Anchored! Yet on the Move

 October 28, 2026

A mighty fortress is our God,

a bulwark never failing.

Our helper he, amid the flood

of mortal ills prevailing.

Did we in our own strength confide,

our striving would be losing,

were not the right man on our side,

the man of God’s own choosing.

Dost ask who that may be?

Christ Jesus, it is he.

Lord Sabaoth his name,

from age to age the same,

and he must win the battle.

And though this world, with devils filled,

should threaten to undo us,

we will not fear, for God hath willed

his truth to triumph through us.

Let goods and kindred go,

this mortal life also.

The body they may kill;

God’s truth abideth still.

His kingdom is forever.

 

Martin Luther’s “A Mighty Fortress Is Our God"

Opening Prayer

Lord, as we read Your Word, open our hearts and minds to understand Your truth. Teach us by Your Spirit, help us hear Your voice, and give us grace to live what we learn. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Bible Reading

Psalm 46

 

God is our refuge and strength,
always ready to help in times of trouble.
2 So we will not fear when earthquakes come
and the mountains crumble into the sea.
3 Let the oceans roar and foam.
Let the mountains tremble as the waters surge!

4 A river brings joy to the city of our God,
the sacred home of the Most High.
5 God dwells in that city; it cannot be destroyed.
From the very break of day, God will protect it.
6 The nations are in chaos,
and their kingdoms crumble!
God’s voice thunders,
and the earth melts!

7 The Lord of Heaven’s Armies is here among us;
the God of Israel is our fortress.

8 Come, see the glorious works of the Lord:
See how he brings destruction upon the world.
9 He causes wars to end throughout the earth.
He breaks the bow and snaps the spear;
he burns the shields with fire.

10 “Be still, and know that I am God!
I will be honored by every nation.
I will be honored throughout the world.”

11 The Lord of Heaven’s Armies is here among us;
the God of Israel is our fortress.

 

Reflection

It just doesn’t feel like Reformation season without reading Psalm 46 and singing “A Mighty Fortress Is Our God.” But when you hear words like "fortress" or "bulwark"—basically military strongholds and heavy defensive walls—it’s easy to picture things that are totally stuck, immovable, and locked down.

Yet, when we talk about the Reformation, we usually focus on the exact opposite: our call as followers of Jesus to constantly stay open to change, growth, and renewal. We look at Scripture, pay attention to the culture around us, and stay open to fresh moves of the Spirit. You could call these "Reformation Nudges"—those little pushes that remind us we're caught in the tension between celebrating where we’ve come from, trying to make sense of right now, and knowing we haven't reached the finish line yet. Like Paul said, we haven't "already arrived," but we keep pressing on.

So, why do we lean on Psalm 46 and Luther’s hymn each year at this time, when the Reformation message has so much to do with change?

Old Testament scholar James Mays hit the nail on the head when he wrote that the psalm doesn’t invite us to trust in a place, but in a Presence (Psalms: Interpretation, p. 185). Those images of walls and fortresses are not meant to portray God as some closed-off, stay-in-one-place statue. Instead, they’re meant to remind us that God's presence is constant and moves with us, even when everything else is shifting. Luther's hymn isn't meant to make us rigid; it actually gives us the courage to embrace change and face new challenges.

Think about it: if we genuinely believe God is walking right beside us through every twist and turn of life, doesn’t that completely change how we look at the future?

Even when change feels messy and confusing, when our own energy gives out, or when the world feels overwhelming, we do not have to panic. We are backed by a steady, abiding presence. Like the hymn says, "We will not fear, for God hath willed his truth to triumph through us."

God’s presence is the solid ground beneath our feet and the home we live in. That promise never changes, no matter what happens around us, because it’s anchored in the one person who matters most:

Dost ask who that may be? Christ Jesus, it is he. Lord Sabaoth his name, from age to age the same.

Prayer 

O Mighty Fortress, bulwark of love and presence, open our eyes to the ways you travel with us. Open our hearts for the constant reforming and renewing work of your Spirit. Don’t let us grow content with what is, but give us vision for what, who, we might become as your people and as your church. Amen. 

