Daily Devo's

Skiff Culture & Lifestyle
161

October 15
Make Time To Be Quiet
Find a quiet, secluded place so you won’t be tempted to role-play before God. Just be there as simply and honestly as you can manage. The focus will shift from you to God, and you will begin to sense his grace.” Matthew 6:6 (MSG)

You can’t hear God speaking to you if your life is full of noise. You’ve got to get alone, and you’ve got to be quiet. Many people call this a quiet time.

In The Message paraphrase, Jesus says it like this: “Find a quiet, secluded place so you won’t be tempted to role-play before God. Just be there as simply and honestly as you can manage. The focus will shift from you to God, and you will begin to sense his grace.”

There’s something critical you need to realize about hearing God speak and getting his vision for your life: He wants to meet with you. In fact, in Jeremiah 33:3 it says, “Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know” (NIV).

You may feel like you’re waiting on God—but often, God is waiting on you. He created you for a relationship, and he loves it when you spend time with him. He longs to be part of your everyday life, like a regular appointment on your calendar. God is patient, but he’s always ready to meet with you.

But getting alone in a quiet place can be pretty difficult in today’s world. Most people don’t realize how noisy their surroundings really are. Every waiting room, grocery store, and elevator has music. There are very few places in our lives that are actually quiet.

And if you’ve got kids at home, it’s even more difficult! But let me give you some hope. Susanna Wesley, mother of John and Charles Wesley, had 18 children in total! Her son, John, founded the Methodist church and helped spread Christianity across America, and Charles, wrote more than 6,000 hymns.

How does anyone find time to get quiet and be alone when they have 18 children? Her biography says that for an hour every afternoon, she would sit in her favorite rocking chair with her apron thrown over her head. The kids knew that if she had an apron over her head, it meant, “No child bothers Mom!”

Wesley said it was the prayers of his mom that shaped his life. If a mother with 18 children living in the 1600s can find time to be alone with God, you can too. Be desperate for it. Make time to be quiet and meet with the Lord.

Talk It Over

  • How much of your day is spent in silence?
  • What distractions can you set aside to prioritize time alone with God each day?
  • What effect can your consistent quiet time have not only on you but also on your family?

Pastor Rick Warren, Pastor Rick’s Daily Hope

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October 16
The Lion’s Den (read Daniel 6)
The king gave the order, and they brought Daniel and threw him into the lion’s den.
Daniel 6:16

Daniel was a faithful follower of the Lord, even though he lived in exile in Babylon. And he had been appointed as one of the king’s top administrators. The other administrators were jealous of Daniel, however, and they wanted to destroy him. So they tricked the king into making a decree that said anyone who prayed to any god except the king should be thrown into a den of hungry lions (Daniel 6:1-9).

What did Daniel do in response to that? He prayed to God, asking for help. Daniel trusted in God because he knew that God is more powerful than any king or decree.

Did Daniel complain to God? Did Daniel claim it was not right to end his life in a lions’ den when he had been faithful all his life? No, Daniel did not do things like that. Instead, he praised God and gave thanks for all of God’s blessings, even in this difficult situation. And the next morning, when the king went to check on him, Daniel said, “My God sent his angel, and he shut the mouths of the lions.”

Later, however, when the king had Daniel’s enemies thrown into the lions’ den for trying to destroy Daniel, God punished them. “Before they reached the floor of the den, the lions overpowered them and crushed all their bones.”

God is alive and has power over even our worst enemies. Hallelujah!

Almighty God, help us in your strength to overcome whatever trials we may face. Guide us to seek you and to honor you always. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Pastor Jang Ho Park

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October 17
Complete Confidence in the Living God: The Doctrine of Faith
Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.
Hebrews 11:1

Daniel’s faith shone as a beacon of light against the darkness of life in Babylon. He steadfastly trusted the one true God and refused defilement from worldly pressures. Everyone has faith in something. For all held captive by sin’s corruption, fallen faith—faith in self, possessions, fame, or false deities—is idolatry. True faith is belief in the one true God—the Maker of heaven and earth and the Redeemer of humanity.

