Devotion Archive
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Devotion for March 12, 2021
“Have mercy on me, O God … Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin.” (Psalm 51:1-2) This petition of the Lord’s Prayer has two versions. Matthew quotes Jesus as saying, “Forgive us our debts” (Matthew 6:12), and Luke quotes him as saying, “Forgive us our sins” (Luke 11:4). Either way, “debts”…
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Devotion for March 11, 2021
“My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.” (Matthew 26:39) “Whatever.” Maybe you’ve heard someone say this when they had to deal with something they didn’t like. When we pray to God, saying, “Your will be done …” (Matthew 6:10) —…
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Devotion for March 10, 2021
“My mouth will speak in praise of the Lord. Let every creature praise his holy name for ever and ever.” (Psalm 145:21) With the words “hallowed be your name,” Jesus introduces the first petition, or request, of the Lord’s Prayer (Matthew 6:9). The first half of this prayer makes requests that focus on glory and…
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Devotion for March 9, 2021
“You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.” (John 14:14) Maybe you have heard the expression “It’s not what you know; it’s who you know.” This describes an unfair situation when you’re applying for a job, but when we’re talking about prayer, it’s a good thing — even a…
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Devotion for March 8, 2021
“He replied, ‘You are talking like a foolish woman. Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?’ In all this, Job did not sin in what he said.” (Job 2:10) If you could ask God one question and be guaranteed an answer, what would you ask? When pollster George Barna asked this question in…
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Devotion for March 7, 2021
“Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love … A broken and contrite heart you, God, will not despise.” (Psalm 51:1, 17) What is your posture for praying? Do you close your eyes? Do you fold your hands? Do you get down on your knees? Do you stand up? Actually, there are…
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Devotion for March 6, 2021
“I have brought you glory on earth by completing the work you gave me to do.” (John 17:4) Over half of those who enter the ministry quit within ten years because of stress and discouragement. How can you avoid that? By following Christ’s example. How did Jesus do it? He tells us: “The Son can…
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Devotion for March 5, 2021
“And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins.” (Mark 11:25) When someone hurts us, our natural response is to either hurt them back or hope they will suffer for what they have done to us. Yet as redeemed children…
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Devotion for March 4, 2021
“Yet when they were ill, I put on sackcloth and humbled myself with fasting. When my prayers returned to me unanswered, …” (Psalms 35:13) Misdirected prayers. Some people turn the blessing at mealtime into a public airing of their frustrations. Others bounce their prayers off of God, hoping to hit the person across the table…