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Written by Max Lucado, a contemporary pastor and author.

God, thank You for reminding me of Your power today. Just as Jesus walked on water, so can You calm the storms around me. I often feel afraid when life gets stormy. I can’t see my way out. I feel vulnerable to what I cannot control. Help me fix my gaze on You today. Remind me of who You are and what You are capable of. Ease my fears and replace them with peace. Calm my anxious thoughts. Help me love those around me and be present with them, which is hard to do during a difficult time. Whenever I feel afraid, or my thoughts feel out of control, may I see the image of Christ walking on the water extending His hand to help me. May I trust Christ more than myself, more than others, more than what I tend to focus on during times like this. May my gaze always be fixed on Him. In Jesus’ name I pray, amen.

One thing have I asked of the Lord, that will I seek after: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to inquire in his temple. [Psalm 27:4]

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Written by Ruth Schwenk, a contemporary author, blogger, and podcaster.  This is an excerpt from the book “Settle My Soul.”

There was once a monk who, like many followers of Jesus at the time, was looking for a deeper walk with God. This monk, Abbot Agatho, fled to the desert. The story goes that Abbot Agatho, aware of his temptation to sin with his words, carried a rock in his mouth for three years! He did so until he learned to be silent — or to control his lips. I’m not ready to carry a rock in my mouth as a reminder to watch my words, but I am very aware of my own temptation to use my words unwisely. Because we serve a God who speaks and uses His words to bring life, we are reminded that our words really do matter. They matter in our marriage, our family, the workplace, our relationships, and our church. Our words really are an overflow of what is going on in our hearts, and they have the power to shape the hearts of those whom God has surrounded us with. With our words, we bring life, health, and good things to those we encounter. We make others better by what rolls off our tongue. With our lips, we are to avoid gossip, slander, malice, and idle talk, which steal life instead of nourishing it. We can nourish those around us with words of encouragement. Speaking truth in love. Sharing our appreciation. Building others up with the truth and promises of God’s Word. We nourish others when we speak with gentleness and compassion. We bring life when we choose not to speak words that could easily be used as weapons.

The lips of the righteous nourish many. [Proverbs 10:21]

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Written by Richard Foster, a contemporary theologian and author.

Prayer invites us into compassion. Prayer gives us the power to sense people’s spirits. As we learn to walk with God and to live a life of perpetual communion, we come into a gentleness by which we love all people. We have an amazing discernment to see what is in people — not out of curiosity or because it will give us an edge over them, but so that we can enter into their fear, hate, and hurt, and thus call forth the peace and healing of Christ… Do not get me wrong. I’m not talking about some kind of sentimentalism or mushy peace that wants to avoid conflict at all costs. The peaceable gospel of Jesus Christ brings the sword of the Spirit that divides and judges. As we enter into the spirit in people, we are incensed at the poverty, injustice, and evil in human society. We seek to call people to relinquish vested interests, anger and hostility, prejudice and fear. We sense deeply the societally incarnated nature of evil and seek its defeat in the power of the Lamb.

Finally, all of you, be like-minded, be sympathetic, love one another, be compassionate and humble. [1 Peter 3:8]

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Written by Clarence Haynes, Jr., a contemporary speaker, writer, and teacher.

I am not sure how often we think about this, but the people you choose to follow point to your level of spiritual maturity. Who you choose to look up to as a role model or example to follow speaks volumes to how you are developing in your walk with Christ. Paul encouraged the Philippians to follow his example and the example of others that live like he does. This forces me to ask you the question, who are the people you are following? The measure of the role model is not what they say, but how they live. In short, their character matters. To take it a step further, a person’s title or position does not automatically deem them worthy of being an example or a role model. However, their character does. Be careful who you choose to follow and make sure you consider those who truly display godly character. If you are spiritually mature, you will stop making excuses for people’s lack of character and start holding them accountable for it. This is real evidence of spiritual maturity.

Brothers, join in imitating me, and keep your eyes on those who walk according to the example you have in us. [Philippians 3:17]

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Written by Tim Gerber, a contemporary pastor.

As I look toward Valentine’s Day, and once again wanting to do something nice for the one I love, I reminisce back over the 35 years of gifts given (that I can remember). Yes, sir! I love my wife, and like most every other husband, try my best to find different ways to show her each February. Over the years, those “ways” have included chocolate, flowers, dinner, cooking a meal, a movie, jewelry, and yes, even helping with housework (do I have to turn in my “man card” now?). None of these outward signs of love are wrong or bad. In fact, there are lots of things one can choose to give. However, as I consider the “Be Mine” Valentine’s candy heart, I am reminded that the most important thing one can give is themselves, in time spent, sacrifices invested, and true devotion and faithfulness. Without that, gifts are simply things. On the other hand, with a committed relationship, gifts can be a genuine extension of true love. I believe God sees things the same way. Often, I am tempted to think that “Be Busy” is the same as “Be Mine.” It’s not. Love is not just the things we give, or even an emotion, but seen as a perpetual act of devotion. True devotion will always lead to loving actions. This Valentine’s Day, may God challenge us all to “be” who we ought to be for those we love (including Him), instead of being tempted to think that an outward action is enough.

Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue, but with actions and in truth.”  [1 John 3:18]

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Written by Ines Velasquez-McBryde, a contemporary chaplain, pastor, preacher, and speaker.

God our Father, help us to seek your face every day. Turn our hearts to you, Jesus, the perfect love of God reflected unto us in the face of Christ. Help us see you in the lovely breeze that brushes up against our face. Help us sense the warmth of your presence by a fire on a cold day. Help us remember the covering of your grace like a blanket on a rainy day. God, when our hearts become stagnant, may you re-ignite our love for you as we discover ways to re-encounter you, for you are all around us. We want to see your face. Amen.

For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ. [2 Corinthians 4:6]

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Written by the Lead Like Jesus team, an organization founded by Ken Blanchard and Phil Hodges that promotes a transformational leadership model based on following Jesus

How many voices clamor for our attention? Voices that matter, voices that clutter our thoughts, voices that tempt and deceive, voices that bring truth and wisdom. How do we sort out the voices that matter from those that are superfluous? Jesus called people to hear, to listen, to respond to truth. Why? So that they, so that we, might find life, and in finding life, learn to live it. And in living life from God’s perspective, lead others to do the same. Jesus is still speaking. Do you hear Him?

Whoever has ears to hear, let them hear. [Mark 4:9]

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Written by David Bowden and Mart Green, contemporary authors and businessmen. Today’s devotion is an excerpt from their book “Learning to Be Loved.”

The most important thing you will ever do is learn to be loved by God. The Bible says, “God so loved the world,” and “God is love.”  We’ve heard these statements before. I know God loves me, at least in my head. The problem is that, most days, I struggle to believe it. Do you?… We know God is love. The problem is we don’t know how to receive that love. We have convictions, beliefs, worship songs, and doctrinal statements that all agree with the truth that God loves us deeply. But we don’t know how to be loved that deeply. We know God has said you are Mine. The problem is we don’t know how to be His. We have an intimacy problem with God. I don’t mean intimacy in a romantic or physical way. I mean that we have a problem of being known by God and knowing God. We cover up, hide, pretend, and fake it. We struggle to let God into the secret, broken, sensitive places in our lives. And we block ourselves off from the deep, unbelievable, and category-breaking ways God loves us. This is our intimacy problem. We need to develop intimacy with God. We need to learn to let ourselves be known by God and explore the God who wants to be known. This is a journey. There’s so much hurt to heal from. There are so many lies to stop believing. There’s so much truth that needs to seep into the hard parts of our hearts. There is so much of God’s love we need to discover. But all of us have the desperate need to learn to be loved by God.

How precious is your steadfast love, O God! The children of mankind take refuge in the shadow of your wings. [Psalm 36:7]

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Written by Lysa TerKeurst and Joel Muddamalle, contemporary authors. This is an excerpt from their book “30 Days With Jesus”

Simply the presence of Jesus and the voice of Jesus in the midst of the storm establishes peace. Where Jesus is present, peace is possible. This doesn’t mean there won’t be storms, trials, tribulations, and hardships. Certainly the children of Israel and Moses experienced these. The disciples in the New Testament experienced these. And we will, too. But we are never left alone He is with us. With Jesus, even when our circumstances don’t feel peaceful, we can choose to do things His way and, in doing so, have peace that passes all understanding. And in the end, if we will just remember to reflect on the many ways we’ve seen God move in our past and the peace available to us in the present, we can know we are being protected.

And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.[Philippians 4:7]

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Written by Scott Compton, a contemporary worship director.

There is something within every person that longs for peace. Whether it be global, at work with your boss and co-workers, at home with your spouse and children, at school, with your neighbors or pretty much with all your human relationships. But in the deepest part of each one of us is a quest to be at peace with God. Our problem is that we try to devise our own way to draw up a peace treaty with God, when in fact, He’s already got one. He came up with His plan before the foundation of the world, because He created us and loved us so much. His peace treaty is a person, His Son, Jesus Christ, the Prince of Peace…It’s only when we are at peace with God (vertical relationship) that we can truly and fully experience peace in our human (horizontal) relationships…God loves us and wants us to be at peace with Him, and experience His peace each day.

Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. [Romans 5:1]

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