Hebrews 11:1 defines faith as “confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.” True faith places complete confidence in God’s character and His power to perfectly accomplish His will and deliver all He has promised. Through faith in Jesus Christ, sinners graciously receive salvation from sin’s penalty and power. Indwelt and sealed by the Holy Spirit, believers accept the claims of the gospel as their own (see John 1:12; 3:16; Acts 4:12; 16:31). Those who trust Jesus Christ as their Savior (see John 6:37; 1 John 4:9-10) repent from sin and commit to follow Jesus Christ in this life and into eternity (see Luke 9:23; 14:25-27; Acts 3:19; 20:21; Romans 12:1-2).

Without faith in God, people rely only on their own logic, experiences, and faltering explanations to find meaning in this life—a literal dead end. Supposed freedom, fulfillment, and answers to life’s challenges are limited to the people, places, things, and pleasures offered by this fallen world, which all will come to an end.

True faith in the true God changes everything. When we trust completely in Christ’s finished work, we can stop expecting to please God through behavior modification or management. Our desire and ability to obey and follow God depend on His power, not our own. We welcome Him to work in and through us, knowing He will never forsake us. Our lives have purpose because we know God loves us with an everlasting love. We seek God’s transforming power in our daily lives, recognizing the emptiness of the world’s pressures and pleasures, which cannot compare with the joy of seeking, knowing, and obeying God. Life on earth is not a meaningless and fruitless journey. Instead, our time on earth allows our first steps toward our joyful eternity in the presence of our Creator. We need not fear the chaotic circumstances that often surround us. We are content in trusting that our faith can grasp what our minds cannot fully understand.

Bible Study Fellowship, Lesson 5 Notes

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October 18
Within God’s Will, in the Name of Jesus (read 1 John 5:13-15)
This is the confidence we have in approaching God; that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.
1 John 5:14

Today let’s focus on what it means to ask within God’s will. We’ll look at some important ways this affects not only what we ask for but also how we ask—and all this connects with asking in the name of Jesus.

First, Jesus taught, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me,” and “Whatever you ask in my name, the Father will give you” (John 14:6; 15:16). This means that by recognizing Jesus’ authority as the Son of God, we can pray in his name and have access to God the Father almighty. Jesus, who died for our sins in order to reconcile us with God (Rom. 5:6-11), is the only reason we have access to the Father in prayer.

Second, our prayers are based on what Jesus has done for us, not on anything we have done. Jesus’ name identifies him as the one who saved “his people from their sins” (Matthew 1:21). So to ask in the name of Jesus is to acknowledge that Jesus is our Savior, who always intercedes for us (see Romans 8:34; Hebrews 7:25).

Finally, in everything he did, Jesus wanted to do God’s will and bring him glory (John 6:38-40; 12:26-28). Jesus’ example is the pattern for everything we do. So asking in Jesus’ name means we want to do God’s will and to glorify God (see John 14:13). And to these requests God will always say yes.

Lord Jesus, one and only Savior, I trust the power and authority of your name. Help me to follow your example, praying and living by God’s will in all I do, through the work of your Spirit in me. In your name, Amen.

Pastor Peter Hoytema

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October 19
Be Alert (read Nehemiah 6:1-14)
He had been hired to intimidate me so that I would commit a sin by doing this, and then they would give me a bad name to discredit me.
Nehemiah 6:13

In school, a friend tried to convince me to do something wrong against a person he did not like. I refused. So he asked someone else, who agreed to his shady suggestion.

Some people will go to great lengths to discredit or tarnish another person’s reputation. How can a person stay alert to such schemes?

Nehemiah knew when people were trying to trick him. His enemies tried again and again to stop the work of rebuilding God’s city. They even sent Nehemiah a false message about a rumor of revolt against the king, hoping he would fall for it. But Nehemiah was aware of their plot and wouldn’t take the bait. So the enemies tried a different tactic. They hired a prophet to try to trick him. But he prayed that the Lord would strengthen his hands and sharpen his mind, and he was able to resist. He said, “I realized that God had not sent [this prophet], but that … he had been hired to intimidate me.”

Jesus taught his disciples that he would be sending them out like sheep among wolves. He warned them to be “as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves”; he said, “Be on your guard” (Matthew 10:16-17). We also are called to be on high alert with people who wish to deter us from keeping our focus on serving God.

