May 27 2026 … Joy From Jesus

May 27 2026 … Joy From Jesus 

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...        and PLEASE take the time to listen to music and lyrics from cece Winans singing I’ve God Joy … testifying to the joy she has from her relationship with Jesus.

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Highlight Passage: … Philippians 1:18 … [NLT]

…  18 But that doesn’t matter. Whether their motives are false or genuine, the message about Christ is being preached either way, so I rejoice. And I will continue to rejoice.  

… Paul writes of the joy he has in sharing Christ … even while in prison.

Reference Passage: … Philippians 1:18-21 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… Paul testifies to the Joy he found in serving Christ, … even while in prison.

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Reference Passage: … Psalms 16:11, 34:8 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

…  King David sings of the joy of knowing that he will be with the Lord FOREVER.

Reference Passage: …  John 16:33 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… Jesus assures His anxious Disciples that, though they (we) will experience may pains in the world, He will have overcome the world.

Reference Passage: … Acts 13:52 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… After Paul and Barnabas and preached in Iconium, those that believed in Christ were filled with God’s Spirit and with joy. 

Reference Passage: … Romans 14:17 NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… The Apostle Paul preaches that the Kingdom of God is goodness and joy that will will fill all believers in Christ.

Reference Passage: … 1Thessalonians 1:6 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… Paul shares with fellow Christians of the joy they received when they were filled with God’s Spirit in spite of the suffering they experienced.

Reference Passage: … 1Peter 1:8  [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… Peter writing to fellow persecuted Christians, shows the joy that they find in their faith in The Lord, … no matter what they may encounter.

My Devotional Journal: Today’s Our Daily Bread from Leslie Koh  …  USE THIS LINK         tells about a friend, named Nancy, who, being treated for cancer, suffered from sores in her throat so severe that a the only thing she could eat was milk.  And Nancy testified that the only way she was able to endure the suffering was her faith in Christ and the presence of her grandsons, about which she wrote, … “If not for the boys, I would have given up.”

And the experience and testimony of Nancy helped the ODB author to remember the experiences of Paul, who wrote about dealing with the suffering of being imprisoned but always finding joy in being able to share the joy of Christ with others.  Personally, tho I have experienced a lot of suffering of late in my life, I find that being here each morning in God’s word brings me great joy and peace.   How about you?  Does your relationship with Christ bring you joy?     

My Thanksgiving: … Oh, King Jesus, thank You …Lord, … for ALWAYS being there for me.

My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, … thank You, Lord, for Your presence and peace . ALWAYS!!  …  … Amen

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Blogger Note:  Everyday during this year, my daily devotional blogs are influenced by the reading and study of the online devotional blog entitled “Our Daily Bread,” distributed online via email by RBC Ministries.  If you GO TO THIS LINK on the date of my blog, you can read/study the ODB blogs; or you can subscribe to the blog via email at that site.

May 26 2026 … Seek Godly Integrity

May 26 2026 … Seek Godly Integrity 

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...       and PLEASE take the time to listen to music and lyrics from the group, River Valley Worship singing Integrity … calling on Christians to live and walk with Godly integrity, faithfully  following the way of God (see photo).

Walking with Godly Integrity ... 

 

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Highlight Passage: … Proverbs 12:22 … [NLT]

… 22 The Lord detests lying lips, but He delights in those who tell the truth. 

… Solomon shows that God delights in those who live with Godly truth and integrity.

Reference Passage: … Proverbs 12: 13-23 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …       

… Solomon, as he often does, compares the wise with the fool, calling on believers to live with wisdom and faithful integrity.

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Reference Passage: … Psalms 139:23-24   [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

…  King David seeks to live a Godly life, walking with integrity in the ways of The Lord.

Reference Passage: …  Proverbs 10:9. 11:3 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… Solomon compares those who walk with Godoy integrity with those who don’t.

Reference Passage:… Luke 16:10 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… Jesus teaches that those who have the integrity to follow Him in small things will more likely be able to follow Him in bigger things. 

Reference Passage: … 2Corinthians 4:2 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… The Apostle Paul teaches fellow Christians to be honest in all things, living with Christlike integrity.

Reference Passage: … Titus 2:7 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… Paul also teaches Titus (and all Christians) to live honestly and with integrity in ALL things Christians do.

Reference Passage: … Hebrews 13:18[NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… The Author of Hebrews calls on ALL Christians to live with Godly integrity in ALL things they (we) do.

My Devotional Journal: Today’s Our Daily Bread from Marvin Williams  …  USE THIS LINK        tells a story about Sarah, who in dropping some money into the cup of a vagrant beggar, accidentally dropped her diamond engagement ring into the beggar’s cup.   After having the diamond appraised and finding it to be very valuable, the beggar returned the ring to the woman; and the woman, inspired by the beggar’s integrity, established a “Go Fund Me” account which ultimately yielded enough money for the man to have his own home.