Application

Create a Daily "Presence" Pause: Take 2 minutes each morning to acknowledge that you don't have to figure everything out today. Breathe out anxiety and remind yourself: 

God is walking through today's experiences right beside you.

 

Life's Greatest Purpose

Life's Greatest Purpose

October 27, 2026

Opening Prayer

Lord, as we read Your Word, open our hearts and minds to understand Your truth. Teach us by Your Spirit, help us hear Your voice, and give us grace to live what we learn. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Bible Readings


Ephesians 1:17-21

That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come.


1 Corinthians 10:31

31So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.


Reflection

Soli Deo Gloria - "Glory to God Alone." 

The Bible reminds us that everything begins and ends with God. Creation points to His glory, salvation displays His grace, and our lives are meant to honour Him. As we follow Jesus, our goal is not to draw attention to ourselves, but to live in a way that points others to the goodness and greatness of God.

In 2 Corinthians 4:15, Paul says that God's grace results in thanksgiving overflowing to the glory of God. Ephesians 2:8-9 reminds us that salvation is a gift of grace, leaving no room for us to boast in ourselves. 1 Corinthians 1:26-31 tells us that if we're going to boast, we should boast only in the Lord. And Ephesians 1:4-6 explains that God's purpose in saving us is "to the praise of His glorious grace." As Romans 11:36 declares, "To Him be glory forever." Even Isaiah 2:12-17 points to a day when human pride will be brought low and God alone will be exalted.

Simply put, Glory to God Alone means that everything is for God's glory.

It's important to remember that God's glory is first and foremost about who God is. Glory is not something God gains from us. It is part of His very nature. He is majestic, beautiful, holy, splendid, and worthy of all praise. The more we come to know God for who He truly is, the more we are drawn to worship Him.

That's why growing in our knowledge of God matters so much. As we discover His mercy, justice, righteousness, grace, patience, holiness, and love, our hearts respond with deeper love and devotion. Jesus said that the greatest commandment is to love the Lord our God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength (Matthew 22:36-40). The more we know Him, the more naturally praise and worship flow from our lives. As someone once said, "The more we love God for God, the more natural our praise and adoration of Him becomes."

This truth also changes how we live every day. As Christians, we no longer belong to ourselves (Romans 14:8). Through faith in Christ, the old self has been put to death (Galatians 5:24), and we are called to live for Him.

Too often we divide life into separate compartments. We have a church box, a family box, a work box, a friend box, and a free-time box. But following Christ doesn't allow for that kind of separation. Instead, all those boxes get dumped into one big container labeled "For the Glory of God."

Our faith isn't meant to be one part of life; it is meant to shape our entire life. Everything we do, think, say, feel, and believe is to be lived for God's glory.

A wonderful example of this comes from the great composer Johann Sebastian Bach. Bach often wrote the letters "SDG" (Soli Deo Gloria) at the bottom of his musical compositions. For him, music was never ultimately about personal recognition or success. It was about honoring God. Bach once said, "The aim and final end of all music should be none other than the glory of God and the refreshment of the soul."

What a challenge and encouragement that is for us. Whether we're working, serving, raising a family, studying, worshipping, or simply enjoying God's gifts, our goal should be the same: to bring glory to God.

May it be true of each one of us that whatever we do, we do it all for the glory of God alone.

"whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, 

do it all for the glory of God."

Prayer

Glory to God the Father, who brought back from the dead
our Lord Jesus Christ and crowned him with glory and honor.
Glory to God the Son, who lives to plead our cause at the right hand of God and
who will come again to make all things new.
Glory to God the Holy Spirit, who brings us the taste of the good Word of God
and the power of the age to come. 

Praise and glory and wisdom, thanksgiving and honor, power and might be to our Lord for ever!

Amen.

Application 

1. Ask a New Question Each Day

As you go through your day, ask yourself, "How can God be glorified in this situation?" Whether you're at work, at home, with friends, or serving others, look for opportunities to reflect God's character through your words and actions.

