Devotions By Jan

Category Archives: Devotions


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Pushed Around!

Scripture for Today: Psalm 118:13 “I was pushed back and about to fall but the Lord helped me.”

https://www.flickr.com/photos/4elevenpix/5056089861

Cliff diving is scary enough without being pushed from behind! This perhaps playful scene took place on Lake Travis in Austin, Texas. Maybe the diver needed a little push. Maybe not!! In any case, being pushed from behind could be unexpected and throw one off balance. And being pushed around by others would certainly create trust issues.

Today’s verse is a call to praise for God’s deliverance from enemies. The Lord’s right hand had done mighty things (verse 16) one of which was protection from falling. Enemies push hard. But our God is trustworthy and catches us when we are about to fall. Trusting in God is better than trusting in humans (verse 8) or even in princes (verse 9). This psalm is full of shouts of victory and triumph over enemies. God is our strength, defense and salvation. He does not disappoint.

Enemies today push just as hard. The scorn and mocking of a colleague at work may destabilize me. Someone I am counting on for help may let me down. I am thrown off balance when a friend or family member betrays a confidence. I can be blindsided by someone who publicly denounces me. I am disappointed and surprised when pushed around by those I thought I could trust. We all let each other down and often times inadvertently. But the Lord will never let me down. I can always take refuge in Him. He is there to break my fall. The Lord will never betray my trust. His help is always available to place me firmly back on my feet. How wonderful to know that I can always count on Him!

Thank you Lord, that even when pushed, You will not let me fall when I place my trust in You.


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Cicada Invasion!

Scripture for Today: Psalms 150:6  “Let everything that has breath praise the Lord!  Praise the Lord!”


Pmjacoby, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Get ready for a noisy invasion! Every seventeen years the Brood X Cicada emerges from underground in fifteen eastern states. This is no small invasion as he is joined with about a trillion of his friends! They appear en masse to follow a strict program of shedding skins, flying, mating, laying eggs and dying, all within several weeks. They are natural pruners for trees and add nitrogen to the soil when they die. But the negative side is their loud mating noise that some call singing. It can be deafening.

Today’s verse is a call to praise the Lord. In this short psalm, instruments are listed that can praise the Lord. But so can the cicada. He may not sound melodious but neither does the clashing cymbal! (verse 5) He has breath too and his chirping, clicking and buzzing are praise to his Creator. All creeping things are to praise the Lord, from the great sea creature to the small. (Psalm 148:7, 10) But how much more meaningful is man’s conscious and specific praise!

He is worthy of all my praise all the time. I want His praise to continually be in my mouth! Life and breath were given to me for this very purpose. When my heart is “tuned to sing His praise,” then I am fulfilling my purpose here on earth. Praise to my Creator begins here imperfectly but will continue into eternity! There, my praise will be beautifully melodious! But whether here or there, I want every breath of my life be a praise to Him for all He has done for me!

Lord, You deserve every note of praise!


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Orangutan Nests

Scripture for Today: Psalm 36:9 “For with You is the fountain of life; in Your light we see light.”

Joeavison1, CC BY-SA 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Almost daily the orangutan ape builds a new nest high in the treetops. His engineering skills are surprising as he tears off larger branches for his base and smaller leafier branches for the middle and can even build a sort of pillow and blanket high up in the trees. He breaks off some branches to size, bends some and intertwines others for a stable bed. A benefit from his nightly nest building is larger openings in the tree canopy, letting in more light.

Today’s verse speaks of another source of light. This light not only enables us to see but gives life! Jesus identifies Himself as the light of the world. Following this light means we no longer walk in darkness. (John 8:12) He does not only illuminate a tree canopy but a lifetime with the Light of His presence.  God has made His light to shine in our hearts, to give us the knowledge of Him (II Cor. 4:6).  His light not only shows us who He is but it is also an expression of His priceless and unfailing love (Psalm 36:7).

Being in His Word intensifies that light He gives. His light is warm and loving, giving me closeness to Him and direction for my day. Without it, I can easily stumble around and lose my purpose. I can even get quite accustomed to the dimness and shadows. But the further I wander from His light, the more negative and discouraged I become.  But oh what a difference when I return to the source of Light! Not only does His light dispels darkness in my heart and mind but it also draws others to Himself!

Lord, keep me in Your light today.


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Protecting Vines

Scripture for Today: John 15:1-2 “I (Jesus) am the true vine and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful.”

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Mya, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

France is experiencing record lows late in the season. Drastic action is being taken to keep those vines from freezing. This includes lighting fires and “crop candles” in an effort to raise the temperature. Some vinedressers even concoct a special herb tea infusion for the vines! Giant fans and helicopters are used to pull warmer air from higher up, pushing it toward the ground.

Today’s verses describes some drastic action as well. God is the gardener or vinedresser for His true vine; His Son, Jesus. Believers are the branches that need special care to be fruitful. Not only do we as the branches need to stay connected to our Vine but we are worked on by our Vinedresser to be fruitful. Some branches are cut off because they produce absolutely no fruit, completely missing their reason to be! Others produce fruit but need His pruning and cleaning to produce more and better fruit for Him.

I would rather have His care, even if it involves drastic measures, than to completely miss my purpose! Being pruned is not a comfortable experience. But I know my Father’s discipline is not a punishment as my sins are paid for on the cross. His discipline is a teaching moment and always done with love and for my benefit. He turns around the freezing temperatures of indifference or pride in my life. With His care, I can look forward to my service becoming more and better fruit!

Lord, thank you for Your loving care.


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Notes of Hope

Scripture for Today: Psalm 92:1-2 “It is good to praise the Lord and make music to your name, O Most High, proclaiming your love in the morning and your faithfulness at night, to the music of the ten-stringed lyre and the melody of the harp.”

Music filled the hall in New York City, calming the nerves and giving encouragement to those taking the vaccine. Sing For Hope was founded just after 911 to encourage the first responders. Their mission statement says, “Sing for Hope harnesses the power of the arts to create a better world.” Being that music continues in Heaven where no improvement is needed, music must have a much more profound purpose.

Today’s verse gives us the best purpose of music; that of praising our Creator! We praise Him for His love in the morning, allowing us another day of life. We praise Him for His faithfulness at night for having brought us through another day. Our praise is non-stop all day long! But more than that, our praise in music continues on into eternity, echoing down golden streets! Our music on earth is only a warm-up before the big and eternal concert of praise to our Savior!

Despite a raspy voice, sour notes or being off key, my music is beautiful being “heart music” and it will continue forever! (Psalm 30:12) Praising Him lifts my spirits, refocusing my attention on HIm. Music directed to Him calms my heart and encourages me to be more faithful to Him. Music is such a gift to all humanity but as a believer, it stirs my soul to praise Him! And that praise brings a renewed sense of closeness to the Creator of all the arts! God-honoring music may or may not make a better world, but it does make a better me!

Lord, make this a day of continual praise!