I think that true story aptly illustrates what the linked song and the truth of God’s word, shared above, relates.  And for those readers today who’ve taken in those words from God, we all are likely looking at our lives and looking to pray what King David prayed in Psalms 139:23-24, which I pray - almost as a mantra - EVERYDAY.   Will you look it up and pray it with me?     

My Thanksgiving: … Oh, King Jesus, thank You …Lord, … for calling and showing me how to live more like You today.

My Prayer Today:  Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, … thank You, Lord, for showing Your children, … thru Your word, … how to live to honor You with Godly integrity every day.  … Amen

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Blogger Note:  Everyday during this year, my daily devotional blogs are influenced by the reading and study of the online devotional blog entitled “Our Daily Bread,” distributed online via email by RBC Ministries.  If you GO TO THIS LINK on the date of my blog, you can read/study the ODB blogs; or you can subscribe to the blog via email at that site.

May 25 2026… God’s Rest

May 25 2026… God’s Rest 

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...    and PLEASE take the time to listen to music and lyrics from Toby Mac, Terrian, and Gabe Real  singing Rest … teaching that God’s Spirit is the presence of God in believers which guides His chosen people in life and give us His strength.

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Highlight Passage: … 2Samuel 15:25-26 … [NLT]

…  25 Then the king instructed Zadok to take the Ark of God back into the city. “If the Lord sees fit,” David said, “He will bring me back to see the Ark and the Tabernacle again. 26 But if He is through with me, then let Him do what seems best to Him.”  

… King David shows that he was surrendered to follow God’s will, … resting completely in God’s hands.

Reference Passage: … 2Samuel 15:23-27, 29-31 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… King David rests all his strength in the hands of God..

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Reference Passage: … Psalms 3:1-6  [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …

…  David is able to rest in the strength of God as he is pursued by his son, Absalom’s army.

Reference Passage: …  Proverbs 3:5-6 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… Solomon teaches his son (and all believers) that God will lead us forward when/if we trust COMPLETELY in Him..

Reference Passage: … Matthew 11:28-30 NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… Jesus prays and teaches that He invites any/all who believe in Him as Lord to rest in His yoke of peace. 

Reference Passage: … Romans 8:28-31 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… Paul teaches fellow Christians to be able to rest in the strength and protection of God, having no fear for what man can do to them (us).

Reference Passage: … Philippians 4:6-7 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… Paul also teaches truth to fellow Christians as to bringing all our cares and worries to God in prayer to receive His peace.

Reference Passage: … Hebrews 4:1-3 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… The Author of Hebrews quotes from Psalms 95:11 showing that only those who surrender in faith to the Lord will be able to rest in His peace and protection.

My Devotional Journal: Today’s Our Daily Bread from Karen Pimpo  …  USE THIS LINK        writes about soldiers in the military being trained to use “tactical napping” techniques and caffeine chewing gum to avoid the effects of battle fatigue which can make any soldier less effective in battle.  And today’s Scriptures, shared above, call for believers to find their (our) rest in The Lord, … relying on God to provide believers with His strength when we feel threatened or weak.

I’m not a betting man, but I might wager today that many of my readers have experience a type of “battle fatigue” as we live our lives with so many threats surrounding us.  So, … personally, … in faith, … I’m going to take God’s invitation to bring my cares to Him, as in the photo, putting my anxieties in His hands, and resting for tomorrow’s - and maybe today’s -  battles.   Are you with me?     

My Thanksgiving:… Oh, King Jesus, thank You …Lord, … for being able to put “my stuff” in Your hands again today.   

My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, … thank You, Lord, for inviting Your chosen ones to yoke ourselves to Your hands of protection. … Amen

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Blogger Note:  Everyday during this year, my daily devotional blogs are influenced by the reading and study of the online devotional blog entitled “Our Daily Bread,” distributed online via email by RBC Ministries.  If you GO TO THIS LINK on the date of my blog, you can read/study the ODB blogs; or you can subscribe to the blog via email at that site.

May 24 2026 … God’s Spirit Guides Us

May 24 2026 … God’s Spirit Guides Us 

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...        and PLEASE take the time to listen to music and lyrics from the group, Jesus Culture singing Holy Spirit … teaching that God’s Spirit is the presence of God in believers which guides His chosen people in life.

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Highlight Passage: … John 14:26 … [NLT]

…  26 But when the Father sends the Advocate as My representative — that is, the Holy Spirit — He will teach you everything and will remind you of everything I have told you.  

… Jesus promises that The Lord will provide them with His Spirit to guide them.

Reference Passage: … John 14:16-26 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… Jesus teaches His disciples the night of His betrayal of God’s Spirit coming to guide them in life.

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Reference Passage: …  Job 33:4 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… Job recognizes that it is God’s Spirit Who gives him (and all believers) life.

Reference Passage: … John 16:13 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

…  Jesus, the night before His death, assures His disciples of sending His Spirit to be their guide in life.