2. End Each Day with Gratitude

Before you go to sleep, take a moment to thank God for His blessings and take note of the moments in your day where God was glorified in your life.   Celebrate God's work in you and pray for opportunities to honour Him and give Him glory tomorrow.

A Foundation That Endures

A Foundation That Endures

October 26, 2026

Opening Prayer

Lord, as we read Your Word, open our hearts and minds to understand Your truth. Teach us by Your Spirit, help us hear Your voice, and give us grace to live what we learn. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Bible Readings

2 Timothy 3:15-17

“. . . from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”

Hebrews 4:12

“For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.”


Jeremiah 23:29

“Is not my word like fire,” declares the Lord, “and like a hammer that breaks a rock in pieces?” 


Reflection

"Sola Scriptura" is Latin for Scripture Alone. Basically, it means God’s Word is enough and holds the ultimate authority for everything we do. Now, that doesn't mean the Bible spells out an answer for every single random question we might ever have. For example, the Bible may not answer every question we might have about technology, careers, or modern-day issues. However, the Bible does give us clear principles for addressing these. But what we do learn is that the Bible is God's trustworthy word and takes top priority in every area of our spiritual life it touches. As 2 Peter 1:19 puts it:


“We also have the prophetic message as something completely reliable, and you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a light shining in a dark place..."

As Christians, we look to the Word first and foremost for wisdom and answers. Hebrews 4:12 reminds us that God's word is "alive and active"—sharper than any sword, getting right down to our thoughts and the attitudes of our hearts.

The Bible uses a variety of images to describe itself:

It’s a seed God plants.


It’s rain that soaks in and nourishes us.


It’s something sweet and delicious to enjoy.


It’s a light that gives us understanding.


It’s a sword that gets right to the point.


It’s a fire and a hammer for when we're feeling cold and stubborn.

Honestly, don't you find, some days we need a gentle, soft rain. Other days, we need a hammer to break through a hard heart. And as Psalm 8 reminds us, sometimes God's words are just "sweeter than honey from the honeycomb."

Bottom line: God’s word is inspired, true, sufficient, and "calls the shots" for anyone following Jesus. As we explore this together, let’s remember that our culture, traditions, feelings and personal beliefs should never take precedence over the Bible. When we pick it up, we're holding the very Word of God, and we get to enjoy reading, studying, and thinking on it to know God more fully and to learn how to live in His Kingdom.

I believe, it’s worth taking a cue from the Reformation and getting back to the Scriptures to find wisdom for everyday life. Scripture helps us get to know God and ourselves—showing us who we are, who we belong to, and what we actually need. It guides us into a life that honors our Good God.

Prayer


Heavenly Father, thank You for the gift of Your Word. Thank You that it is living, active, trustworthy, and true. Help us to listen to Your voice above all others and to build our lives on the foundation of Scripture. Give us a hunger to read, study, and obey Your Word so that we may know You more deeply and follow Jesus more faithfully each day.

In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.

Application

1. Make Scripture your first stop, not your last resort.
When facing a decision, challenge, or question, begin by asking, "What does God's Word say about this?" Before turning to social media, Claude or ChatGPT or popular opinions, or even your own feelings, spend time in Scripture and allow God's truth to shape your thinking.

2. Develop a daily habit of reading God's Word.
If we believe the Bible is God's authoritative Word, then we should make time to read it, reflect on it, and pray through it regularly. Even a few minutes each day can help keep our hearts grounded in God's truth and open to His guidance.

3. Allow Scripture to change you.
Don't simply read the Bible for information; read it for transformation. Ask the Holy Spirit to use God's Word like rain to nourish your soul, like light to guide your path, and when needed, like a hammer to break apart anything in your heart that keeps you from fully following Jesus.

ALL I NEED

 October 23, 2026

Daily Devotion

Opening Prayer


Bible Reading

Romans 10:9-13

9If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved. 11As Scripture says, “Anyone who believes in him will never be put to shame.” 12For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, 13for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

Acts 4:11-12

11Jesus is “ ‘the stone you builders rejected, which has become the cornerstone.’ 

