Devotions By Jan

Category Archives: God’s Word


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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.


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Dutch Chocolate Iris

Scripture for Today: I Corinthians 2:4-5 “My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power, so that your faith might not rest on human wisdom but on God’s power.”

This is a surprising color for an iris!  But in fact, the iris comes in an array of different colors, including a deep purple that looks black.  It makes sense that the word, “iris” originally meant “rainbow” in Greek.  In the language of flowers, Iris symbolizes eloquence.  And its three petal segments are said to represent faith, wisdom, and valor.

There is faith and wisdom in today’s verse as well as courage to speak the truth.  There is not however any eloquence.  Wise sounding words can be empty.  Persuasive words can be negated by hypocrisy.  But Paul explains that his message did not need either as his words were a demonstration of the power of the Spirit.  Paul never claimed to be eloquent in his speech.  Because he spoke simply, God’s power was evident.  And he resisted the temptation to speak only what “itchy ears” wanted to hear (II Tim. 4:3).

My faith does not rest on a fancy discourse or the latest fad or book.  Human wisdom can never replace the power of God’s Words.  It is not what exact words are used but God’s Spirit who helps me understand (verse 12).  He is the One that explains spiritual realities to me (verse 13).  And His Spirit uses my words of testimony even when I am not eloquent.  I may not feel strong or confident in sharing.  But thankfully, His power does not depend on my word choice!  “My faith  has found a resting place” and it is not in device or creed!

Thank you Lord, that my faith rests on Your power.


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Cordon Bleu

Scripture for Today: Psalm 108:1 “My heart, O God, is steadfast; I will sing and make music with all my soul.”

I normally think of Cordon Bleu as crumb-enrobed chicken rolled with Swiss cheese and ham.  But this name is also given to these sweet finches.  The red-cheeked variety is among the most popular exotic finches.  They are native to Africa and our friends living in the Ivory Coast enjoy seeing them in their yard.  A pair will sing to each other and it is thought that this helps with “pair bonding,” developing a strong affinity and a life-long bond.

Today’s verse talks about singing and making music.  This is a love song and it comes from a heart that is steadfast.  It is music that involves all of the soul.  And like the song of the finch, it strengthens a bond, our bond with our Creator.  He is the only One who can discern when music is made with all of our soul.  Because He loves us, He listens intently to our impromptu concert, and we feel His pleasure.  With the singing, our heart becomes even more steadfast as the bond of love grows stronger.

If I do not feel much like singing or making music for this audience of One, it may be that my heart is far from steadfast.  When I am discontented, focused on the negative or unstable from worry and fear, there is no incentive to praise Him.  Thankfully, my heart becomes steadfast again after spending time in His Word.  He reminds me of His love and strengthens my faith.  His Word, full of reassurance and promise, is His love song to me.  It is only then that music returns to my soul and can be directed back to Him!

Lord, keep me singing today!


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Cape of Good Hope

Scripture for Today: II Thessalonians 2:16-17 “May our Lord Jesus Christ Himself and God our Father, who loved us and by His grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope, encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word.”

This rocky promontory is one of the southernmost points of the African continent.  It was discovered in 1488 by navigator, Bartolomeu Dias.  He originally named it Cape of Storms as it is often pounded by high waves and stiff winds.  But because of the excitement over finding a sea route from Europe to India, it was renamed Cape of Good Hope.

There is good hope in today’s verse along with eternal encouragement.  This is a hope that is good because of its source.  Our hope is a good hope as it comes from a good God.  The Lord declares Himself good to those whose hope is in Him (Lam. 3:25).  This hope is good as it does not shame or disappoint (Rom. 5:5).  Unlike flimsy hope, this is a sure conviction of what is to come based on His loving character and His Word.  Hope in Him encourages our hearts and strengthens our resolve to continue serving Him.

No other hope is as sure as this one.  Hoping in a change of circumstances is not a good hope.  It may not happen as I envisioned.  Hoping that somehow this pandemic could end today is not a good hope.  It may not be realistic.  I do not want my hopes to be disappointed or dashed.  But that does not mean I do not hope at all!  My unshakeable sure hope is good when firmly anchored to Him!  He will never let me down as He is love.  His Word is true and my future is secure in His loving hands.

Thank you Lord, for this good hope.

 


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My Wrestling Opponent

Scripture for Today: Psalm 13:2 “How long must I wrestle with my thoughts and day after day have sorrow in my heart? How long will my enemy triumph over me?”

This is not a sport I normally watch.  But I have learned to appreciate it a bit more when learning about strategy.  Each move is calculated to pin the opponent on his back, shoulders blades touching the mat for at least two seconds.  Sometimes, no one gets pinned in which case the winner is the one with the most points doing the following: the Take Down, the Escape, the Reversal, and the Near Fall.  With the Reversal move you are on the mat but you come up from underneath and regain control.

Today’s verse has David wrestling with his thoughts.  He feels that God has abandoned him and is hiding His face.  His enemies seem to have the upper hand.  These thoughts are bringing David down to the mat with sorrow.  But by the end of the psalm David wins this wrestling match with a Reversal!  His thoughts have him on the mat but not for long.  David comes up from underneath his thoughts and regains control.  He does this by declaring the truth of God’s unfailing love and by rejoicing in the fact of his salvation!  Telling himself the Truth has given David the victory.

These days I feel as if I am having to wrestle with my thoughts.  My fears, doubts and uneasy reflections have often pinned me down in this strange time of self-isolation.  How long?  How long will I be sad?  But Reversal is possible when I turn to the Lord and His words of comfort.  Two seconds of Truth is all it takes to pin down those negative thoughts!

Thank you, Lord, for the victory Your Truth brings!