Jesus, protect us from playing into schemes of the devil and those who would harm us. Keep our hearts and minds on guard against temptations and tricks. May we please you alone. Amen.

Dr. Reginald Smith

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October 20
How to Know “Joy Comes in the Morning” in Your Darkest Hour
Weeping may last through the night, but joy comes with the morning."
Psalm 30:5

I can’t tell you how many times I’ve curled up in bed with tears on my pillow and reminded myself that joy comes in the morning. Nighttime feels like a safe place to let out all of the heavy emotions of the day. I finally have a moment to rest and it’s just me and God. I can talk to Him, let the tears flow, and allow God’s peace soak into the deepest parts of me. Even in the midst of my darkest hours, Jesus is right there with me. Joy can be too.

What Does ‘Joy Comes in the Morning’ Mean?

One could take this Bible verses to literally mean joy will come the next morning, and sometimes it does. In a broader sense, Psalm 30:5 can mean that after a time of spiritual darkness joy will be restored. I have seen examples of both in my own life. Some nights are long and dark, but after a night of crying out to the Lord, joy fills my heart when I awake. Other times those dark nights turn into a string of dark days.

During the worst years living with chronic illness, I lost my sense of joy. I was weary from the fight and I didn’t have the strength to choose joy. Others noticed. My smile didn’t reach my eyes, I withdrew, and my overly optimistic personality took a walk on the dark side. As I allowed God to meet me in my pain, my joy was restored. My best friend even changed her nickname for me from Jo to Joy to help me remember to keep choosing joy. When I fully surrendered my life to Jesus and quit trying so hard to fix everything myself, the joy of the Lord filled my heart once again. I think it was always there, I was just too weary to see it.

I have seen too many dark days, yet I have also seen the goodness of God and His hand at work even in the worst circumstances. I can promise you; joy does come in the morning.

Additional commentary help from John Gill’s tells us: “alluding to the time when all nature is fresh and gay, when man rises cheerful from his rest, darkness removes, light breaks forth, and the sun rises and sheds its beams, and everything looks pleasant and delightful; moreover, the mercies of God are new every morning, which cause joy, and call for thankfulness; and especially it is a time of joy after weeping and darkness, when the sun of righteousness arises with healing in his wings; as it will be to perfection in the resurrection morn, when the dead in Christ will rise first, and be like to him, and reign with him for evermore.”

How Can We Experience Joy in Our Worst Circumstances?

I know it can feel impossible to experience joy in our worst circumstances. It can feel like a cruel joke, something we’re taunted with and fear we’ll never experience again. But joy is possible! So how can we experience joy in our worst circumstances?

I think it’s important to know that happiness and joy are not the exact same thing. Happiness is a feeling based on pleasant circumstances, but I believe joy is something we can choose even in the midst of our worst circumstances.

Even Jesus chose joy in His worst circumstance. Hebrews 12:1-3 says, “Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.”

Jesus didn’t experience joy because of the pain of the cross or the shame heaped upon Him, but He did endure horrible circumstances for the joy that came out of it. He chose to walk in obedience to God because of the joy set before Him. The joy of reconciling man and God. The joy of conquering sin and death. The joy of the resurrection. The joy of making a way for us to be free and experience new life. He endured hostility so we will not grow weary and lose heart. We can experience joy in the midst of our worst circumstances because He is with us.

I can hear you asking, “So Josie, what do we do?” I do not have 10 steps for you to experience joy in our worst circumstances. There is no way we can trick ourselves into finding joy or work our way to joy. There just isn’t. I know, I’ve tried! True joy is found in the Lord and the Lord alone. It’s something that comes from Him. We can’t fake it and we can’t earn it. It’s a free gift. So how do we experience it?

We look to Jesus. We abide in Him and simply ask Him to fill us with joy. Abiding with Jesus means spending time with Him. As we spend time with Him, we allow His truth and love to fill our weary hearts and fill us with joy.

In John 15 we read about what it means to abide. I love what Jesus says in John 15:9, 11: “Just as the Father has loved Me, I have also loved you; abide in My love…These things I have spoken to you so that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be made full.”