Colossians 1:16-17

“All things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together.”

I Timothy 2:5

For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus


Reflection

We are going to conclude this week's devotions with a little "Reformation" Primer. Next week we will celebrate "Reformation" Day and today I thought it would be good to turn our attention this weekend toward the foundations laid during this historical period. Let's turn attention to the scriptures above.

According to the Apostle Paul in Colossians 1, Christ alone is sufficient, and as believers, we grow as we take hold of this truth in our beliefs and actions (1:24–29). The apostle’s revelation about our Savior’s identity in Colossians 1:16–17 clearly reveals the all-sufficiency of Christ. Jesus, we read, is the self-existent, everlasting mediator of God’s creative acts described in Genesis 1–2. Or, as John 1:1–18 puts it, Jesus is the Word, the Logos who is God and is with God. In Him all things were made. Paul also teaches, Jesus the Son of God is the great Sustainer of all things. “In him all things hold together” (1:17): Christ, no other being or force, keeps the universe in order. Without Him, the cosmos would be pure chaos. Now think of the implications of all this, if Jesu has the power to hold everything together in the created world, how could anyone believe that they need to turn anywhere else to find hope, help, renewal, or deliverance?

"We live in a turbulent time," I often hear people say. While there is truth to that, remember so did Luther, Calvin and other Reformers. Turbulent times did not stop them from seeking Christ first and putting God at life’s center. Some of you will know the inscription on the seal from Calvin University, it is a quote from John Calvin which says “My heart to you I offer Lord, promptly and sincerely.” Now is our turbulant time to do the same. "We have been placed where we are, in this our generation, purposefully, in our families, Churches, neighbourhoods, and workplaces, to proverbially nail our own declaration of faith to the door of our hearts, homes, and in our communities.”

In every generation, God’s people face their own storms, questions, and pressures. Yet the call remains unchanged: Christ is sufficient—fully, eternally, and personal. If He holds the universe together, He can certainly hold your life together. So in our turbulent moment, may we—like the saints before us—offer our hearts to the Lord promptly and sincerely. May we anchor our confidence not in circumstances, but in Christ our Prophet, Priest, and King. And may we boldly “nail our declaration of faith” to the door of our lives, trusting that the One who created all things and sustains all things will also sustain us as we follow Him.


Prayer

Lord, help me to trust You for all that I need, my daily needs and my spiritual needs. I want to rely on You and You alone, and not put my trust in my own frail and foolish abilities, for without You I can do nothing, but I can do all things through Christ Who gives me the strength. May nothing in heaven or earth or under the earth assume Your central position in my life, I pray. Amen.


Application

Turn to Christ in One Specific Area of Turbulence

Choose one place in your life where you feel pressure—your family, work, health, or even your inner life—and make a deliberate choice to seek Christ first. Before reacting, worrying, or planning, pause and pray: “Lord Jesus, You hold all things together. Hold this together too.” Let that moment re‑center your trust.

We Need a Shepherd

October 21, 2026

Daily Devotion 

Opening Prayer

Gracious and Generous God, we come before Your Word with humble hearts, seeking Your presence and wisdom. Holy Spirit, open our minds to understand, soften our hearts to receive, and shine Your light on every line we read. May this time with Scripture renew our hope, strengthen our love for You, and equip us to live as Your people who reflect Your glory. We ask this in the name of Jesus, Amen.

Bible Reading

John 10:11

I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.

Reflection

Let's start today by considering our own tendencies to wander from God. Think about a moment when “prone to wander, Lord I feel it” played out in your life, and think about how the knowledge and pursuit of God’s love and grace drew you back more closely to him. Take a moment right now and give thanks for God’s provision and care of you his precious child. (PAUSE)

John 10 reminds us that Jesus Christ, our Good Shepherd, laid down His life for you and me. Jesus pursues us when we are lost and have relapsed into our wandering ways. As we have been singing in worship lately "Jesus says that when I'm lost, he will come to me."

