Devotions By Jan


by Leave a comment

Hope Springs Eternal

Scripture for Today: Psalm 25:5 “Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long.”

Photo by Rick Cameron https://www.flickr.com/photos/rickcameron/21033156801

The saying, “hope springs eternal” is certainly true for Ellie, the dog! The ripened acorns are fragrant and entice Ellie to sniff but not enough so that she actually tries them. Still, she will sniff each and every acorn just to be sure! This saying comes from a poem written in 1734 by Alexander Pope called, “Essay on Man.” The complete phrase ends with “in the human breast.” For all of us, hope is a motivating emotion that keeps us from giving up.

Today’s verse is part of a psalm that is all about hope. It is a hope that is well placed, being in God the Savior. It is a hope that is not just momentary but lasting all day long. And it is because of this hope that David can be confident of God’s guidance and truth. He affirms that those who hope in God will never be put to shame (verse 3). And David can call on God for His protection because his hope is in the Lord (verse 21).

This hope and confidence is not just for David! Because my God is the “God of hope”, I can experience joy and peace. (Rom. 15:13) My hope is continuous on this earth, but someday my hope will be realized in Heaven when I am with Him face to face! It is this hope that motivates me to stay the course. Hope in Him is sure and will never put me to shame. To put my hope in anything or anyone else is never as sure. Hope in the Lord not only motivates but anchors my soul in truth!

Thank you Lord, that hope in You will never disappoint!


by Leave a comment

Blind Trust?

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.”

These tiny newborn birds have their mouths open wide in anticipation of the next morsel of food from their mother.  These little birds are so new that their eyes have not yet opened.  They cannot see their mother but they sense she is there.  They have no choice in the menu but seem confident enough to eat and swallow without question what the mother provides.  Theirs is a blind trust.

Today’s verse describes the joy and peace that is ours when we trust the One who is totally trustworthy! When we trust His provision we overflow with hope. This hope comes through the power of His Holy Spirit. It may sometimes seem like a “blind trust” as we cannot understand the work of God completely (Eccl. 11:5). We do not see the path of the wind or how the bones are formed in the mother’s womb. There is so much we do not understand. Like these newborn fledglings, we trust our Heavenly Father without knowing all the details.

What is reassuring about my trust is that it is not really blind. I know the One in whom I place my trust and that makes all the difference! When I cannot understand what He is doing, I can still trust that He will be true to His character: loving, good, faithful and true. I can trust that He will be true to His Word.  He is never random or capricious. I can open my mouth wide to receive whatever it is He has in store for me.

Thank you Lord, for the joy and peace that comes from trusting You.

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


by Leave a comment

Clinging to a Web

Scripture for Today: Job 8:13-15 “Such is the destiny of all who forget God; so perishes the hope of the godless. What they trust in is fragile. What they rely on is a spider’s web. They lean on the web but it gives way. They cling to it, but it does not hold.”

This frosted spider web almost looks like something crocheted! It is so beautiful and intricate. I would be more enthusiastic about webs if they did not involve hidden lurking spiders! It is said that spider silk is stronger than steel. And by some criteria that is true. Most spider silk has a high tensile strength comparable to that of a high grade alloy steel. The “tensile” strength refers to the largest stress that a material can stand before breaking. The spider silk is one of God’s wonders in creation as it can stretch up to five times its relaxed weight before breaking.

Today’s verse is part of a conversation between Job and one of his three friends, Bildad. Much of what his three friends said was discouraging for Job as they assumed his trials were a result of some hidden sin. But the observation Bildad makes in this verse is absolutely true. Those that forget God and do not trust in Him find themselves relying on a spider’s web! Trusting on anything or anyone other than the Lord is a fragile trust that will eventually give way. 

My own ideas, my own strength or even my own resources are like relying on that spider web. It will only hold me up temporarily. It is just too flimsy and fragile. The Lord tells me not to even lean on my own understanding but to trust Him. (Prov. 3:5-6) How much better to lean on the One whose power and might can hold me up in any circumstance!

Thank you Lord, that I can rely on You and Your strength!

(Look familiar? This is a repost from 2015)


by Leave a comment

Oh Deer!

Scripture for Today: Psalm 73:23-24 “Yet I am always with you. You hold me by my right hand. You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will take me to glory.”

Fabrice Florin, CC BY-SA 2.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

This poor deer seems as if he is paralyzed with indecision! His little brain is probably thinking, “Run left or right? Go forward or turn around?” Fear has made him immobile. By the time he figures it out it may be too late. Not only for him but for the driver who may incur damage to the car!!  I can feel much like this confused deer when faced with too many choices. I can be overwhelmed with too many decisions especially when there has been too little sleep! 

Today’s verse is a wonderful promise. The Lord is always at the side of a believer. He offers His hand and His counsel. He is there to help with every decision, even the small ones. When making an important decision, the different options can sometimes lead to lingering indecision! The fear of choosing incorrectly can completely block us.  In consequence, decisions are postponed or sometimes left to others. Being paralyzed with indecision gives God no opportunity to guide us. 

I am thankful for a patient and understanding God. I am never left on my own in making choices. If I would but turn to Him, He would offer His guidance. He reaches out His hand to steer me in the right direction. But it is up to me to see my own limits and reach for His hand. What a beautiful image it is to see that hand continuing to guide me all the way through life and into eternity!

Thank you  Lord, for Your hand and Your counsel.  Please guide me in every decision today.


by Leave a comment

A Snow-Capped Palm!

Scripture for Today: Psalm 92:12 “The righteous man will flourish like the palm tree. He will grow like a cedar in Lebanon.”

Compo, CC BY-SA 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

This is not normally how I think of a palm tree! Palm trees are usually associated with warm balmy climates. And mild weather is usually the norm for Marseilles, France where this picture was taken. But a cold snap surprised this palm and it sags under the weight of the snow. Soon I will be traveling and speaking on the East Coast where I will feel like this palm. The cold weather and snow will be a shock to this pampered “palm” from Southern California!

Today’s verse describes the righteous as flourishing like a palm tree, regardless of the weather. The righteous one when planted in the house of the Lord, can expect healthy growth, flourishing in the courts of our God (verse 13). But we do not grow like the hardy palm tree when we are planted in the world. There the soil is toxic. And there the weather of changing morals is variable. We need to be rooted and grounded in the constants of His love and grace. When we are, we can enjoy His righteousness which comes from faith in Christ. (Rom.3:22)

That crisis in my life can feel just like a cold shock. My body stiffens and my eyes grow wide with it. But even when that unexpected cold front dumps snow on me I can still flourish because of Him. He keeps me strong and rooted. Because of His love and promises I can not only survive but thrive! I am in His courts and there is no better place to be! Better is one day there than a thousand elsewhere! (Psalm 84:10)

Keep me flourishing, Lord.  Keep me near You.