Joy is found in Jesus. It’s as simple and beautiful as that. We make things so complicated sometimes, I know I do. But when we cease our striving, we’ll find peace and joy in Jesus—even in the midst of our worst circumstances.

Understanding the Context of Psalm 30:5

Psalm 30 was written by David. In His commentary on the Bible, Matthew Henry writes, “This is a psalm of thanksgiving for the great deliverances which God had wrought for David, penned … upon his recovery from a dangerous fit of sickness, which might happen to be about the time of the dedication of his house.”

The Psalm begins with David praising God and thanking Him for not allowing his enemies to rejoice over him. He also thanks God for healing him after he cried out to Him for help. He sings praises to God and encourages others to do the same. Then comes our key verse, “For His anger is but for a moment, His favor is for a lifetime; Weeping may last for the night, But a shout of joy comes in the morning" (Psalm 30:5, NASB).

The word used here for joy is the Hebrew word rinnah. It means “ringing cry of entreaty, supplication” or “ringing cry in proclamation, joy, praise.” Can you feel the tension in this word? It’s both a cry of prayer and a praise. It’s a powerful word, a powerful concept. It shows that joy is found not after pain, not after everything is made right but in the midst of it. The only way this is possible is because of the work of the Lord. He is the only one who can enter our pain and fill us with joy.

What Does the Bible Say About Joy?

The word rinnah is used 33 other times in the Bible. Let’s take a look at some of these verses and see what else Scripture has to say about joy. (The following verses are all in the New American Standard Version.)

“O clap your hands, all peoples; Shout to God with the voice of joy” Psalm 47:1.

“And He brought forth His people with joy, His chosen ones with a joyful shout” Psalm 105:43.

“Let them also offer sacrifices of thanksgiving. And tell of His works with joyful singing” Psalm 107:22.

“The sound of joyful shouting and salvation is in the tents of the righteous; The right hand of the LORD does valiantly” Psalm 118:15.

“Then our mouth was filled with laughter And our tongue with joyful shouting; Then they said among the nations, ‘The LORD has done great things for them’” Psalm 126:2.

“Those who sow in tears shall reap with joyful shouting” Psalm 126:5.

“And the ransomed of the LORD will return And come with joyful shouting to Zion, With everlasting joy upon their heads. They will find gladness and joy, And sorrow and sighing will flee away” Isaiah 35:10.

“Shout for joy, O heavens! And rejoice, O earth! Break forth into joyful shouting, O mountains! For the LORD has comforted His people And will have compassion on His afflicted” Isaiah 49:13.

“Shout for joy, O barren one, you who have borne no child; Break forth into joyful shouting and cry aloud, you who have not travailed; For the sons of the desolate one will be more numerous Than the sons of the married woman,’ says the LORD” Isaiah 54:1.

“For you will go out with joy And be led forth with peace; The mountains and the hills will break forth into shouts of joy before you, And all the trees of the field will clap their hands” Isaiah 55:12.

“The LORD your God is in your midst, A victorious warrior. He will exult over you with joy, He will be quiet in His love, He will rejoice over you with shouts of joy. Zephaniah 3:17.

Psalm 30 Prayer for Joy in the Morning

Dear God, I can’t bring myself to stop crying and to stop feeling so sad, but I know You can do it. So right now I commit this to You. From this moment forward, help me feel Your joy. Help me be a good testimony for You. Shower me with Your Grace and enable me to get through this day, this hour and this moment. I praise You and thank You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen. (Carolyn Dale Newell, Encouragement Cafe)

Heavenly Father, I long to honor You even in my suffering. Help me see Your faithfulness, even when my emotions seem tossed to and fro by grief. Allow me to feel the comfort of the Holy Spirit as I wait for my morning to dawn. And, let Your light shine through me so others would see Your goodness and the Name of Jesus would be made great. In Jesus’ Name, Amen. (Shanna Garcia, Encouragement for Today)

Josie Siler, Bible Study Tools

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October 21
Fishers of Men (read Matthew 4:18-25)
And Jesus, walking by the Sea of Galilee, saw two brothers, Simon called Peter, and Andrew, his brother, casting a net into the sea, for they were fishers. And He said to them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men

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October 22
Seeking Shalom in Hardship (read Jeremiah 29:4-14)
**Seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the Lord for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper. **
Jeremiah 29:7

Nobody likes to feel as if their life is stuck on hold. It does not feel good to be trapped in a situation where you don’t want to be, while longing for a place you can’t reach. I’ve encountered many people in situations like that. I have also felt that way myself at times. Sometimes it lasts for a short season; other times it lasts much longer.