Reference Passage: … Acts 1:8 NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… Jesus, just before His ascended into Heaven after the resurrection, promises sending His Spirit to guide all who believe in Him as Lord and be His witnesses in the world.  

Reference Passage: … Romans 8:14, 26 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… Paul assures fellow Christians that God’s Spirit will be with born again believers and even show them (us) how to pray.

Reference Passage: … 1Corinthian 2:10-13 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… Paul also teaches truth to fellow Christians about God’s Spirit guiding them (us) in all things. 

Reference Passage: … Galatians 5:22-23 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …

… Finally, Paul shows that God’s Spirit produces Spiritual fruit in all who believe in and follow The Lord.  

My Devotional Journal: Today’s Our Daily Bread from Elisa Morgan  …  USE THIS LINK       told of her seven-year-old adopted daughter precociously asking, “What is my birth mother’s name?”  And immediately, not having an answer in mind, the ODB author silently prayed for God’s Spirit, Who helped her to ask her daughter, “What would you like for her name to be?”  And her daughter said, “Madeline!’  And to that the author said, “Then Madeline it is.” 

There are many times in life when we don’t know what to say or even what to pray.  But if my readers, as I did, have taken in the linked song and meditated the Scriptures I’ve uncovered today, I think we all will realize the truth that God has given all born-again Christians His Spirit to be our advocate, … our helper, .. our guide in this life.   And He, our Lord within us, will give us His truth when we just don’t have those answers.   I’m praying we all rely on God’s Spirit - yes, even today - to show us the way to go in our lives.  Are you with me?  … He is!     

My Thanksgiving: … Oh, King Jesus, thank You …Lord, … for Your Spirit, guiding me in all things today. 

My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, … thank You, Lord, for giving us Your Spirit to be our Helper … today and always. … Amen

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Blogger Note:  Everyday during this year, my daily devotional blogs are influenced by the reading and study of the online devotional blog entitled “Our Daily Bread,” distributed online via email by RBC Ministries.  If you GO TO THIS LINK on the date of my blog, you can read/study the ODB blogs; or you can subscribe to the blog via email at that site.

May 23 2026 … Freedom In Christ

May 23 2026 … Freedom In Christ 

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...   and PLEASE take the time to listen to music and lyrics from the group, Jesus Culture singing Freedom … declaring that our freedom from the bonds of sin comes from our surrender follow Jesus.  

Set free in Christ from the shackles of my sin ... 

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Highlight Passage: … 2Corinthians 3:17 … [NLT]

… 7 For the Lord is the Spirit, and wherever the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.</b>

… The Apostle Paul declares that our freedom from the bondage of sin come from following God’s Spirit in those who surrender to follow Christ.

Reference Passage: … 2Corinthians 3:7-18 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …    

… Paul teaches truth to fellow Christians about the glorious freedom which is found in following Christ.

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Reference Passage: … Isaiah 61:1 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… God, thru the Prophet Isaiah, declares that one day a Messiah would come to set God’s people free from the bondage of their sin.

Reference Passage: … Luke 4:18-19 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …

…  Jesus reads from Isaiah 61:1-2 in declaring that the time of God’s Spirit setting the captives free had come in Him.

Reference Passage: … John 8:32, 36 NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… The Apostle John teaches truth concerning God’s Spirit setting those who are in Christ free from their (our) sin.  

Reference Passage: … Romans 8:1-2 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… Paul assures fellow Christians that in Christ we are set free from the bondage of their (our) sin.

Reference Passage: … Galatians 5:1, 13 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… Paul also teaches truth to fellow Christians about dealing with the freedom which comes thru God’s Spirit living in them (us).

Reference Passage: … Ephesians 2:8 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… Finally, Paul shows that God’s freedom (i.e., His grace) is a free gift from God to those who believe in Him as Lord.  

My Devotional Journal: Today’s Our Daily Bread from Winn Collier  …  USE THIS LINK      relates the true story of a slave named Henry (Box) Brown in 1849, who crunched himself into a small box with air holes punched to allow him to breathe and had a friend ship the box from Richmond to Philadelphia, which when he was freed from the box allowed him to walk free from his slavery.  

And the freedom “Box” Brown experienced is an apt illustration of the freedom experienced by any/all of us when we are set free from the bondage of our sin when we choose to follow Jesus as Lord in our lives.   I’m free today because of my surrender over 40 years ago to Christ’s Lordship in my life.   How about you; … are you free today to follow Christ?      

My Thanksgiving: … Oh, King Jesus, thank You …Lord, … for Your Spirit leading me to walk in freedom from my past bondage to sin (see photo). 

My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, … thank You, Lord, for dying on that cross and being raised again to free us from our bondage to sin.

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Blogger Note: Everyday during this year, my daily devotional blogs are influenced by the reading and study of the online devotional blog entitled “Our Daily Bread,” distributed online via email by RBC Ministries.  If you GO TO THIS LINK on the date of my blog, you can read/study the ODB blogs; or you can subscribe to the blog via email at that site.