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Written by Henri J.M. Nouwen (1932-1996), a Dutch Catholic priest, professor, writer, and theologian. This is an excerpt from his book “Making All Things New.”

Although the discipline of solitude asks us to set aside time and space, what finally matters is that our hearts become like quiet cells where God can dwell, wherever we go and whatever we do. The more we train ourselves to spend time with God and God alone, the more we will discover that God is with us at all times and in all places. Then we will be able to recognize God even in the midst of a busy and active life. Once the solitude of time and space has become a solitude of the heart, we will never have to leave that solitude. We will be able to live the spiritual life in any place and at any time. Thus the discipline of solitude enables us to live active lives in the world, while remaining always in the presence of the living God.

In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength [Isaiah 30:15]

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Written by John Hey, a contemporary medical doctor and writer.

Many Christians stay in trouble, grow little, or even go astray and ruin their lives. This is often because they are lone “free lance” Christians and not closely connected to a real church. The church is God’s means of taking care of His children in this age—the church age.  A wolf will destroy a sheep that is off alone in the wilderness, so Satan has to find Christians that aren’t under the care, authority, and discipline of a local church. We must get rid of the idea that the church is a building or an address to hold meetings. Nor is the church a “preaching point” or performance that an audience attends for information or worse, for entertainment. All churches claim great doctrinal truths on paper but do they make the Lord Jesus Christ the head by first upholding the truth of God’s Word? Is the Word of God being taught in depth and power? Are Christians caring for one another? Is sin dealt with or just tolerated and ignored? Is there time for worship and praise to the Lord or just meaningless rounds of activity? Such a church might not be the largest or fastest growing, or most prestigious, but it won’t necessarily be small or stagnant either. It will be one where the Lord and His Word are taken seriously and His sheep are cared for and care for one another.

So that if I am delayed, you will know how people ought to conduct themselves in the household of God. This is the church of the living God, which is the pillar and foundation of the truth.  [1 Timothy 3:15]

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Written by Philip Reinders, a contemporary Canadian pastor, missional leader, and author. This is an excerpt from his book “Seeking God’s Face.”

Creator God, I praise you for creating humanity good, in your own image. Despite the regularity of evil wickedness I see in the world, despite my own twisted ways, this is not the way it is supposed to be. I’m meant to know you, to love you with all my heart, and to live with you in eternal happiness. Today, equip me to move in the direction of your created purposes for me. In Christ’s name. Amen.

I wait for the Lord, my whole being waits, and in his word I put my hope. [Psalm 130:5]

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Written by Nick Harrison, a contemporary author. This is an excerpt from his book “Magnificent Prayer.”

Pascal answered his own question [Why has God established prayer?] by maintaining that God wants to “communicate to His creatures the dignity of causality.” In other words, He wants us to enjoy a taste of what it’s like to be a creator. By praying for what God puts on our hearts, we actually see something come into being that wasn’t there before. Perhaps it’s restored health, a mate, a child, a job, or some other such need. By being made in God’s image, we, like Him, enjoy watching things happen through our “causality.” And although prayer causes God to bring about our answer, we still see how God has given us a part in ushering it into being. Has God given you something to create through prayer?

So God created man in his own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female he created them. [Genesis 1:27]

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Written by A.C. Dixon (1854-1925), an American pastor, author, and evangelist.

When we depend upon organization, we get what organization can do; when we depend upon education, we get what education can do; when we depend upon man, we get what man can do; but when we depend upon prayer, we get what God can do!

Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God. They are brought to their knees and fall, but we rise up and stand firm. [Psalm 20:7-8]

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Written by Charles Cowman (1868-1924), a missionary evangelist in Japan.

I am so convinced that [our work as Christians] is God’s work that nothing from without can by any means harm it, but you must stay very close together and at the foot of the cross, where there is none of self but all of Christ. You can harm it if you allow disunity among yourselves, looking after  your own personal interests and failing to be true to the vision God has given us. Read often Psalm 133…Have fervent love among yourselves. Pray for fresh baptisms of love. Disunity cannot live in an atmosphere of love.

How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity! [Psalm 133:1].

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Today’s devotion is from the Student Devos website.

