Small Steps Daily Devotions for March 13 - 19

Monday 

Smile or Frown

For the Kingdom of God is not just a lot of talk; it is living by God’s power (1 Corinthians 4:20 NLT). 

Are you going to walk with God on His path, or take your own trail?

Are you full of hot air, or a living example of Jesus?

Would Jesus smile at your walk in this old broken world or would He frown?

Dear Lord, help us to exemplify your love, mercy, and grace in all that we deal with today. Amen.

Tuesday 

Mysterious Faith 

For I am not ashamed of this Good News about Christ. It is the power of God at work, saving everyone who believes—the Jew first and also the Gentile. This Good News tells us how God makes us right in his sight. This is accomplished from start to finish by faith. As the Scriptures say, “It is through faith that a righteous person has life (Romans 1:16, 17 NLT). 

Do you have faith in an unseen God? Through His grace, we are saved by faith. Do you have faith?

Father God, help us have faith, even if it's as small as a mustard seed. We ask and pray in the mighty name of Jesus. Amen. 

Wednesday 

Returning to God 

The God of Israel spoke. The Rock of Israel said to me: ‘The one who rules righteously, who rules in the fear of God, is like the light of morning at sunrise, like a morning without clouds, like the gleaming of the sun on new grass after rain’ (2 Samuel 23:3-4 NLT). 

America needs a Great Awakening. We need the Light of Christ to shine upon us. We need people to have the scales removed from their eyes. We need truth to be accepted as truth and lies to be understood for what they are. We need so much in order to turn our nation around. Most of all, we need you, Lord God.

The real question is, does America want to return to God? Does America want solid, conservative leadership that will put us on a path to regain our greatness? Does America want to be saved? Does America want God to be in control of our nation? Have we totally turned our backs on our heavenly Father?

Today, dear Lord, I lift up our nation. I lift up our current leadership and pray they will turn to you and away from worldly ambitions and worldly desires. Lord, I pray that you will not shrink back from our nation during this critical time of new leadership in our capital. Lord, please place your hand on us. I know that we are undeserving but many years ago, your Son, went to the cross for each of us. He bore our sins upon His mighty shoulders. We were undeserving of that sacrifice but Jesus Christ deemed us worthy. Lord, help us turn from our wicked ways and back to you. May we repent of our transgressions. Let us fall on our knees and claim you as our God. Let us know that you are God. Let there be no doubt of your love, mercy, and grace. Lord God, please save us from ourselves, as a nation and as a people. I pray this in the mighty and matchless name of Jesus Christ. Amen and amen. 

Thursday 

God's Grace 

Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes. God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure. So we praise God for the glorious grace he has poured out on us who belong to his dear Son. He is so rich in kindness and grace that he purchased our freedom with the blood of his Son and forgave our sins. He has showered his kindness on us, along with all wisdom and understanding (Ephesians 1:4-8 NLT). 

God's grace is sufficient. Glory be to God!

Lord God, thank you! Amen!

Friday

Transformation

Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect (Romans 12:2 NLT). 

If you want to find out what God has planned for you, you must turn away from the ways of this broken world we live in; turn off the noise of distraction, and listen to Him. Let Him transform you!

Dear Lord, help us to put the distractions of this world away and open our hearts and minds to what you want for us. Help us allow you to transform us into the person you want us to be. In your Son's mighty name, we pray. Amen. 

Saturday

Freedom from Sin

When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, the results are very clear: sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures, idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division, envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other sins like these. Let me tell you again, as I have before, that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God. But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things! Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to his cross and crucified them there. Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives (Galatians 5:19-25 NLT). 

Okay, let's talk about free will and sin. I know, not much fun to talk about since we are all broken sinners, but we must look at God's Word on these matters.

God gave us the ability to choose, good or evil; light or darkness; Satan or Jesus, and from that heaven or hell. It's our choice. Pretty simple, but Satan throws many roadblocks in our path and what should be simple, isn't necessarily so.

Have you made the choice? Are you going to choose sin and death or righteousness and everlasting life in heaven?

Please think about it, seriously, this decision should not be put off. It has eternal consequences.

Dear Father God, draw those who are running from you into your magnificent arms. By the love, mercy, and grace of Jesus Christ, we pray. Amen. 

Sunday

Valleys & Mountain Tops 

So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up (Galatians 6:9 NLT). 

I've heard these words many times from new Christians, who are struggling with the pull of worldly desires, "why is everything not going well, I gave my life to Christ, but I'm just struggling with everything. I thought things would be perfect now."

Folks, we aren't promised a perfect life in this world. What we are promised is eternity with Jesus when we leave this old, broken world. We are also promised that no matter what we are going through, God is with us and will never leave us. A perfect life in this broken world is only possible by dealing with our problems while leaning on the power, strength, and love of Christ. That is as perfect as we can expect from our deceitful world.

We must remember to not give up and keep on doing good, sharing Jesus, and leaning on His perfect love.

Father God, give us your strength to deal with the junk in our lives and this world. I ask in the mighty name of Jesus Christ. Amen.