Devotions By Jan

Category Archives: Faithfulness


by Leave a comment

Moeraki Boulders

Scripture for Today: I Samuel 2:2 “There is no one holy like the Lord; there is no one beside You; there is no Rock like our God.”

These strange spherical boulders on the Koekohe Beach in New Zealand have fired the imagination for years.  The varied names given them include: eel pots, hooligan gallstones, giant gobstoppers, alien brains, bowling balls of the giants and dinosaur eggs!  There are over fifty of them and the biggest one weighs seven tons!  Their strange appearance makes for a unique landscape.  They are made of mud, fine silt and clay, cemented together by calcite, layer upon layer over many years.

Today’s verse is part of Hannah’s prayer as she dedicates her young son, Samuel, to full-time service in the temple.  This is the child she had prayed for so ardently, being barren and snubbed.  Although she was giving up Samuel, her heart rejoiced being vindicated before her enemies (verse 1).  She felt delight at God’s deliverance and praises Him for being her holy and unique Rock.  Throughout Scripture our God is pictured as a Rock.  What an image of His strength and permanence!  Layer upon layer of faithfulness to His Word makes for a sure foundation.

I never need to worry whether my Rock will be there tomorrow or the day after.  He is immoveable and unchanging.  He is my strength, and my refuge.  Being my Rock, He is a place of strength and refreshment for my flagging spirit.  The surface of this rock has a cool touch when I am too warm from stress and anxiety.  But that same rock surface is warm from the sun and comforting when I am feeling cool and indifferent.  I know He is faithful to meet my every need as I have “proved Him ore and ore.”

Lord, be my Rock today.


by Leave a comment

Yesterday Today and Tomorrow Plant

Scripture for Today: Hebrews 13:8 “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday today and forever.”

If you do not like a particular color of this flower, all that is needed is to wait a day!  The flowers on the Yesterday Today and Tomorrow plant are unique in that they change color.  They first bloom as a purple or violet.  The next day, that same bloom becomes a pale lavender.  The following day, its color changes to white!

In a world where everything seems to be in a constant state of change, it is comforting to know that our Savior does not change.  Today’s verse teaches that Jesus is the same yesterday, today and forever.  These flowers may experience changes that are beautiful but Jesus is perfectly beautiful and needs no improvement!  Everything that we need to know about the Lord is revealed in His Word.  He does not change nor does His revelation.  His message transcends time and is always current.  The God in the Old testament is the same God as in the New.  His faithfulness and power shown then is the same faithfulness and power He shows today.

I need Him to be constant and not capricious.  I need Him to be faithful to His Word and unchangeable.  What was proven true in times past continues to be true today and will be true tomorrow.  He is perfect and perfection has no need of change.  There is no reason for me to worry that a promise will no longer be valid.  His compassion is daily renewed because He will always be faithful to who He is and to His Word (Lam. 3:23).  He never changes and I can build my life on this rock-hard solid truth!

Thank you Lord, that You do not change and I can always count on You.


by 2 Comments

Gorilla Prayers

Scripture for Today: Psalm 84:2 “My soul yearns, even faints, for the courts of the Lord; my heart and my flesh cry out for the living God.”

If this gorilla is really praying, I wonder what his request might be.  Perhaps he is praying for a mate!  Could he be praying for freedom from his zoo habitat?  Maybe he is praying for something special for his next meal.  It seems ludicrous that any animal would pray.  Their needs are simple both physically and emotionally and there does not seem to be any awareness of a spiritual realm.

Today’s verse puts a finger on exactly what separates us from animals.  An animal, even if one argued that he had a soul, does not yearn for the Lord.  His heart and flesh do not cry out to the living God.   The longing for a relationship with the God of the universe is something beyond their capacity.  But for man, it is exactly why we were created.  God Himself put the idea and longing for eternity in the human heart (Eccl. 3:11).  We are made to cry out for Him in our innermost being.  Even just one day in His presence is better than one thousand days elsewhere (verse 10).

The Lord fills and completes me.  It is my communion with Him that enriches my very existence.  When my relationship with Him is interrupted by my own wandering or indifference, it does not take long to sense that something is missing.  Feeling that lack, I cry out to Him for reassurance that He is there and that He still loves me.  He always answers.  And somehow, I am more human when I am connected to my Creator.  The yearning is satisfied and it is “well with my soul.”

Thank you Lord, for completing me.


by Leave a comment

The Gecko

Scripture for Today: Deuteronomy 13:4 “It is the Lord your God you must follow, and Him you must revere. Keep His commandments and obey Him; serve Him and hold fast to Him.”

Meet our uninvited house guest!  He and all his friends even faithfully attended our small church in Taiwan one summer long ago! I didn’t mind the geckos as they ate all those nasty mosquitos and spiders.  And I will admit they were a welcomed entertainment during sermons in Taiwanese that I did not understand.  Their ability to scamper up walls and dart upside down across the ceilings had me worried, but holding on never seemed to be a problem!

Today’s verse tells us to hold fast to the Lord our God.  We hold fast to Him by refusing to follow any other god.  It is through revering Him, obeying Him and serving Him that we hold firmly to our faith.  Regardless of what the world around us does, we are to stay true to Him.  This charge was repeated by Joshua as his farewell message (Joshua 23:8).  He knew the people would feel the pressure from surrounding nations to worship false gods.  And he knew that the people would experience blessing and not discipline if they would hold fast to God.

Holding fast to God is a challenge in any century.  Resisting the surrounding culture takes firm resolve.  Those false gods of money, recognition, or influence can be enticing.  But when I am occupied with obeying His Word and serving Him, I am less inclined to let go of Him.  Just as God created the toe pads of the gecko to grip ceilings and walls, so He has created me to desire Him.  The Lord will not let me fall when I hold fast!

Lord, keep me faithful to You today.


by 2 Comments

Walls Closing In

Scripture for Today: Psalm 118:5  “When hard pressed, I cried to the Lord; He brought me into a spacious place.”

It feels as if the walls are closing in.  I love my house but lately, it has been feeling smaller and smaller.  With stay-at-home expectations and social distancing, there is a deep longing for not only connection but for wide open places and big sky.  This must be a little bit like what the claustrophobic feels.

In today’s verse it was not so much walls closing in but enemies.  This psalm is full of praise for deliverance as God has proven Himself faithful yet again.  Enemies have been vanquished and the people are celebrating!  The king had cried out in distress because of the enemies’ attacks and the Lord answered and put him in a wide open place.  No longer does he feel surrounded and closed in by the enemy (verse 10-11).  The Lord becomes his strength, his song and his salvation (verse 14).

I may not have the distress of enemies attacking, but I do feel surrounded on all sides by different pressures.  There is fear of the unknown.  The distress of finances, health issues, coming changes or family issues can all feel like walls  closing in on me.  If I allow my imagination to join in I can easily slip into a state of panic!  The only and best thing to do is to cry out to the Lord.  He is there to be my strength, my song and my salvation.  In His lovingkindness, He pushes back the walls.  He leads me to wide open places where there are green pastures and quiet waters. (Psalm 23:2)  I no longer feel confined when he restores my soul!

Lord, help me to stay in that wide open place of trusting You.