Devotions By Jan

Category Archives: God’s Love


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The Nightingale

Scripture for Today: Psalm 42:8 “By day the Lord directs His love, at night His song is with me – a prayer to the God of my life.”

The nightingale is not much to look at being a plain and uninteresting brown.  He is shy and likes to hide in dense thickets and bushes.  But he has been the subject of songs, fairy tales, operas, books and poetry over the centuries.  His song is exceptional for its variety, range and power.  While the female is strangely quiet, the male regales his listeners with whistles, trills and gurgles.  Although he sings during the day, his song is especially noticeable at night without any other noises to distract.

Today’s verse describes another song that occurs during the night.  This song can be just as beautiful and there is only an audience of One.  This song is a prayer of gratitude and praise to the Lord.  Without audible notes, it rises up within our souls to be heard by our Creator.  Because He loves us, He listens intently to our impromptu concert, and we feel His pleasure.  There are no other noises or distractions in those dark quiet hours.

All day long I feel His love directed towards me.  I am aware of His presence throughout the day.  But in the mundane tasks, the hurried schedule and all the distractions, I forget to respond with praise.  But at night, when the house is finally quiet I can turn my thoughts to Him.  Instead of being frustrated at being awake, I can use those moments to compose a song only He will hear.  Regardless of words or notes, He is honored by the melody of praise in my heart.

Thank you Lord, for putting a song in my heart tonight!


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Cinco de Mayo

Scripture for Today: Romans 8:31 “What, then, shall we say in response to these things?  If God is for us, who can be against us?”

Being from Southern California, close to our Mexican neighbors, we enjoyed the Cinco de Mayo celebrations, every 5th of May.  After moving to France we did not think to mark the day.  However, one year we intentionally went to a hard-to-find Mexican restaurant, early to beat the anticipated crowd.  The place was deserted and after looking up information about the celebration I understood why.  This day is to celebrate the Mexican victory over the French army in 1862!  Ooops.  What was remarkable about the Battle of Puebla were the odds.  Facing a better equipped and larger army, the Mexican losses were small in comparison to the French loss of life.

The odds in our verse for today are pretty remarkable too!  If God is for us there is no contest!  This is our response to any charge.  He has declared us righteous through Christ.  Because God is for us, there is not even a hint of condemnation from any quarter.  God is for us and Christ intercedes on our behalf.  Nothing and no one can separate us from His love.  We are not just conquerors over the enemy but “more than conquerors.” It is not because of our numbers or size or strength , but because of His love! (verse 37).  He has already won the most important battle of them all, the battle for our soul!

I am allowed to start celebrating today!  The outcome is sure and I can live in the absolute certainty of victory.  There is not a single scenario imaginable that can change this truth.  Because He is for me, I win!

Thank you Lord, for already securing the victory for me.


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Lost Sock?

Scripture for Today: Luke 19:10 “For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”

Do you ever wonder where that wayward sock went?  It is one of those unsolved mysteries in life.  There is a child’s bright pink sock hanging out in the bushes in a public area near my daughter’s house.  Each time I pass it I wonder how on earth it got there.  But inevitably, socks go missing with disturbing regularity with enough washes.  And I will admit to throwing out that single sock after enough time has passed.  Of course, not long after, the missing sock will innocently show up!

Today’s verse is an answer to criticism Jesus was facing for being a guest in the house of a sinner, Zacchaeus.  Jesus went out of his way to greet him and invite Himself over to his home.  Zacchaeus welcomed Him gladly and experienced God’s salvation that very day.  This tax collector and cheater of his people knew he was lost and he was ready to be found.  Those criticizing Jesus were also lost but they stayed that way.  They did not think they needed finding.

How incredible that the Lord takes the initiative!  He actively seeks me as I am too lost to find the way to Him on my own.  He loves me enough to go out of His way and extract me from the mess of my own making.  He left Heaven to come after me!  I am no longer confused and lost, fearful or panicked.  I am found now and I am His.  I know where I am and to whom I belong.  What security that is!

“I once was lost but now am found.”  Thank you Lord, for coming after me.


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Planning

pencilindexScripture for Today: Jeremiah 29:11 “‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.'”

This pencil is just a little bit special.  If you look closely, you will see that there is an eraser on both ends!  This must be what I am figuratively using right now, as my own plans seem to be in a constant state of change.  That is pretty normal when taking care of a fifteen month old baby.  His needs take priority over any plans I might have envisioned for the day.  I might have planned to shower.  I might have planned to sleep.  I certainly did not plan on a crying meltdown!

Today’s verse reveals the Lord’s plans for His own.  He is good, merciful, loving and compassionate.  It only follows that His plans are good as well.  He sees the beginning and He sees the end.  He knows the outcome that we cannot know.  But His plans will include hard times that grow our faith and glorify Him.  He erases our ideas of what is good and replaces them with what He knows is best.  He is the only One who has the power and the control to do that.  He is the only One I can trust to do that.

In looking back, I can see that His plans have been for the best.  I do not regret His eraser.  If left to my self and my own warped desires, I  am pretty sure I would have made a mess of things.  His way leads to a life that is richly blessed with His presence and love.  With His plans, there is always hope and an incredible future!

Lord, help me to trust Your plan for today!


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The Ladybug

Scripture for Today: Psalm 90:17 “May the favor of the Lord our God rest on us; establish the work of our hands for us – yes, establish the work of our hands.”

When a ladybug lands on me, I don’t usually brush it off.  Many cultures consider it good luck!  In France it is called, “bête à Bon Dieu,” meaning insect of a good God.  Farmers encourage them as they protect their crops by eating aphids.  I just enjoy them for their bright red and black design, even if they are part of the beetle family.  Their name originated in the Middle Ages when farmers prayed to the Virgin Mary for crop protection.  When these insects arrived, they were called, “Beetle of our Lady.”  Eventually it became shortened to, “ladybug.”

Today’s verse recognizes that favor in our lives has one true Source, the God of the universe.  We are told that “every good and perfect gift” originates with Him (James 1:17).  How incongruous to attribute any good in our lives to dumb luck!  For the believer, His favor rests on His own all throughout our lives.  In His gracious beautiful favor He establishes the work of our hands.  He even promises that our labor in the Lord is not in vain (I Cor. 5:58).  What is done for His glory will have eternal significance regardless of how mundane it may seem.

All labor is vain without Him, whether it is building homes, guarding gates or what I do in a day (Psalm 127:1).  How amazing that the Lord wants to be involved in every part of my life, including work, projects and hobbies.  He blesses, He guides hands and thoughts.  He confirms and makes successful my efforts.  He gets all the glory and that is how it should be!

Lord, help me recognize your favor and goodness today!