Devotions By Jan

Category Archives: Guidance


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Suddenly Sightless!

Scripture for Today: Psalm 119:18 “Open my eyes that I may see wonderful things in Your law.”

I can just imagine the surprise this pigeon must have felt! He’s minding his own business when all of a sudden he can’t see a thing. As I am not a fan of pigeons I can’t feel too sorry for him. But he must have felt a bit lost and disorientated. With his little bird brain I wonder how long it took for him to figure it all out. Maybe he panicked and just waited for the next gust of wind to clear his vision.

Today’s verse is a prayer that God would open the eyes to see what is wonderful in God’s law. Our eyes can miss what is positive in God’s commandments. Those wonders can easily escape us. We need God’s Spirit to clear our vision to see God’s law differently. This entire psalm goes on to extol and praise His law. The author’s eyes have been opened to see a long list of wonderful things: blessing, purity, delight, strength, understanding, knowledge, good judgement, freedom and comfort, to name just a few! God answered the author’s prayer.

I do not often feel this way about God’s law. Instead of seeing “wonderful things,” in His law, I sometimes see it as negative and restrictive. There is a rebel inside of me that doesn’t like to be told what to do and what not to do. My eyes need to be opened! I want to see those same wonders in His law, especially the comfort and blessing! God’s law is given with love and with a desire to make life work for me. I need my eyes open to explore and discover how God wants me to live and to see it as wonderful!

Open my eyes today, Lord.


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Roadrunner Tracks

Scripture for Today: Proverbs 20:24 “A person’s steps are directed by the Lord. How then can anyone understand their own way?”

The roadrunner is in the cuckoo family but he doesn’t say, “cuckoo” or “beep beep.”  This long-legged bird is built for speed and can even outrun humans!  The roadrunner is believed to have special powers to make the listener feel tired when hearing his call!  Some Indian tribes believe he can protect against evil spirits.  Their distinctive “X” tracks supposedly confuse the spirits as to which direction they are taking!  I wonder if the roadrunner is himself confused when seeing his own tracks?

Today’s verse acknowledges that the Lord directs the steps of those who belong to Him.  But often, the one directed has no idea of His direction!  The question expresses what is often felt:  How can anyone understand their own way?  It often is puzzling.  We do not have the same vantage point and we can never understand it all.  We are told in any case not to lean on our own understanding but to acknowledge Him so that He can direct us (Prov. 3:5-6).

Because I cannot see what lies ahead, I need to trust the One who is already there and knows the way.  If I were to wait until I understood the reasons behind every directive, I would be at a standstill and make no progress!  But I can be confident of my direction even without full understanding.  That is because I trust Him.  His eyes are always on me and the twists and turns are not random.  He has a loving purpose for me in every change of course.  And His direction is always towards a more loving relationship with Himself!

Lord, help me to trust You completely!

(Look familiar? This is a repost from 2020)


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The Carabiner

Scripture for Today: Psalm 37:23-24 “The Lord makes firm the steps of the one who delights in him; though he may stumble, he will not fall, for the Lord upholds him with his hand.”

The carabiner may look like a relatively small piece of rock climbing equipment. But in fact, its role is essential as safety absolutely depends on it! This strong metal snap-link made of aluminum or steel is used to connect all the different parts of the climbing safety system together. It attaches the climber to the rope, the rope to a harness, and the climber to an anchor. That connection allows the climber to firmly plant his feet with confidence!

There is another safety system in today’s verse. And to walk with confidence, we need a sure connection! This psalm talks about the Lord upholding the righteous (verse 17) in contrast to the many troubles the wicked will suffer. God does not forsake His faithful ones (verse 28). And for those who have His law in their hearts, their feet do not slip (verse 31). When we delight in knowing and following God’s way, then we can be sure that our connection to Him is sure and He will hold us up!

There is always the possibility of stumbling. I love Him and His law but that does not mean I follow it perfectly. Especially when the way is rocky, uphill and difficult, I can easily compromise. Some part of me thinks that loving Him means the way should be smooth and easy. But if it were, would I need to trust Him? Does my obedience mean anything if it is never tested? Stumbling is part of every believer’s walk of faith but thankfully, so is His grace and forgiveness which keeps me from hitting the ground!

Thank you Lord, for holding me up today!


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Dayspring

Scripture for Today: Luke 1:78-79 “because of the tender mercy of our God, by which the rising sun will come to us from heaven to shine on those living in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the path of peace.”

How wonderful to celebrate the arrival of Spring this week! This welcomed season was originally called, “lent,” as a derivative of the German word, “langitinaz,” meaning lengthening of days. And I do enjoy the additional daylight! From the 14th century on, the name was changed to “springing time” to mark the resurgence of plant growth. Spring in latin is “tempus primum” meaning first season. And Spring was first in the Roman calendar. It makes sense then that this season signals for many a fresh start!

Today’s verse has a rising sun, which in other translations is called “Dayspring.” These verses come from the newly loosened tongue of Zechariah, the father of John the Baptist, prophesying John’s role in preparing the way for the coming Dayspring from Heaven. Jesus is our Dayspring, shining light in a world darkened by sin and brokenness. He is sent to us out of the tender mercy of our God, making a way to establish peace between God and mankind.

Spring, with the lengthening daylight hours, with dormant growth coming to life, and with the offering of a new beginning is also a beautiful picture of Jesus. He has brought newness of life to me and a reason to have hope. What can look dead and gone can be given a new season of growth. Instead of being in the shadow of death, I can enjoy the light of His continual presence. One day, I will live without interruption in the warmth and sunshine of that Dayspring!

Thank you Lord for spring and the small glimpse of what is to come!


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No Footsteps!

Scripture for Today: Psalm 77:19  “Your path led through the sea, your way through the mighty waters, though your footsteps were not seen.”

We live in an age of amazing technology! Underwater robots plunge the depths of the oceans and bring up all kinds of new information. Their unmanned exploration has been used in a variety of ways. Some are able to do repairs on oil rigs. Some can predict the magnitude of an approaching hurricane. Others can locate, map and sometimes raise the wreckage of a downed airplane! Their discoveries have increased our appreciation of God’s creation! But there is one thing these underwater robots will never find on the ocean floor; God’s footprints!

We do not see His footsteps but we do see the evidence of His creative work and His mighty deeds. Today’s verse uses the images of the sea and the mighty waters to represent the unseen reasons for the hard times in life. The author begins this psalm feeling rejected and forgotten by God. He decides to meditate on all God’s miracles of the past. He reaffirms God’s mighty power and ends with trust. Even though he does not see God’s “footprints” he responds with faith.

I sometimes feel that I am “out of my depth” with why God allows hard things to happen. But in doing so He is leading me into deep waters. It can sometimes feel so deep that I cannot find my footing. I do not see His footsteps or any evidence at all of His being there in that moment of distress. But I know He is.  I am not navigating those deep waters by sight, but by faith (II Cor. 5:7).

Help me Lord to trust You, even when I don’t understand.

(Look familiar? This is a repost from 2014.)