God called Jeremiah to be his prophet during a deeply painful time for his people. Many of the people were in exile—taken far from home, away from every­thing they knew and loved. Through Jeremiah, God urged the people to live in hope, raising families, settling in, and trusting that the Lord had plans and a future for them.

We, too, often celebrate that God has plans and a future for us, and we mustn’t forget that he is with us even if we feel that our life is stuck. Just as God wasn’t finished with his people in exile, he isn’t finished with us.

Perhaps you know how tough it can be to feel stuck on hold. How can you live into that as a child of God today? What does praying for peace and prosperity look like right now?

God can bless you in your situation. What is more, you can be a blessing to others. God is still with you—even now.

Mighty God, strengthen us to live as your people here and now, regardless of our circumstances. Assured of our kingdom citizenship, we pray for the peace and prosperity of our community here and now too. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Lloyd Wicker

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October 23
You Need Frequency In Your Fellowship

“They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. . . . They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts.” Acts 2:42, 46 (NIV)

You develop relationships through fellowship—spending time together in faith, purpose, and unity in Jesus Christ. And there’s only one way you’re going to build that kind of fellowship—and it’s through frequency.

If you’re already in a small group that meets regularly, that’s great! But if your group meets very infrequently, then you may not be allowing yourself the opportunity for meaningful fellowship. It works best when you commit to seeing each other at least once a week, when you schedule time to study the Bible together and encourage one another.

You need frequency in your fellowship.

Acts 2 describes the first church in Jerusalem this way: “They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. . . . They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved” (Acts 2:42, 46-47 NIV).

One of my favorite tools of fellowship is food. I’m so glad the early church’s example included eating together!

Jesus didn’t do his ministry on earth alone. He shared life with his disciples. And almost every time Jesus taught and fellowshipped with the disciples, they were either walking or eating. Why? Because when people are walking or eating, they’re relaxed. Your walls are down, you’re not defensive, and you’re open to feedback and new ideas. That’s when the best communication and fellowship happen.

Jesus spent regular, intentional, focused time with his small group of disciples and enjoyed meals with them. The early church was “devoted” to being together and learning together and praying together. They found joy in spending time together around meals.

You’ll find that following their example of fellowship around food won’t just lead to amazing personal spiritual growth. It will show the world the joy we have in being part of God’s family—and they’ll want to join in too.

Talk It Over

  • What are some ways you can take the stress out of sharing a meal with your small group?
  • How can you use food to fellowship with people outside of the church and show them biblical hospitality?
  • Do you treat time with people in your church and God’s family like you would any other event that you schedule and commit to? Why or why not?

Pastor Rick Warren, Daily Hope

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October 26
Room to Be Human

We definitely live in a celebrity culture. How many industries—from sports talk to memorabilia sales—are manufactured on the backs of a culture that can’t get enough scoop or goods on today’s headline makers? We know they’re just people, but somehow we’re willing to let them be larger-than-life. It’s in our cultural DNA.

But even those who impress us with their skill and swagger—the ones who are among the best at what they do—miss a lot of reads in the course of a game. They foul a lot of balls into the stands. They push a lot of shots wide of the fairway. Success is a matter of consistent skill and effort, but nowhere near perfection. There’s never been a superstar who didn’t know how it felt to pace the sidelines, frustrated with his play.

If you’re in one of those funks where you’re down on yourself for making an unwise decision at work, or underestimating how long something would take, or guessing wrong on a snap judgment call, maybe this would be a good day to cut yourself some slack. Nobody gets everything right, and God understands that about us. “As a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him; for he knows how we are formed, he remembers that we are dust” (Psalm 103:13-14).

Be fair with yourself today. Don’t let a little pop-out keep you from swinging for the fences.

Pray this prayer: Lord God, thank you for knowing me better than I know myself, for being willing to forgive me when I foul things up. I pray for the courage to get back in and try again—for your glory.