What is the characteristic of a shepherd? The answer to this is revealed in scripture, think about how King David portrays God as the shepherd in Psalm 23. There the shepherding God, provided nourishment and rest. He guided, he lead the way. He was intimately involved with the flock and concerned for the safety of each one. He was willing to sacrifice his own comfort, even his own life, for the sake of his sheep. The focus of a good shepherd was on his flock and their provision, guidance, and safety.

Jesus shares this metaphor of a shepherd to help us understand both our own situation, and our value to God. We need a shepherd, and Jesus is willing not only to lead and guide us, but also to lay down His life for us, the ultimate sacrifice to bring us back into the safety of God’s flock.

Ezekiel 34 tells us God's promise,

"I myself will search for my sheep and look after them. 12 As a shepherd looks after his scattered flock when he is with them, so will I look after my sheep. I will rescue them from all the places where they were scattered on a day of clouds and darkness. . . I will tend them in a good pasture, and the mountain heights of Israel will be their grazing land. There they will lie down in good grazing land, and there they will feed in a rich pasture on the mountains of Israel. 15 I myself will tend my sheep and have them lie down, declares the Sovereign Lord. 16 I will search for the lost and bring back the strays. I will bind up the injured and strengthen the weak, ... I will shepherd the flock with justice."

Thanks be to God, for his word of promise to us!!

Prayer

Be our shepherd, O Lord,

and bless us with all good things

that we may be refreshed

with your overflowing cup

and dwell in your house forever;

through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Ludolph of Saxony, d. 1378

(a German theologian of the fourteenth century.His principal work, first printed in the 1470s, was the Vita Christi (Life of Christ) and has had an influence on the value of Christian Meditation)

Where Renewal Begins

October 21, 2026

Daily Devotion 

Opening Prayer

Gracious and Generous God, we come before Your Word with humble hearts, seeking Your presence and wisdom. Holy Spirit, open our minds to understand, soften our hearts to receive, and shine Your light on every line we read. May this time with Scripture renew our hope, strengthen our love for You, and equip us to live as Your people who reflect Your glory. We ask this in the name of Jesus, Amen.

Bible Reading

Psalm 51:10-12

10 

Create in me a pure heart, O God,

and renew a steadfast spirit within me.

11 

Do not cast me from your presence

or take your Holy Spirit from me.

12 

Restore to me the joy of your salvation 

and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.

1

Reflection

The background to today’s Psalm is found in 2 Samuel 11. There we read that King David cunningly arranged for the death of a man named Uriah, a faithful soldier in David’s army. David had misused his kingly power and entered into a sexual relationship with Uriah’s wife, Bathsheba, who became pregnant as a result. To cover up his sin, David sent Uriah to the front lines of battle, where he was killed.

David’s actions deeply displeased God. So God sent Nathan the prophet to confront the king and deliver the Lord’s judgment. When David heard God speak through Nathan, he recognized the full weight of his sin—not only against Uriah, not only against Bathsheba, but ultimately against God Himself (2 Samuel 12:13).

Psalm 51 is David’s heartfelt plea for mercy. He repented deeply, crying out:

“Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast (loyal) spirit within me.”

When we read Psalm 51 with the background of 2 Samuel 11, we hear just how deeply David grieved his sin. He asked God to change his heart because he knew that God would not refuse the cries of a broken and repentant spirit. David understood that he could not move forward spiritually without dealing honestly with the sin in his life. David knew that without repentence, he could not have and enjoy the comfort of God’s presence. He prays "take not your Holy Spirit from me."

As God’s people, we too must be able to honestly examine our spiritual lives. Deep down in our spirits, like David we want to live in the comfort of God's presence too. And when the Holy Spirit points out where we have “missed the mark,” we echo David’s prayer:

“Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast (loyal) spirit within me.”

Our compassionate God listens to our prayers, and He renews the hearts that come to Him in openess and truth. If God can renew, restore, and rebuild King David's life after plotting and carrying out "murder", He can renew, restore, and rebuild our lives too. Not one of us is beyond he reach of God's grace.

My friends, that is very Good News— AMAZING GRACE, how sweet the sound!!