Many people today have little respect for others. This attitude can creep into our lives as Christians sometimes too. We don’t respect our boss at work, we talk about how horrible our teachers are at school, or maybe we even bash the people that go to our church for things they do. Sometimes it can be really easy to fall into the habit of talking about others and focusing only on the negative traits of those around us. However, this isn’t the way that God really wants for us to live. Christians are challenged  to respect everyone. That isn’t to say you’re going to agree with what everyone around you does, but rather you’re going to treat them with kindness and respect. You should look for opportunities to speak well of other people. Challenge yourself to be actively looking for good things in the lives of others instead of displaying the bad. Doing this isn’t what comes naturally most of the time. However, it’s the right thing to do. So today, challenge yourself to look for good things in other people and show them some respect.

Show proper respect to everyone, love the family of believers, fear God, honor the emperor. [1 Peter 2:17]

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Today’s devotion is from the InTouch Ministries website. In Touch Ministries was founded by Charles Stanley (1932-2023), an American pastor and writer.

Navigating loss is a complex process; there is no straightforward path through grief. Yet Nehemiah’s journey from lamenting the broken walls of Jerusalem to rebuilding them offers us insight as we partner with God to put life’s shattered places back together. After grieving the destruction of Jerusalem’s fortifications, Nehemiah asked King Artaxerxes for permission to return to that city and rebuild its protective wall. Taking stock of what remains after loss is an important step as we move from grieving to rebuilding. It can be difficult to find glimmers of hope while surveying the ruins of broken lives, dreams, or relationships, but we are never without the one thing that matters most—God’s presence. Nehemiah knew this to be true, which is why he toured Jerusalem to inspect its walls and learn what was needed to repair the damage. In doing so, he oriented himself towards hope—that is, he looked for what could be accomplished with God’s help. As the Lord did with Nehemiah, He also invites us to view rubble in our life with eyes of faith. So let’s dare to look beyond our present circumstances toward the joy of future restoration.

You see the bad situation we are in, that Jerusalem is desolate and its gates burned by fire. Come, let us rebuild the wall of Jerusalem so that we will no longer be a reproach. [Nehimiah 2:18]

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Written by Victoria Riollano, a contemporary professor and writer.

Lord, I thank you for who you are in my life today. I thank you for the testimonies I have seen of your goodness. I do not take the peace, healing, and provision you have given me over the years for granted. Lord, help me to remember what you have done and teach me how to share it with people of all ages. I pray for spiritual boldness to speak and proclaim my testimony and the truth of the gospel. Lord, help me never to shy away from sharing or be ashamed of the gospel. Show me, Lord, the times when I haven’t been bold. Teach me how to proudly tell people who you are. Amen.

He called you to this through our gospel, that you might share in the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. [2 Thessalonians 2:14].

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Today’s devotion is from the “He Gets Us” website, an organization with a diverse group of Jesus followers who help people rediscover the love story of Jesus.

We were looking at the life of Jesus to see who he really was, and we noticed something peculiar: he spent a lot of time around the dinner table. Many of his most frequently quoted messages and standout stories happened while sharing a meal with others. As we looked closer, we noticed that his company around the table was a remarkably diverse cast. He shared meals with outcasts. He spent time with the
self-righteous religious elite. He cared for people who had broken every rule and were seen as unclean. He dined at the tables of the wealthy men whose riches were won with lies and corruption. Some of those men gave up comfortable lifestyles to follow him. He crossed racial boundaries to the shock of many around him. He invited everyone to the table. When asked why he did so, he replied, “… I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me.” It was radical at the time. No one was that inclusive. The religious do-gooders began to whisper behind his back. They called him a friend of sinners. It was supposed to be an insult, but Jesus wore it proudly. He was a friend to everyone. And what do friends do? They eat dinner together and share in each other’s lives. Strangers eating together and becoming friends. What a simple concept, and yet, we’re pretty sure it would turn our own modern world upside down the same way Jesus turned his around 2,000 years ago. .. We see division and broken relationships everywhere. We see judgment and hypocrisy on the rise. We see people who claim to be followers of Jesus taking his open invite and turning it into an exclusive club. The name of Jesus has been used to harm and divide, but if you look at how he lived, you see how backward that really is. Jesus was not exclusive. He was radically inclusive. What would our world look like if that were the norm? If strangers became friends over the dinner table as they did around Jesus?

While Jesus was having dinner at Levi’s house, many tax collectors and sinners were eating with him and his disciples, for there were many who followed him. When the teachers of the law who were Pharisees saw him
eating with the sinners and tax collectors, they asked his disciples: “Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?” On hearing this, Jesus said to them, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.” [Mark 2:15-17]

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