Coach Joe Gibbs, Two Minute Drill for Life

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**October 27 **
Trusting the Power of God in Prayer
The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.
James 5:16

A close friend was seriously ill. Her doctors were not optimistic, and it felt like hope was slipping away. In desperation, I turned to prayer, gathering a group of friends and family to pray for our friend’s healing. Despite the uncertainty, we prayed fervently, trusting in God’s power.

Miraculously, our friend began to recover. The doctors were astonished by her sudden turnaround, and it was clear that God had responded to our prayers with healing. This strengthened my conviction that prayer is powerful and that God uses it to bring about real change.

Prayer is not just a ritual; it is a direct line of communication with our Creator. Through prayer we express our deepest desires, fears, and hopes to God. In prayer we find solace, strength, and guidance. The Bible teaches that “the prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective,” and God can use it to transform lives.

Prayer aligns our hearts with God’s will, allowing his power to work through us. It can bring healing, provide comfort in times of distress, and open doors that may seem impossible to unlock. Through prayer we invite God into our situations, trusting him to act according to his perfect will. God hears us and is able to do immeasurably more than we can ask or imagine. Let’s bring our concerns, joys, and needs before him, trusting in his power to work wonders.

Lord, thank you for the gift of prayer. Help us to approach you with faith and confidence, knowing that you always care for us. In Jesus, Amen.

Darrell Delaney

Guys, let’s be in prayer for the folks in Jamaica and other places in the path of Melissa. This is going to be a bad one.

God’s peace to all,

Dave

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October 28
A Conversation with God Almighty: The Doctrine of Prayer

Prayer is not complicated; it is simply conversation with God. We can pray to God because He is personal. He hears and answers us according to His good will and perfect timing 1 John 5:14-15). We draw close to our Creator and Redeemer through prayer (James 4:8). Because God is poised to provide, prayer should be a
believer’s posture, purpose, passion, and persistent practice.

In Daniel 9:4-19, God’s faithful servant provided a model for prayer in his adoration, gratitude, confession, and petition (Matthew 6:5-15, 7:7; John 14:13-14); Philippians 4:6). In adoration, we recall the incredible divine attributes of our Creator, Redeemer, and Lord—who He is. We thank God for what He has done as the perfect promise-keeper who loves His people well. In confession, we humbly, honestly, transparently, and remorsefully admit our wrongdoing. And in petition, we ask God for what we need to live a flourishing life for His glory and the good of His people.

A person who does not pray misses out on witnessing God’s rich blessings through answered prayer. A prayerless life forfeits the gift of daily knowing, seeing, and embracing God’s presence. This lack of necessary spiritual nourishment leaves a person starved of hope and without a viable witness to God’s presence or power among His people.

To believe in the joy and power of prayer fuels a believer in every circumstance. In our study of Daniel, we see the highs and lows of life in a fallen world. But God’s presence, grace, mercy, and encouragement flowed constantly into Daniel’s life. And because God never changes, these same benefits of prayer are available to all who lift their adoration, thankfulness, repentance, and petitions
to our awesome God today. Through prayer, believers experience the privilege of participating in God’s ongoing work in the world.

Bible Study Fellowhip, Notes on Lesson 7 (Daniel 9)

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October 30
A Great Wind (read Jonah 1:1-17)
The Lord sent a great wind on the sea, and such a violent storm arose that the ship threatened to break up.
Jonah 1:4

Despite many advances in technology, seafaring is still dangerous today. In the past 10 years, more than 1,000 large ships have been lost worldwide. We often don’t hear about these shipwrecks in the news unless they affect our own country or region. Many of us in North America, however, heard that the United States-flagged cargo ship El Faro, on its way to Puerto Rico, sank at sea with all 33 crew members on October 1, 2015, after sailing into Hurricane Joaquin.

The prophet Jonah boarded a ship heading for Tarshish, a destination as far away as he could go from where the Lord had sent him to preach—in Nineveh. But despite Jonah’s rebellion, the Lord brought him back in the right direction. God sent a storm that threatened to wreck the ship until Jonah was thrown overboard. Then, as the storm quickly cleared, the sailors worshiped the Lord, and God sent a huge fish to bring Jonah back to dry land.

