Devotions By Jan

Category Archives: Self Image


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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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Rappelling

Scripture for Today: John 10:28-29 “I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of My Father’s hand.”

Climbing up was frightening.  But rappelling down was fun!  It felt a bit like I imagined flying to be!  All the stress of finding footholds and keeping my balance were not quite as important as I let the harness, rope and anchor do the work for me.  At the time I did not understand how the equipment worked, but I did have confidence in the instructor.  I was able to relax and enjoy that breathtaking descent!

Today’s verse is a life-changing reassurance from the Lord.  No one who belongs to Him can be snatched out of His hand.  No one is more powerful as He is greater than all.  In His powerful hand we are safe and secure.  Eternal life has been given to the believer who comes to Him in faith.  Though this life may be cut short, no one can touch the soul.

If my Savior does not allow anything to compromise my eternal security, than I can be absolutely sure of the smaller challenges too.  He is not going to let me go.  He will not relax His grip on me.  Nothing that happens in my life is outside His loving control.  I am never in a free fall.  His hands are more secure than any rock climbing harness.  Being sure of this allows me to enjoy the ride!  He is never ever going let me go.

Thank you Lord, that I can relax in the love and safety of Your hands.


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April Fool’s Day

Scripture for Today: Romans 1:21 “For although they knew God, they neither glorified Him as God nor gave thanks to Him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened.”

Today being April Fool’s Day is every prankster’s dream.  In France they call it, “poisson d’avril.”  The idea is to tape a paper fish on someone’s back without them knowing.  It is believed to have originated with the change of calendar under King Charles IX in 1564.  He moved the new year from April 1st to January 1st. The practice of exchanging gifts continued but in the form of fake gifts to make fun.  Fish were offered as this was also the period of Lent when eating meat was forbidden.  Eventually the whole concept became the silly precursor to our April Fool’s Day.

Today’s verse describes a foolish heart.  Foolish hearts reside in people who will not acknowledge God.  The previous verse says that they are without excuse having seen God’s creative power in nature.  These same foolish hearts claim to be wise, but by discounting and explaining away God’s revelation of himself, they become fools.  Somewhere deep inside perhaps they know God is there but they refuse to glorify Him.  Their hearts become dark and their thoughts futile.

Paul was eager to share the good news to “both the wise and the foolish.”  He knew that the Gospel would bring light and turn thoughts around to the truth.  Without God’s power to change hearts we would stay in our foolish state.  But thanks to Him I am no longer a fool.  Being in Christ, He has become for me, “wisdom from God.” (I Cor. 1:30)

Thank you Lord, for enlightening this fool!