Daily Devotion for February 28, 2026

Devotion:

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Read John 14:1-6.

Jesus is using the people’s cultural understanding of a wedding to bring home the point that He has a place provided for us in heaven. In Jesus’ day when a man was engaged to a young lady he would go home to his father’s house and add a room to the house. It was very common for the son to add a room to the house for him and his wife to live in. When Jesus tells them he is going away and He will prepare a place for them, he is using the biblical image of Jesus being the groom and the church His bride. Just like the groom who goes and gets his bride because he wants her to be with him, Jesus wants us with Him.

Jesus is talking about preparing a place in heaven for all who believe and how one day, like the grooms of His day, He will come back and get His bride the church and take us to the place He has prepared for us.

Personal Worship Option:

Lord Jesus, thank You for preparing a place for us. Thank You for the promise that we will one day dwell with You forever. Until that day, teach us to walk in faith and trust in You. In Jesus name. Amen.

Daily Devotion for February 27, 2026

Devotion:

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Read Hebrews 10:32-36.

Life is not always easy.  Let us not lose confidence in our God.  Let us be consistent in our faith, because we will receive the promise of heaven one day.

Have you ever had a flashlight that started to get dim? At first, it’s bright and strong, but after a while, the light gets weaker. If you keep using it without changing the batteries, it might go out completely.

Sometimes, following Jesus can feel like that. At first, we’re excited and full of energy. But when things get hard, we might feel tired or want to give up. That’s why today’s Bible passage is so important. "God doesn’t want us to give up. He wants us to keep shining our light, even when it’s hard. Just like a flashlight needs fresh batteries, we need to keep our hearts full of God’s Word, prayer, and encouragement from other believers."

Personal Worship Option:

"Dear God, thank You for always being with us. Help us to keep going, even when life is hard. Give us patience, strength, and joy as we follow You. Amen."

Daily Devotion for February 26, 2026

Devotion:

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Read 2 Peter 3:11-14.

Peter challenges believers to live holy and godly lives in anticipation of Christ’s return and the destruction of the current, passing world. Because a new heaven and earth filled with righteousness are promised, Christians are urged to be diligent, blameless, and at peace, focusing on eternal things. 

Next time you are frustrated by unfairness, by a car that will not start on a cold morning, or especially by sin, pain, illness, and wrongdoing, think of Peter’s words. There is a place in our future with God that all will be right with the world.

Peter gives the promises that suffering will end, tears will be wiped away, people and their situations will be aligned with true righteousness and justice forever. That day, when things will be all right, is hard for us to imagine, but our faith must believe. Here is something for you to think about. Are you building for the present, which will pass away, or are you building for the eternal kingdom?

Personal Worship Option:

Father in heaven, you are a just and loving God. Thank you that we can trust you to deal with the unfair stuff, and that one day all will be right. Amen.

Daily Devotion for February 25, 2026

Devotion:

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Read 1 Peter 4:7.

Until Jesus returns or we go to be with Him, let us live for Jesus, be a witness and serve God.  

One of my favorite bumper stickers says “Jesus is coming soon. Quick, everybody look busy.” It’s a humorous take on Jesus reminding the disciples (and us) that we are not to be wasting our time speculating on the day and the time of Jesus’ return, but instead be doing the things he commanded us to do. Such as feeding the hungry, welcoming the stranger, visiting those in prison (just to quote a little from Matthew 25). Jesus wants us to be about the work of the kingdom of God, and to feel the urgency and necessity of that work.

The apostle Paul also wants us to understand the urgency of the moment, “The end of all things is near; therefore be serious and discipline yourselves for the sake of your prayers.” (1 Peter 4:7) Paul is writing only a few decades after Jesus, but the sense of urgency was even greater as the early Christian communities grew and developed, and encountered hostility and persecution. Now (according to Paul) was the time to get serious and focus on one’s faith and prayer life. But Paul follows up with one more piece of advice in the next verse (v.8) “Above all, maintain constant love for one another, for love covers a multitude of sins.”  Be serious, be focused, and keep loving one another. Good advice for all disciples.

Personal Worship Option:

Lord I want to be more loving in my heart and in my life. Help me to focus on those things that draw me closer to you. Amen.

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.

Daily Devotion for February 17, 2026

Devotion:

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Read Colossians 3:12-14.

In Colossians 3:12–14, the Apostle Paul invites believers to consider what they wear—not on the outside, but on the heart. Because we are God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, our identity comes before our behavior. We do not practice compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience to earn God’s love; we live this way because we already have it.

