Devotions By Jan

Category Archives: Hope


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That Tunnel

Scripture for Today: Colossians 3:1-2  “Since then you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God.  Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.”

There is not much to enjoy about tunnels. They are normally dark, smelly, and claustrophobic. When traversing a mountain in Europe, the tunnel usually has the length posted on a sign at the entrance. I find that helpful when the tunnel is especially long and the exit cannot readily be seen. This walking tunnel is the exception, brightly lit and with colorful murals painted on the walls. But whether agreeable or not, the most important view is the light at the end of it!

Today’s verse talks about setting our minds and hearts on things above in Heaven. It is because the believer has been raised with Christ that he can see his world differently. Rather than focusing on the tunnel, he sees the light at the end of it. Christ is that Light (John 8:12).  And He promises that the believer will never walk in darkness. It is never completely dark as He is there and He is the light of life.

When life is good, my mind and heart are set firmly on earthly things. I am less likely to think on Heaven when the tunnel is light, bright and agreeable. But when I forget about eternity, somehow the tunnel can become full of shadows and uncomfortable. Life becomes a bit dim when I focus entirely on what I can see and touch.  But it is when life is difficult that my gaze turns to that Light at the end of the tunnel. He is my future. He is my Hope. Life, whether easy or difficult, is a “tunnel experience” and will not last forever. But life with Him will!

Lord, keep me focused on what is ahead!


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A Forced Perception

Scripture for Today: Colossians 3:1-2 “Since then you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on earthly things.”

The Leaning Tower of Piza is not the only place in Europe where tourists practice their “forced perspective” photography! This giant woman looks as if she is pinching the top of the Louvre Pyramid. This technique manipulates our human visual perception with the use of optical illusion. The result is often surprising, making an object appear larger, smaller, closer or farther away than it really is.

Today’s verse is all about perspective. Paul tells believers to set their minds on things above. Our minds and our hearts are to be changed by an eternal perspective. What we see on earth does not match up with spiritual realities. What we see, touch and feel around us is not eternal. These things are real but they will not last. When we set our minds and hearts on the realities of Heaven, it changes how we view that difficulty. It affects how we see our problems. What can loom so large in our perspective is only “light and momentary trouble.” (II Cor. 4:17)  All the hard things in this life are, “achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.”

This spiritual perspective is not a “forced perspective” but it is a choice and it sure makes Heaven seem a little bit closer. The things of this earth can seem much smaller with a heart set on what is above. And sometimes, I need to see the hard things as smaller than they appear in light of eternity. I need to change my perspective to what is eternal and lasting to see past the problems I face today.

Change my perspective, Lord. Help me see You today instead of my problems.


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A Time for Beauty

Scripture for Today: Ecclesiastes 3:11 “He has made everything beautiful in its time. He also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end.”

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Epiphyllum_oxypetalum

This amazing flower, Queen of the Night (Epiphyllum Oxypetalum) can only be seen blooming at night. By dawn the flowers have wilted. Native from Mexico as far south as Nicaragua, they are not only nocturnal but very fragrant. Unlike the Night-Blooming Cereus, they grow on the surface of other plants rather than in the ground. This “extra-terrestrial” gets its moisture and nutrients from its environment instead of from the ground. Her beauty has its own special prescribed time, designated by its Creator.

Today’s verse teaches that the Source of beauty is God Himself. King David exclaimed that all he wanted was to gaze on the beauty of the Lord.(Psalm 27:4) Not only is God Himself beautiful but He creates beauty as a prompt to turn our eyes towards Him. All of His intricate amazing creation points to His beauty. And part of that creation is the desire for eternity, placed in the human heart by God Himself.

There is so much beauty in my life and I am thankful. But unfortunately sin and its consequences create what is ugly as well. How amazing to know that our Creator continues to create, redeeming and making what was unsightly into something beautiful! He exchanges beauty for ashes and joy for sorrow. (Isaiah 61:3). I can count on His promise and His timing. He will make all things beautiful in His time and I can look forward to an eternity where that beauty will never fade and last forever!

Thank you Lord, for this beautiful hope!


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Morning is Coming

Psalm 49:14a “They are like sheep and are destined to die; death will be their shepherd but the upright will prevail over them in the morning…”

There is something so hopeful about watching the sunrise! These sheep seem to be drawn to that big golden orb in the sky. The darkest part of the night appears to be just before that magical moment of sunrise. The darkness lightens in almost imperceptible degrees. And soon, the sun peeking over the horizon, colors the sky with warmth. The sunrise represents a new day with new beginnings. The new morning represents a new start and the stirrings of hope.

Today’s verse talks about a particular morning that is coming for the upright. Those who place their trust in God can look forward to the time when He will redeem them from the dead and take them to Himself. (verse 15) But for those who trust in themselves, the outlook is not so good. (verse 13) If they have depended on their own wealth and splendor, it does not serve them well in the life to come as they cannot take it with them. (verse 17) The upright have no reason to fear evil days ahead when surrounded by the wicked. (verse 5) With the arrival of the morning, those in right standing with God will prevail!

When I gaze at that beautiful sunrise, I have hope. The wicked will not prevail. God has promised that because He has redeemed me I will prevail. My fate is determined not by my status in the world (thankfully) but by God’s amazing grace. As a silly sheep I cannot trust in myself. Doing so would have me following the wrong shepherd. Instead I trust in the Good Shepherd who has laid down His life for me. And because of His saving grace, I will prevail in the morning!

Thank you Lord, for the new day coming!


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Wishing on a Star!

Scripture for Today: Romans 15:13 “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”

“Star light, star bright, The first star I see tonight; I wish I may, I wish I might, Have the wish I wish tonight.”  This nursery rhyme from the late 1800’s still comes to mind when I see a bright star or planet shining on a clear night. But I am sure those Magi from the east were not thinking of wishing on His star. (Matt. 2:1)  Instead, they faithfully followed the star in order to worship the One born King of the Jews.

“Wishing on a star” pretty much describes the thinking of those who place their confidence in anyone but Jesus. It is a poor flimsy substitute for real hope. Hope for the believer is faith in what is sure. Our hope is only as good as its object and that makes our hope in Jesus unshakable! A star will not save. A star cannot fulfill promises and save souls. But a star can and often does move us to worship the Creator, as it did in a unique sense for the Magi. God’s own hands stretched out the heavens including that unique star of Bethlehem. (Isaiah 45:12)

Because of Christ’s birth, I have hope. I not only have hope, I am overflowing with it as I trust Him! And in this broken world, I lean more and more on the hope He gives me. He promises to fill me with all joy and peace as I live in that hope and trust. The coming of Jesus is hope realized as He made a way for me to live eternally with Him. There is a bright future ahead because of that hope. The darkness of my despair is dispelled by the heavenly light of His presence!

Thank you Lord, for Christmas and for being my hope.