Devotions By Jan

Category Archives: Faithfulness


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The Royal Guard

Scripture for Today: II Timothy 1:12 “That is why I am suffering as I am. Yet this is no cause for shame, because I know whom I have believed and am convinced that He is able to guard what I have entrusted to Him until that day.”

Did you know that those guards at Buckingham Palace are actual soldiers in the British army carrying real guns? There are four sentry guards when the King is in residence and only two when he is elsewhere. In addition there are five regiments of foot guards: Grenadier, Coldstream, Scots, Irish and Welsh. Although their uniforms differ subtly, they all have the same charge to guard and protect.

Today’s verse is Paul’s declaration of faith in God’s power to guard what he has entrusted to Him, namely his soul. During a time of discouraging imprisonment, Paul stays confident of God’s control. He is suffering but does not feel shame for being in prison. He shares in the sufferings of Christ but is also experiencing Christ’s abundant comfort (II Cor.1:5). Paul knows that his soul will live on even if he does not survive. God has promised and He is all -powerful and able to keep His word.

Knowing and being convinced of God’s power to guard my soul makes all the difference to how I live.  And it will make just as big a difference to how I die. My eternal security rests on His finished work of perfect sacrifice. It does not rest on me, my laundry list of good works or how I am feeling. My soul is in His powerful hands and nothing and no one can pluck me out of there! (John 10:28). I have no power to guard anything. But He does.

Lord, I trust that You guard my soul!

(Look familiar? This is a repost from 2019)


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The 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 He has proved Himself over and over!

Lord, be my Rock today.

(Look familiar? This is a repost from 2020)


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Hedgehog Held Hostage!

Scripture for Today: Proverbs 11:6 “The righteousness of the upright delivers them, but the unfaithful are trapped by evil desires.”

A friend from our French church recently posted this picture asking for advice from the other church members. At first I didn’t know what it was I was seeing. But as I read his story it became clear that I was looking at a hedgehog. We had them roam our yard in France quite often as they lived under our house. But this one somehow got caught in the family’s badminton net. It seems that the spines on his back caught on the netting, trapping him until he was carefully and gingerly freed!

Today’s verse describes someone who is trapped: the unfaithful. His entrapment is the direct result of his evil desires. He is brought down by his own wickedness. (verse 5) What a contrast this is to the righteous one! His righteousness makes his paths straight. (verse 5) He is delivered from that sticky situation and rescued from trouble. (verse 8) The faithful righteous one will not suffer those added trials of life brought about by evil greedy desires. Instead, those who are in right standing with the Lord will have different desires, desires to please and obey the Lord.

My desires are not always very righteous! And to apply the term, “righteous” to me makes me squirm a bit as I know my heart! Thankfully, God has credited to me His righteousness because of my faith in Christ’s sacrifice and resurrection. (Romans 4:23-25) The Lord has my back even if (or when!) I make a mess of things! He delivers me. He lifts me back up and dusts me off when I fall. And when I desire Him above every other desire, I find myself on straighter paths and less likely to fall!

Thank you Lord, for Your faithfulness to me!


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Fountain Leak

Scripture for Today: Ephesians 4:30 “And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.”

There are all kinds of leaks; roof leaks, slab leaks or shower leaks. Some leaks escape detection and wreak all kinds of havoc being unnoticed. But a fountain leak such as the one pictured is pretty obvious. Water is wasted, flooding the concrete and lowering the water levels. If not repaired, the levels can get dangerously low with the pump not having enough water to circulate. In this case the problem was with the material used in installation. The workers used the wrong type of seal and the problem was immediately evident!

Today’s verse reassures the believer that we are sealed with the Holy Spirit all the way up to the final day when we will be forever in His presence! This seal does not fail us. There is no better seal than His mighty power to save and to keep us safely in His hand. (John 10:28) However, when we knowingly sin we are grieving the One who loves us with an everlasting love. Just as a parent can be disappointed with the wrong choices of their child, so the Holy Spirit is sad when we make a sinful decision. But unlike the fountain, His seal will always hold firm because of His unconditional commitment to His own.

Rather than presume on this security I enjoy, I want to be obedient out of love and gratitude. I show my love to the Lord not by pushing the limits but by seeking to please Him. This is a love relationship full of expectations on His part. And there is incredible blessing for me when I obey and meet those expectations. Being sealed by Him means I am forever His. I can love and obey Him without fear, looking forward to that future day when grieving Him will be a thing of the past and I can enjoy Him forever!

Thank you Lord, that You have sealed me forever as Yours.


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Masting in the New Year!

Scripture for Today: Matthew 13:8 “Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop – a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.”

As I walked along a path of oaks in the small town of Marion, Massachusetts, I couldn’t help but step all over the fallen acorns! They were everywhere, littering the ground. My first thought was that a strong wind must have blown them all down at once. I later learned that this carpet of acorns was due to what is called, “masting.” Every few years, especially among nut-producing trees, the acorns would all fall at once, not just for an individual tree but for all of that species in an area! It is not well understood just how and why the trees seem to know when to let go all at once!

Today’s verse comes from the parable Jesus told of the Sower and the Seed. The first seed was eaten by the birds, representing Satan snatching away what was not fully understood. The second seed grew no root because of troubles and persecution. The third seed was choked to death by worry and deceitful riches. But, there was a sort of “masting” or bumper crop from the seed that fell on good soil. This is the seed who hears, understands and accepts God’s Word and in turn produces much fruit!

As I stand on the cusp of a New Year, I would love to see “masting” in my life, producing much fruit. But it does not happen by wishing it were so. There is no fruit in my life unless I remain in Him (John 15:4). And I remain in the Lord by cooperating with His pruning, (verse 2) by saturating myself in His Word (verse 7) and by obeying and enjoying His love! (verse 10) Perhaps then there will be a bumper crop of fruit that glorifies and pleases Him!

Thank you Lord, for another year and another chance to bear fruit!