Paul uses the image of clothing intentionally. Just as we choose what to put on each day, we must intentionally “put on” Christlike character. These virtues rarely come naturally, especially when we are wronged or misunderstood. That is why Paul emphasizes forgiveness—just as the Lord forgave you. Forgiveness is not rooted in feelings but in obedience and grace.

Above all, Paul says to put on love, which “binds everything together in perfect unity.” Love is the outer garment that holds every other virtue in place. Without love, kindness becomes shallow, patience runs thin, and humility fades. Love, however, reflects the very nature of Christ and makes our faith visible to the world.

This passage reminds us that spiritual maturity is not measured by how much we know, but by how well we love. When we clothe ourselves in Christ daily, our lives become living testimonies of His transforming grace.

Personal Worship Option:

Lord, help me to remember who I am in You—chosen, holy, and deeply loved. Teach me each day to clothe myself with compassion, humility, patience, and forgiveness. Above all, wrap my life in love, so that others may see Christ in me. Amen.

Daily Devotion for February 16, 2026

Devotion:

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Read Ephesians 4:32.

This letter is sometimes referred to as the “queen of the epistles,” because of its beautiful Greek and its wonderful teachings. We think it was a circular letter, written to be circulated around new churches in western Asia Minor (now modern day Turkey). The letter likely ended up in Ephesus, a city in which Paul had ministered for some time. Chapter 4, in which our verse for today is found, is all about how to live together in the local church. This verse tells us to show kindness and compassion to one another, forgiving one another just the way God forgave us.

Willie Nelson had a hit song a few years ago that began with the line, “Forgiving you was easy, but forgettin’ seems to take the longest time.” We believe that when God forgives us, God also forgets our mistakes. This is the kind of forgiveness Paul is calling us to practice in the church. We all make mistakes and need forgiveness for those. Forgiveness that hangs on to the other person’s mistake, brings it up occasionally, and holds it over them is not living the way of Jesus Christ.  

Personal Worship Option:

Gracious God, you have forgiven me and continue to forgive me when I make mistakes. Help me to do better and help me to forgive others of their mistakes in a similar way. This is not easy, and I need your help to both forgive and to forget. Amen.

Daily Devotion for February 15, 2026

Devotion:

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Read Matthew 22:1-14.

In this parable a King sends out invitations for His son’s wedding celebration, and no one came. Can you imagine that?  It would be an honor to be invited to a party from the king. He then sent out his servants to invite people in person, and they seized the servants, mistreated some and killed others. Since they refused to respond to the invitation, the king sent more servants out and invited everyone who would like to attend this wedding feast. The people came and filled the wedding hall.

Jesus was preparing them to understand there will be people who will not respond to the Gospel. There are people who do not believe God exits or that Jesus is the savior of the world. Though they do not believe they are still invited. You are invited to the party. Come celebrate Jesus, invite Him into your heart and let Him be your personal savior.

 Personal Worship Option:

King of kings, thank You for inviting us to the great banquet of Your Kingdom. You call us not because of our worthiness, but because of Your boundless grace. Open our hearts to hear Your call and may we come willingly into Your presence. May we also go out and invite others to the feast, sharing the good news of Your grace with joy and compassion. Thank You for making a place for us at Your table. In Jesus name, Amen.

Daily Devotion for February 14, 2026

Devotion:

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Read Revelation 19:7-9.

The Bible often describes God’s relationship with His people as a marriage. In Revelation 19 we are invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb which is a celebration of victory. The Bride (the Church) is finally united with Christ, her Bridegroom. It’s a moment of fulfillment, finality and glory.

Brides put in a lot of preparation for a wedding. Choosing the dress, veil, shoes, nails, hair, cake, bridesmaid gifts, and other details requires many decisions and much preparation. John tells us in this text that the Bride has “prepared herself.”   How did she prepare herself? The bride/believer is prepared because we have put our faith and trust in Jesus for salvation. We are also doing our best to live a life of faithfulness, obedience, and purity. When we live and trust God like this, we are prepared for that great day when we will see Him, our Groom/Jesus face to face.

As we live in anticipation of that eternal wedding feast, may our lives reflect the joy, love, and beauty of a Bride waiting for her Bridegroom.

 

Personal Worship Option:

Lamb of God, thank You for the invitation to the wedding supper of the Lamb. Thank You for loving us with a perfect and everlasting love. Help us live each day with hearts prepared to meet you. We long for the day when the celebration begins and we join You in everlasting joy. Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.