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.

========================

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..

 ================ 

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

=============

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.

========================

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.

 ================ 

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

=============

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 ... 

========================

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.

 ================ 

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.

=============

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 22 2026 … Seeing God In Creation

May 22 2026 … Seeing God In Creation 

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...    and PLEASE take the time to listen to music and lyrics from Brian Doerksen singing Creation Calls … showing that believers can seek and find God in His creation.  

"Smiley Face" in the trees of Western Oregon

========================

Highlight Passage: … Isaiah 41:19-20 … [NLT]

… 19  I will plant trees in the barren desert — cedar, acacia, myrtle, olive, cypress, fir, and pine.  20   I am doing this so all who see this miracle will understand what it means — that it is the Lord who has done this, the Holy One of Israel who created it.

… God’s prophet declares that God has planted His glory even in the trees believers can see in His creation.

Reference Passage: … Isaiah 41:17-20 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… God’s Prophet, Isaiah, declares that believers can see the power and protection of God in the trees He has created and planted to reveal His glory..  

 ================ 

Reference Passage: … Deuteronomy 4:29 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… Moses relays God’s promise to His people that they will find Him if they search for Him with ALL their heart.

Reference Passage: … 1Chronicles 16:11 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

…  King David sings of God’s people continually seeking to find God’s strength and protection.

Reference Passage: … Psalms 119:2 NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… God’s Psalmist, King David, who likely used this Acrostic psalm to teach His son the Hebrew Alphabet and for God’s people to sing their praises to The Lord.  

Reference Passage:… Jeremiah 29:13 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… God, thru Jeremiah, promises that believers who seek God will ALL their hearts will find Him,

Reference Passage:… Matthew 6:33 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… Jesus in His “sermon on the mount” charges His followers to seek FIRST God’s kingdom and His righteousness … with ALL their (our) hearts … so that The Lord will bless them.

Reference Passage: … Hebrews 11:6 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …

… The Author of Hebrews shows that it is impossible to please God unless one truly believes that The Lord blesses those who diligently seek Him.

My Devotional Journal: Today’s Our Daily Bread from Kristen Holmberg  …  USE THIS LINK      tells of a joyful sight those who drive along short patch of Highway 18 in western Oregon in the fall of the year can catch a glimpse of a giant “smiley face,” (see photo) which was created by a lumber company which strategically replanted two different types of trees on that hillside during a forrest reclamation planting in 2011.  

And that “smiley face” of trees reminded the ODB author of how God has given us His creation and His word so that those of us who diligently and strategically seek God’s face, will find Him in His creation and His truth. It’s what the linked song … and all of the Scriptures above …  declare.  And that’s why you find me here each morning, seeking to find more and more of my God thru His Holy Word.   Are you with me today?      

My Thanksgiving: … Oh, King Jesus, thank You …Lord, … for revealing Yourself to me thru Your word and Your creation.  I see You, Lord!  

My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, … thank You, Lord, for showing us Your face in creation and thru Your word. 

=============

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 21 2026 … Longing For Home 

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...         and PLEASE take the time to listen to music and lyrics from Phil Wickham singing Homesick For Heaven … showing that Christians can only imagine what it will be like when we are home and see Jesus .. face-to-face.  

Long Road back to our home in Heaven ... 

========================

Highlight Passage: … Psalms 137:5-6 … [NLT]

…  5  If I forget you, O Jerusalem, let my right hand forget how to play the harp.  6  May my tongue stick to the roof of my mouth if I fail to remember you, if I don’t make Jerusalem my greatest joy. 

… The Psalmist sings of remembering Jerusalem longingly from captivity in Babylon.

Reference Passage: … Psalms 137:1-6 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …  

… God’s Psalmist, likely Jeremiah, from the Babylon captivity, sings of longing to return to the home of God’s faithful in Jerusalem.

 ================ 

Reference Passage: … Psalms 40:16-17 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… King David sings longingly of the joy he and all believers find in being close to their Lord.

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

… Solomon teaches God’s call to seek to trust in following God’s way rather than our own.  

Reference Passage: … Jeremiah 15:16 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… Jeremiah tells of longingly following God’s word as God’s people seek to be back in Jerusalem.

 

Reference Passage: … Mark 5:19 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

…  Jesus commands the man He had healed from possessed demons to GO HOME and tell family/friends of what had happened, …  which teaches what we should do about how Jesus has saved us.

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

… John writes to fellow Christians of God’s Spirit guiding them (us) to the joy they (we) will find in our future home.

Reference Passage: … Acts 2:28 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… The Apostle Peter, filled with God’s Spirit preaches of God leading him, and all who surrender to follow Him, all the way to the joy the (we) will find in our eternal home.

My Devotional Journal: Today’s Our Daily Bread from Matt Lucas …  USE THIS LINK      writes about two elderly friends, Ethel and Ed, relating longingly how in their youth that had lived in the Big Sky region of America, riding horses in the plains of North Dakota or herding cattle in Montana.   And the stories reminded the ODB author of how Jeremiah wrote longingly of retuning home to Jerusalem when God’s people were exiled to Babylon (see Highlight passage).

I don’t know about all my readers, here today, … but like Jeremiah and God’s people captive in Babylon, I long to return to my home.  But my home is in Heaven.  What about you?  Where is your eternal home?  And, … like me, … do you long to return Home and be with our Savior?      

My Thanksgiving: … Oh, King Jesus, thank You …Lord, … for the promise of leading me Homeward.

My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, … thank You, Lord, for showing us the way to go home to be with You.  …  Amen 

=============

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.