Prayer

Loving God, I pray for the forgiveness of my sins, and I ask for a heart that is open to listen when your Spirit points out the need for repentance. Today, give me a repentant heart like David and renew your Spirit within me. Renew me, restore me, rebuild me, that I may walk fully in your presence every day. Amen.

Now and Not Yet Living

October 20, 2026

DAILY DEVOTION

Opening Prayer

Gracious and Generous God, we come before Your Word with humble hearts, seeking Your presence and wisdom. Holy Spirit, open our minds to understand, soften our hearts to receive, and shine Your light on every line we read. May this time with Scripture renew our hope, strengthen our love for You, and equip us to live as Your people who reflect Your glory. We ask this in the name of Jesus, Amen.

Bible Reading

RUTH 1:14-16

And again they wept together, and Orpah kissed her mother-in-law good-bye. But Ruth clung tightly to Naomi. 15“Look,” Naomi said to her, “your sister-in-law has gone back to her people and to her gods. You should do the same.”

16But Ruth replied, “Don’t ask me to leave you and turn back. Wherever you go, I will go; wherever you live, I will live. Your people will be my people, and your God will be my God.

Reflection

Today we meditate on the life of a young woman who lost her future, and the way that God rebuilt her life.

There was a woman named Naomi, from Bethlehem. Due to a famine, she, and her family, relocated to a nearby country, called Moab. Years later, Naomi’s husband died, and her two sons married Moabite women. We are told that Naomi’s sons also died, and she was left with her two daughters-in-law in a country that was foreign and unfamiliar to her.

Naomi faced many hardships, and she eventually set her sights on a return to her hometown, Bethlehem. One of the young widows, Ruth, chose to go with her mother-in-law. Naomi tried to deter her, but Ruth refused to stay in Moab, saying to her Mother-in-law, “Wherever you go, I will go”. What Ruth didn’t know was that God had a plan to rebuild both of their lives in Bethlehem.

Ruth went to find food for herself and Naomi and went out to glean heads of grain after the harvesters had finished. There was a practice to leave the spilled grains on the field for the poor to gather after the reaping was concluded, as Leviticus 23:22 had commanded. Gleaning the spilled grain may sound easy, but actually it was very difficult work.

Ruth happened to gather grains in fields that belonged to a man named Boaz. Boaz was a distant relative of Naomi. He is described as a righteous wealthy man. Ruth found favor with Boaz and received support and kindness from him. Ruth obeyed the instructions of her mother-in-law, became the wife of Boaz and they were blessed with a son. Later in chapter 4 we read “The women of Bethlehem praised the Lord that Naomi was restored through Ruth and Boaz’s son Obed" (Ruth 4:14-15). Here is a neat genealogical detail worth underlining, Obed was the father of Jesse who was the father of King David.

When Ruth made the decision to stay with her mother in law Naomi, she did not know that one day she would be the great grandmother of King David and be an important person in the genealogy of Jesus Christ.

Ruth’s story has many faith lessons but today I would like us to notice this lesson. When we continue to do the right things even in the times of difficulties, God will bless and use us in his great plan as he did Ruth. Ruth was a Moabite, an unlikely figure to show up in the Messiah’s lineage. But what Ruth did, in a hard and difficult circumstance was to announce to her Mother-in-law Naomi, “Wherever you go, I will go; wherever you live, I will live. Your people will be my people, and your God will be my God.” With that promise lived out, in obedience and kindness, Ruth was pleasing in the sight of God.

Please know this, you may have planned good things for your life, and right now it may feel like those plans are so “off track” but God has plans for you, and like Ruth, who knows but that generations to come will be blessed through your obedience to “let go and let God have his way” in your life, even in the hardest of experiences.


Prayer

Faithful God, thank You for the story of Ruth and the reminder that You are at work even when we cannot see what lies ahead. Help us trust You with our uncertainties and remain faithful in the small things of everyday life. Give us courage to show kindness, keep our commitments, and take the next right step. When life does not unfold as we planned, remind us that our hope rests in Your unfailing love and Your promises in Jesus Christ. Guide our steps today and use our lives to bless others.

