Lord, help me to seek your righteousness and share your love and grace. In Jesus name, Amen.

Daily Devotion for November 18, 2025

Devotion:

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Read Romans 10:9-10.

This passage captures the very heart of the gospel—the simple yet powerful truth of salvation through Jesus Christ. Paul reminds us that salvation is not earned by works or religious effort but received through faith and confession.

First, we believe in our heart that Jesus died and rose again. This belief isn’t just an intellectual agreement—it’s a deep trust, a surrender of our heart to the truth that Jesus is alive and that His resurrection secures our forgiveness and eternal life. Faith begins in the heart because that’s where transformation happens. When we believe, God changes us from the inside out, making us new.

Then, we confess with our mouth that Jesus is Lord. Confession is the outward expression of an inward faith. It’s saying to the world, “Jesus is my Savior, and I belong to Him.” That confession is more than words—it’s a declaration of allegiance, a statement that we now live under His lordship and follow His ways.

Romans 10:9–10 reminds us that salvation is both personal and public—personal because it begins in the heart, and public because true faith cannot remain hidden. When we truly believe, our lives begin to reflect the reality of who Jesus is to us.

Today, take a moment to remember the day you first believed—or if you’ve never done so, this verse invites you to take that step now. Believe in your heart. Confess with your mouth. Jesus stands ready to forgive, redeem, and bring you into His family.

Personal Worship Option:

Lord Jesus, thank You for making salvation so simple and so complete. I believe that You died for my sins and rose again so I could have eternal life. I confess that You are Lord of my life. Help me to live each day as a reflection of the faith I profess. Amen.

Daily Devotion for November 17, 2025

Devotion:

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Read 2 Timothy 3:1-5.

This passage should cause us some concern. As I read about the poor values and bad behaviors shown by others as described in the first four verses, my first thought was that these were people who do not know God at all. Then Paul says these are people having “a form of godliness but denying its power.” This implies that these people may be in the church. You know what is even more concerning? These people could be me! 

Having the “form of godliness” means honoring the rituals and outward appearance of having religion, and “denying its power” says that we have not taken it to heart. Real faith changes us, it changes our desires and our priorities. The people described in this passage may be exhibiting what Dietrich Bonhoeffer called “cheap grace,” shallow religion aiming for easy forgiveness without true repentance and costly discipleship. When we truly believe in Jesus Christ and accept him into our hearts, he takes up residence in us, guiding us and shaping our values and priorities.    

Personal Worship Option:

Almighty God, help me to not be like the people described in this passage nor allow such people to influence me, but rather help me to conduct myself humbly, to walk in your ways, and to do my best to live as Christ teaches us. Amen.

Daily Devotion for November 16, 2025

Devotion:

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Read Hebrews 11:1-6.

If we want to please God, we must have faith. Faith is more than believing. It is trusting. Faith is a certainty we have in our hearts and the proof of something we are yet to see. Faith sees the result before it takes place. Our responsibility is to pray, believe and trust and leave the results of our prayer up to God. Hudson Taylor was one of the first missionaries to inland China. During an especially trying financial time for him and his family he wrote to his wife, We have twenty-five cents--and all the promises of God! He trusted God despite the circumstances. That is faith.

We serve a mighty God. We serve a God who loves and cares for us. John Wesley said, "It seems that God is limited by our prayer life. He can do nothing for humanity unless someone asks Him." I think John’s quote is a little extreme, but he makes us think. Let us stretch our faith and trust God for God sized miracles.

Personal Worship Option:

Almighty God, we put our faith and trust in you. We trust you with our eternity, our health, our life, our family and our church. Give us the courage to stretch our faith and pray for God sized miracles. Thank you for your will and purpose being done in my life. Amen.

Daily Devotion for November 15, 2025

Devotion:

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Read 2 Corinthians 8:1-4.

Paul writes 2 Corinthians because of the report Titus brought back to him about how they were questioning his authority as an Apostle. There were intruders coming into the Church and contradicting Paul. There were rumors about Paul not using the fund correctly and abusing the people’s generosity. The church was confused so Paul is trying to help them. They had a lot of issues. He writes to the church at Corinth more than any other church.

 

In chapter eight he tells them about the Macedonian Church and uses them as an example. Despite facing hardship and poverty, the Macedonian Church supported Paul's ministry with their giving. He says, they gave on their own according to their ability and beyond their ability. 

The financial contributions to Paul’s ministry helped support not only him but Timothy, Titus and whoever was with him at the time.

 

Paul tells us we should have a good attitude when we give and consider giving sacrificially like the church at Macedonia.

Personal Worship Option:

Generous God, teach me to be generous. Meet my needs as I obey you and give what you have put into my heart. Amen.

Daily Devotion for November 14, 2025

Devotion:

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Read Philippians 4:6-7.

This passage offers profound guidance for navigating life’s anxieties through the power of prayer. First, identify your worries. Take a moment to reflect on what is causing your anxiety. Write these concerns down to bring clarity. Next, pray with intention. Present these worries to God in prayer. Be specific about your requests and include expressions of gratitude for His past faithfulness. Lastly, practice repetition. If anxiety resurfaces, revisit this passage. Repeating the scripture can help refocus your mind on God’s promises.

Remember, you do not have to face anxieties alone. By turning to God in prayer and thanksgiving, we can experience a peace that surpasses all understanding. Let this scripture guide you in moments of worry, anchoring your heart and mind in Christ.  Remember, God is always bigger than our problems, and He invites us to cast our cares on Him.

Personal Worship Option:

Prayer for Today: Father, you are the Prince of Peace and the great I AM. You are my helper and my Redeemer. I need your help today. Give me the strength to get through the day and the desire to work as if I am doing it all for your glory. I am so grateful that I can come to you and present my requests at any time. Thank you for giving me peace and rest even in the hard times. In Jesus’ name, AMEN.