This story shows the amazing power of God—not only over nature but also to bring repentance and salvation. God turned Jonah around and brought him to preach a message of grace to Nineveh. And the people there repented and were spared from destruction.

Have there been storms in your life that God has used to bring repentance and faith?

Lord God, we ask for forgiveness, for we have sinned against you and our neighbors. We look to you in the storms of life to build our faith in Christ. Amen.

Dr. Jason Zuidema is executive director of the North American Maritime Ministry Association (namma.org) and an elder in the Église réformée du Québec. David Rozeboom serves as chaplain at the Montreal Ministry to Seafarers of the Christian Reformed Church (ministrytoseafarers.org). The authors thank Kevin Walker, NAMMA director of programs, for editorial assistance.

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November 1
God, the Anchor (read Hebrews 10:19-25)
Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for He who promised is faithful.
Hebrews 10:23

In the mid-20th century a musician named Albert Goodson wrote a song titled “We’ve Come This Far by Faith.” It soon became popular because it reminded believers to hold on steadfastly to the hope of God’s promises never to leave or forget about his children. Even when it may seem that hard times are stacked against them, followers of Christ can know that God’s gift of faith has brought them where they are and will carry them through.

As humans living in a world that is broken by sin, we are all vulnerable to hurt, pain, sadness, and loss. Many—if not all—of us have experienced the trials of life and have been bruised by them. As Christians, we know that we live in between the fallen nature of this world, which is merely a shadow of things yet to come, and the fullness of life in a world that will one day be fully restored. As the body of Christ, we eagerly await the fullness of life, and in the meantime we continue to lean on the Lord, unmoved by the trials and temptations of life.

Ultimately we rely on the Word of God as our source of life. And in hope we can join together, encouraging one another and building each other up as we journey through life in faith.

Steadfast Savior, thank you for your faithfulness each day. May we, as your children and image bearers, continue to represent you in our homes, classrooms, careers, and communities as we trust in you and your Word. Amen.

Ben McKnight

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November 2
So Will I

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November 3
Reshaping Your Way
Delight yourself in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart
Psalm 37:4

I’ve had this verse wrong my whole life. It always sounded like a blank check from God. But that’s not what it means at all.

When I was younger, I thought it meant: “If I love God, He’ll give me what I want… marriage, babies, healing, dreams.” Like, if I just proved my faith, He’d sign off on my wishlist.

But that doesn’t really fit with real life, does it? And, honestly, it kind of fed into that false idea that God is some genie in the sky, just wanting to grant our wishes if we say the right words.

But, that’s not who He is. And that’s not what this verse is about.

Here’s what stopped me in my tracks: the Hebrew word for delight (“anag”) doesn’t mean “be happy.” It means to be soft, pliable, moldable. So delighting in the Lord isn’t about smiling through worship songs–it’s about surrender, letting Him shape me. And the word “give” here? It’s the Hebrew word “natan”. It means to place, to put, to set, or to assign.

So, God isn’t saying “I’ll hand over your dream list.” He’s saying, “I’ll place new desires inside of your–ones that come from My heart.” And, suddenly this verse makes sense.

It’s not about God giving me everything I’ve ever wanted. It’s about Him changing what I want.

When I delight in Him, He transforms my heart until my desires start to look like His. So, the promise isn’t “follow God and you’ll get your way”, it’s “follow God and He’ll reshape your way.”

That’s so much better than my tiny checklist. Because His way is always higher, alway kinder, always good. And truly? That explains so much of my story–the things I begged Him for years ago–some of them never happened. But, now I see…He was protecting me from what I wanted then, to make room for what I needed now.

Maybe you wrestled with this verse too. It’s not about earning blessings or praying hard enough to get what you want. It’s about become soft enough for Him to rewrite your heart. Because when He does, the desires He places in you are the very ones He’s eager to fulfill.

Maybe the real gift isn’t getting exactly what we want–but surrendering everything and becoming someone who wants Him most.

