“Then John’s disciples told him about all these things. So John summoned two of his disciples and sent them to the Lord, asking, “Are You the One who is to come, or should we look for someone else? ””

‭‭Luke‬ ‭7:18-19‬ ‭HCSB‬‬

Has the weight of life’s difficulties pushed you down to the point of questioning your faith? It happened even with John the Baptist. Imprisoned for preaching truth that was contradictory to what the religious leaders of his day wanted to hear, John began to have genuine questions about his faith as he began to lose hope. Jesus did not get angry but had compassion and reassured him from Scriptures He knew would be meaningful to this devout Jew who had been suffering for the sake of the long-awaited Messiah even before Christ was hung on the cross.

Shattered dreams can leave us with sincere questions for God. When you and I are tired from waiting, and the world around us causes us to lose hope, we can take our wounded hearts to find answers in HIM, the One who IS Truth.🚦

#itsokaytoaskquestions #Godisbigenough ##shattereddreams #woundedhearts #devotionals #stoplightdevotionals

“When daylight came, He summoned His disciples, and He chose 12 of them — He also named them apostles: Simon, whom He also named Peter, and Andrew his brother; James and John; Philip and Bartholomew; Matthew and Thomas; James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon called the Zealot; Judas the son of James, and Judas Iscariot, who became a traitor.”

‭‭Luke‬ ‭6:13-16‬ ‭HCSB‬‬

Side by side, shoulder to shoulder, walking and serving in ministry with you at church are those who masquerade as followers of Christ. They take communion and pray for others, and then one day they stun us when they walk away from faith. So it was with Judas. He was right there in Jesus’ presence, yet he never let Christ be Lord of his heart.

Are you going through the motions of playing Christian without surrendering the one thing God wants most—your heart? Are you willing to take the risk and leave behind your old life as Simon did when he walked away from his fishing boat? Have you transferred your affections from the riches of world to the One who created it?🚦

#judasiscariot. #twelveapostles #surrenderyourheart #stoplightdevotiinals #devotionals #gospelofluke

“When He had finished speaking, He said to Simon, “Put out into deep water and let down your nets for a catch.” “Master,” Simon replied, “we’ve worked hard all night long and caught nothing! But at Your word, I’ll let down the nets.””

‭‭Luke‬ ‭5:4-5‬ ‭HCSB‬‬

When I’m already blown away at how Jesus let himself into someone’s unoccupied boat, He then starts giving orders about fishing to a seasoned pro, and Simon follows instructions! Simon even calls Jesus “Master,” acknowledging even before the big catch, Jesus’ position. A faithful, well-studied Jew, Simon had been anticipating Messiah’s arrival his whole life such that he recognized Jesus as Messiah even when Jesus did not come on the scene in royal robes as an earthly king as he would have been taught to expect.

Are you and I walking so closely with Spirit that we recognize Truth vs lies when they walk into our lives? May we always be watching and longing for Him.🚦

#fusherofmen #simonthefisherman #chosen #fishingboats #devotionals #stoplightdevotionals.

“After the Devil had finished every temptation, he departed from Him for a time. Then Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit, and news about Him spread throughout the entire vicinity.”

‭‭Luke‬ ‭4:13-14‬ ‭HCSB‬‬

Have you been going through a rough season? Maybe it’s been a whole year or weird of years characterized by one difficult trial after another. Just as Satan finally left Jesus alone after a while, he will not bear down on you forever. It was only after that intense period of struggle and testing in the wilderness that God used Jesus to fulfill His purpose in him. Rest assured, there is an end to the suffering, and there is an eternal reward for the faithful.🚦

#wildernesstraining #evenchristwastempted #thistooshallpass #satanisaliar #growingpains #devotionals #stoplightdevotionals

“Therefore produce fruit consistent with repentance. And don’t start saying to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father,’ for I tell you that God is able to raise up children for Abraham from these stones!”

‭‭Luke‬ ‭3:8‬ ‭HCSB‬‬

You can’t ride into heaven on the coattails of your parents. No matter how great the faith of your ancestors, without faith of your own and a heart that has turned from sin to repentance, eternal life with Christ eludes you.