In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Application

Ask yourself: What is one step of faithfulness God is calling me to take today?

A Rebuild with Precious Stones

October 19, 2026

DAILY DEVOTION

Opening Prayer

Gracious and Generous God, we come before Your Word with humble hearts, seeking Your presence and wisdom. Holy Spirit, open our minds to understand, soften our hearts to receive, and shine Your light on every line we read. May this time with Scripture renew our hope, strengthen our love for You, and equip us to live as Your people who reflect Your glory. We ask this in the name of Jesus, Amen.

Bible Reading

Isaiah 54:11-17

11-17 “Afflicted city, storm-battered, unpitied:
I’m about to rebuild you with stones of turquoise,
Lay your foundations with sapphires,
construct your towers with rubies,
Your gates with jewels,
and all your walls with precious stones.

(The Message)

Reflection

 If you’ve ever had a home renovation, you know there are always some things that need to come down. This could mean taking down a wall, removing old floor tiles or moving some plumbing. The truth is, some of those old features need to be cleared out before we can start building back up.

During a workshop I attended recently, one of the questions we were asked to consider was: “If your life were a home renovation project, what would be removed and destroyed before the rebuilding work could begin?”                

How might you answer that question?

God promises, in this verse from Isaiah 54:11 that he will rebuild the “afflicted city, storm-battered, unpitied” with precious stones. Life can sometimes throw us into tough times, making us feel like we’ve been hit by a storm and left feeling unsettled and without comfort. Maybe you’ve been through something like that, or maybe you are right now.

Our commitment to follow Jesus includes the decision to allow God to initiate a reweal process within us where God can rebuild us from the difficult and painful experiences we endure. This rebuilding is not an easy process for us, it requires trusting the Creator, the “Master Builder,” to lay the groundwork for his plan and purposes for us.

I find the writer C. S. Lewis description of this extremely helpful to remember.

“Imagine yourself as a living house. God comes in to rebuild that house. At first, perhaps, you can understand what He is doing. He is getting the drains right and stopping the leaks in the roof and so on; you knew that those jobs needed doing and so you are not surprised. But presently He starts knocking the house about in a way that hurts abominably and does not seem to make any sense. What on earth is He up to? The explanation is that He is building quite a different house from the one you thought of - throwing out a new wing here, putting on an extra floor there, running up towers, making courtyards. You thought you were being made into a decent little cottage: but He is building a palace. He intends to come and live in it Himself.” ― C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity

As Jesus followers, we need to allow “the master builder” to break up our shaky foundations and to rebuild our lives. This may mean giving up things we once held as important, it may mean asking for forgiveness from God, and acknowledging where we have been going wrong, by placing too much emphasis on surface things.

In 2 Corinthians 5:17 we read how we can be made new. The Apostle Paul remids us of the promise that “If anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!” You see, "In Christ" is the key, it is the foundation for renewal.

Our passage from Isaiah 54 above tells us that God does not rebuild us with the same old stones. God’s promise is to rebuild us with “stones of turquoise, Lay your foundations with sapphires, construct your towers with rubies, Your gates with jewels, and all your walls with precious stones.” Did you hear that? God rebuilds us with precious stones! We may feel like a “storm battered” city, but God’s promise is that we will become something new, a new creation and we can shine like the precious stones that Jesus rebuilt us with.

This is not a cosmetic repair; it is a loving, thorough reconstruction by the Master Builder who sees the whole design. As Peter wrote in 1 Peter 2:4-7 "As you come to him, the living Stone—rejected by humans but chosen by God and precious to him— 5 you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 

Prayer

Lord, you see my broken places and you promise to rebuild. Give me courage to let you remove what must be taken away, patience through the work, and faith to stand on the new foundations you lay. Make me a living testimony of your restoration. Amen.

Application

Receive God’s work. Let God have the space to remove what must go so He can lay new foundations.

Live as the new creation. Trust that in Christ the old has passed away and you are being made new—able to reflect God’s glory like precious stones.

Only?

