Small Steps Daily Devotions for Jan. 16 - 22

Monday 

God's Mysterious Ways

Just as you cannot understand the path of the wind or the mystery of a tiny baby growing in its mother’s womb, so you cannot understand the activity of God, who does all things (Ecclesiastes 11:5 NLT). 

We should be amazed at what God is doing. Many times, we can't see it, although sometimes His work is clear.

Many times, God takes us through "stuff" that is not fun. It can even be painful, but He never leaves us. He never walks away.

During those tough times, He teaches and molds us into the person He designed us to be. All we need to do is to learn and trust Him. 

Friends, no matter what you might be going through, there is something, much greater, waiting for you. His ways are sometimes mysterious, but His ways are always perfect. Have faith in God.

Lord God, thank you for your plan in our lives. We love you and trust you. We have faith in you, Father God. Amen.

Tuesday 

Always with Us 

So the Word became human and made his home among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness. And we have seen his glory, the glory of the Father’s one and only Son (John 1:14 NLT). 

Emmanuel, God is with us. Yes, He is here with us every day. I'm so thankful for His presence in my life. How about you? He Lives! Emmanuel!

Dear Father God, thank you for sending Jesus to this lost and dying world. Through Him, may everyone find eternity in heaven with you. I praise your holy name. Amen. 

Wednesday 

A Big Silly Grin 

Why am I discouraged? Why is my heart so sad? I will put my hope in God! I will praise him again— my Savior and my God! (Psalms 42:11 NLT). 

God loves you. Don't be discouraged. Be happy. We have a wonderful promise from the God of all creation that He loves us, and He has a place prepared for us in His kingdom.

So, get out there and do the work that God has blessed you to do. When our work is done on earth, those who love God, accept Christ, and claim Him as their Lord and King, have something much better waiting for them: a heavenly home with our Creator!

Put a big silly grin on your face and attack your problems, knowing His love, mercy, and grace is sufficient for all your needs.

Folks, it doesn't get any better than God's promise!

Father God, thank you for giving us everlasting hope. Without you, we have no eternal hope, but with you, we have a glorious hope. Lord God, bring the lost sheep home and into your fold. We have a wonderful home waiting, and we pray everyone will discover the joy of knowing Your love, mercy, and grace. We praise you for your promise. We pray in the name of the One whom you sent to save us from ourselves, Jesus Christ. Amen. 

Thursday 

At Arm's Distance 

The LORD is my strength and shield. I trust him with all my heart. He helps me, and my heart is filled with joy. I burst out in songs of thanksgiving (Psalms 28:7 NLT). 

I am totally dependent on our Lord. All of us, are just floundering fish that is out of the water, without our God.

I don't know why in the world that I kept Him at a distance for so many years. Many times, I pushed him miles away from me. Sometimes I only kept Him at arm's length. I look back on those years with a sense of loss, but I can also look at that time as I was working on my testimony.

Life cannot be full/complete without our Lord. Without Him, we are empty, incomplete. We don't realize how empty and broken we are until we start living in His will. We are truly new creations.

Lord God, I pray for any of your children who are still trying to live without you. I pray that they realize they will only be made whole by your presence in their lives. Thank you, Lord, for hearing my prayer. I ask and pray and praise you in the mighty name of Jesus, our Savior. Amen.

Friday

Peace Is Provided 

Then keep your tongue from speaking evil and your lips from telling lies! Turn away from evil and do good. Search for peace, and work to maintain it. The eyes of the Lord watch over those who do right; his ears are open to their cries for help (Psalm 34:13-15 NLT). 

As we turn from our evil ways, God will provide us with His peace and protection. Turning from sin is a lifelong process, sometimes and some days we do well, and some days we don't. He gives us another chance. He gives us His peace in knowing Him and His peace and protection.

Does God grow weary in our failures? More than likely, but His love for us overrules His weariness. I believe that the unrepentant sinner is the one in real danger of God's wrath. I also believe that when we live an unrepentant lifestyle, sooner or later God will correct us.

We can run away from Him and His correction for only so long. He loves us and will accept us back into His fold, but He also gives us the free will to live life on this earth as we wish. We must choose wisely how we live, brothers and sisters. Our choices have eternal implications.

Thanks be to you, Lord God, for loving us so much that you give us so many chances to get life right. Our lives can only be made right with Jesus as our Savior! Praise His mighty name! Amen!

Saturday

We Fall Short

Can we boast, then, that we have done anything to be accepted by God? No, because our acquittal is not based on obeying the law. It is based on faith. So, we are made right with God through faith and not by obeying the law (Romans 3:23-24, 27-28 NLT). 

For everyone has sinned. We all fall short of God’s glorious standard. Yet God freely and graciously declares that we are righteous. He did this through Christ Jesus' life, death, and resurrection. He freed us from the penalty for our sins.

Dear Lord, we boast only in you! Thank you, God, for your Son. It is only by His sacrificial death that we are able to have a relationship with you. We are incapable of living a sinless life and following your law. But by your blood, our lives are made clean, our past transgressions are wiped clean. Thank You, Lord. In Jesus' mighty name, we are made pure and righteous. Amen. 

Sunday

The Right Road 

So we must listen very carefully to the truth we have heard, or we may drift away from it (Hebrews 2:1 NLT). 

When we don't read and study God's Word, it's very easy to run off into a ditch. If we aren't aware of His teachings, we start easing off the road, inch by inch, then foot by foot, then yard by yard; until we are marred up in the mud and muck of that big ditch. We must read and study His Word so that we will stay on the right road.

Lord God, help us to stay on the right road. Give us the desire to study your Word so that we will draw closer to You. Let us follow you and not the ways of the world. We ask and pray in the mighty name of Jesus Christ, our Savior. Amen.