Once your heart has truly changed, you put off the old self and put on the new self, and your faith is expressed in changed behavior.

“Therefore, every tree that doesn’t produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.”

‭‭Luke‬ ‭3:9‬ ‭HCSB‬‬

Have you chosen yet whom you will serve?🚦

#devotionals #stoplightdevotionals #cantgetinondaddyscoattals #choosewhoyouwillserve #producefruit

Reading the gospel of Luke as it recounts the stories of both Elizabeth and Mary carrying babies in their wombs at a time when neither should have been able to be pregnant, I marvel at how both graciously accepted the very unexpected turns in their roads as God’s plan was was revealed and manifested. Am I so in tune with the Holy Spirit as to immediately recognize when an unanticipated change in the course I’d planned is really the road God intended for me all along? Do I joyfully welcome God’s divine hand when it goes against what the world’s expectations?🚦

“A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance;”

‭‭Ecclesiastes‬ ‭3:4‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Years ago I went to the funeral of a woman I greatly admired and respected. Her passing was a huge blow to me and my sons, not to mention the many others impacted by her quiet leadership. I marked off the entire day to be 100% present for the occasion, attending the funeral, burial at a cemetery far away, then returning to the church for a meal with other mourners. By the end of the day my grief had a different tone and had turned into celebration.

It has been a hard year for many I hold dear, and tears come more readily than laughter right now. God’s Word tells us there will be seasons like this. It’s important to take time to acknowledge what no longer is and to weep when needed. Loss appropriately grieved will lead to new joy found only in Him.

“You turned my lament into dancing; You removed my sackcloth and clothed me with gladness, so that I can sing to You and not be silent. Lord my God, I will praise You forever.”

‭‭Psalms‬ ‭30:11-12‬ ‭HCSB‬‬🚦

“And all of you clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble.”

‭‭1 Peter‬ ‭5:5b HCSB‬‬

Each day as you pull on your shirt, slip your legs into your pants, “put on” humility as you take those moments to remember your position before God —a sinner saved by the grace provided by the blood shed by Christ on the cross for forgiveness of your sin. All you encounter need that same grace today. Go be the hands and feet of Jesus by putting others before you.🚦

“Then I called on the name of Yahweh: “Yahweh, save me! ” The Lord is gracious and righteous; our God is compassionate. The Lord guards the inexperienced; I was helpless, and He saved me. Return to your rest, my soul, for the Lord has been good to you. For You, Lord, rescued me from death, my eyes from tears, my feet from stumbling.”

‭‭Psalms‬ ‭116:4-8‬ ‭HCSB‬‬

Bridges are amazing. The Golden Gate Bridge is quite incredible, especially rising through a few cloudsI. I see the mighty hand of God in these magnificent feats of engineering because of the intelligence He gave to humans to design and build them. But unlike the song, God is NOT a “bridge over troubled waters.”

How often have you made mistakes, sometimes huge, due to inexperience or naïveté? It feels as though the whole world has shifted and you might drown. Big or small, your Heavenly Father is a cry away. You can reach to Him for calming comfort and compassionate reason to direct your steps as He walks with you in the Spirit through, not over, the consequences. He is the steadying soul-anchor who clears the distractions and makes straight your path. He may even part the waters, as He did for the Israelites, and shout, “Run!” No matter which way, lean into Him.

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own understanding; think about Him in all your ways, and He will guide you on the right paths.”

‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭3:5-6‬ ‭HCSB‬‬🚦

“Finally, be strengthened by the Lord and by His vast strength. Put on the full armor of God so that you can stand against the tactics of the Devil. For our battle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the world powers of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavens.”

‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭6:10-12‬ ‭HCSB‬‬

Do you ever feel battle-weary? Perhaps you become unnecessarily fatigued from fighting the wrong battles in your own strength. God wants you to set aside your own sword and pick up the sword of the spirit. Replace your worn out sandals with readiness for the gospel of peace. Cinch up your pants with the belt of truth. Where do you find these tools? When you study God’s Word, meditate on it, seek Him and walk in full reliance on the Spirit you will find you have all you need to be battle-ready. What are you doing to prepare for spiritual warfare?🚦