October 14, 2026

"Thanksgiving will draw our hearts out to God and keep us engaged with Him; it will take our attention from ourselves and give the Spirit room in our hearts."

— Andrew Murray (1828–1917)

 

Opening Prayer

Heavenly Father, As we open Your Word today, we quiet our hearts and draw our attention away from the rush of our daily lives. Grant us the stillness and the room we need for Your Holy Spirit to move deeply within us.

Bible Readings

Psalm 100:4

"Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name."

Matthew 14:13–21

"When Jesus heard what had happened, he withdrew by boat privately to a solitary place. Hearing of this, the crowds followed him on foot from the towns. When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them and healed their sick.

As evening approached, the disciples came to him and said, 'This is a remote place, and it’s already getting late. Send the crowds away, so they can go to the villages and buy themselves some food.'

Jesus replied, 'They do not need to go away. You give them something to eat.'

'We have here only five loaves of bread and two fish,' they answered.

'Bring them here to me,' he said. And he directed the people to sit down on the grass. Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke the loaves. Then he gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the people. They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over. The number of those who ate was about five thousand men, besides women and children."

 

Reflection

The miracle of multiplication is one event I truly wish I could have witnessed firsthand. Are there any accounts in the Gospels that you would have liked to see for yourself?

Sometimes I wonder what the atmosphere was like when Jesus turned water into wine, healed a person from leprosy, stopped the flow of blood for the woman who suffered for twelve years, or took the hand of a little girl who had died and said, "Talitha koum" (little girl, arise).

Imagine for a moment the experience of being right where Jesus was—surrounded by crowds eager for a miracle, a profound teaching, or simply a chance to ask a question. I'm sure I would have had several questions myself, wouldn't you?

Jesus led His life in a constant, unbroken awareness of God's presence. He exemplified a life lived in nearness to the Father, dedicating His existence to glorifying God and displaying His works. His compassion and care for others never waned. He was ever-present and fully focused on the moment. At the cornerstone of this way of life was Jesus’ ability to be deeply grateful in all circumstances.

Have you ever noticed how Jesus prepared for major undertakings in His ministry? He spent time in prayer early in the mornings or late at night. Prayer was His intimate connection to His Father—a connection that we have today as well. Don’t ever forget that! Jesus never attempted to do anything for the Kingdom of God without spending vital moments in the "quiet place," the "secret place," or the "remote place" where He could be truly alone, away from distractions, in God’s strengthening and empowering presence.

In our Gospel reading today, we encounter the feeding of the 5,000. What strikes me is how little Jesus had to work with—just five loaves and two fish. When Jesus asked the disciples what they had available, their response was telling: "We have here only five loaves of bread and two fish" (Matthew 14:17). By using the word only, they limited the potential of what was in their hands, forgetting whose presence they were standing in.

I am not being hard on the disciples. I do that too, don’t you? Don’t we often say things like, "This is all I have, and it will never be enough"?

Statements like those were never part of Jesus' vocabulary. Faith in God's ability was. As a result, He brought God into His "little"—into His "only"—and watched God multiply the bread and fish. As the saying goes, "Little is much when God is in it!"

Jesus called for the loaves and fish, and we read that He gave thanks for the little. Then, the supernatural happened. The five loaves didn't instantly transform into mountains of bread all at once; rather, this is so important—the multiplication happened in the breaking. As the disciples obeyed and followed Jesus' directions, and as the bread was broken and distributed, it replenished itself.

I am learning that when we are thankful for the little we hold in our hands, we may not see an immediate abundance, but we will experience God's amazing outcomes as we faithfully trust and obey. Our Gospel reading shows us that God provided and multiplied the "only"—with twelve baskets of leftovers to spare!

The key for each of us as followers of Jesus is to remain thankful as He continues to supply all our needs. Remember that pivotal moment: "Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks."

"My God shall supply all your needs according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus."  Philippians 4:19 

Amen.

Prayer 

Heavenly Father,

As we close this time in Your presence, we thank You for reminding us of Your endless provision and unfailing care. 

"Where in your life right now

are you holding onto an "only"

that needs a little more gratitude?"