Kalli Hefler

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November 4
Who Is God? (read Isaiah 40:18-31)
God said, ‘Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may run over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky…and over all the creatures that move on the ground.’
Genesis 1:26-27

Around the world there are many different religions and many different views about who or what God is. Some people believe there is one God, some believe there are many gods, and some believe there is no god at all. Some people say that God is whoever or whatever you want him or it to be, so it doesn’t matter what you believe.

While it may be fashionable to view God in a way like that, neither the Bible nor logic will allow it. The Bible teaches that there is one God who created the heavens and the earth. The one God has revealed himself to us as God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. And while the Father is God, the Son is God, and the Holy Spirit is God, there are not three Gods but one God. This teaching is sometimes described with the word Trinity, and we can think of this in terms of “tri-unity.”

Some people argue that this is a human-made teaching. But in Genesis God says, “Let us make mankind in our image,” referring to a plurality in the Godhead. And Jesus commanded his followers to “make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit” (Matthew 28:19). The truth of God in three persons is found throughout the Bible. And the one, true God is completely wise, just, and good!

Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, thank you for your love and grace. Help us to truly know you, love you, and honor you. Amen.

George Koopmans

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November 5 (read Daniel 10)
Answered Prayer
Then he said to me, ‘Do not fear, Daniel, for from the first day that you set your heart to understand, and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard; and I have come because of your words. But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me twenty-one days; and behold, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, for I had been left alone there with the kings of Persia
Daniel 10:12-13

This chapter teaches us several interesting things about prayer, and also gives us some insight into why it sometimes seems that the answers to our prayers are delayed. Daniel had been mourning, fasting, and praying for 3 weeks before an angel appeared to him. The angel told him that God had heard his prayers on the very first day he began to pray and fast. So the first thing we see here is that God hears our prayers immediately. The angel encouraged Daniel when he said, “your words were heard.” Second, we see that God was attentive to Daniel’s prayer and answered it immediately by sending the angel. Third, though the answer was sent right away, there was a delay in the spiritual realm. Fourth, in spite of spiritual opposition, the answer to Daniel’s prayer still arrived on time. Although we may often feel like God’s timing is delayed, there is no such thing as His answer coming too late to accomplish what He wants it to accomplish. God never lacks the power to do His will.

In Scripture, God is never pictured as being in a hurry, with the important exception of the picture of the father in the Prodigal Son story. It is there that Jesus reveals to us a deep insight into Father God’s heart. In that story, we see the father running toward his son while he was still a long way off (Luke 15:20). Perhaps he ran because he knew that if someone else were to meet his son first, they might humiliate him or send him away because he had publicly shamed the family. Many have said that no matter how many steps we take away from God, it only takes one step back, and then He comes running to forgive us and receive us back into fellowship.

“LORD, we lift to You those family members and friends that are currently far from You and ask that You send messengers to them to bring them to You.”

Pastor Ed Rea

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November 6
Make the Most of Your Time (read Psalm 90:1-17)
Be very careful, then, how you live–not as unwise, but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.
Ephesians 5:15-16

The apostle Paul urges Christians to live a life of wisdom and self-control. All Christians are called to be holy people in a fallen world, and times are often hard.

A Christian must be recognized by wise living. Life is short, and God calls us to live for him. He is the Lord, our Creator, and we are his. God calls us to make the most of our time—that is, to make the best use of it. Time is one of the precious gifts God has entrusted to us, so it is our responsibility to manage it well.

In some evangelical churches in Africa, and perhaps also in Europe, Christians are encouraged to wait passively for the things of heaven. They think their responsibility is limited to praying, praying, and praying more. With that type of attitude, their responsibility is not sufficiently called upon. But with God’s help, we can make the most of our time, in a good way, by thinking carefully about how we want to use our hours, whether it’s in our work, in needed rest or relaxation, or in giving time to others. All of these things contribute to the coming of the kingdom of God.

What would be the consequences of misusing our time? Why is a good use of time an important aspect of our faith? How can we help young people in this regard?

Father in heaven, everything we have is a gift from you, including our time. Help us to make the most of every opportunity and to honor you in the process. Amen.

Marc Nabié, the French-language ministry leader for ReFrame Ministries

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November 8
Be An Encourager (2 Chronicles 30:21=27)
Hezekiah spoke encouragingly…
2 Chronicles 30:22

Not too long ago, I was an accomplished long distance runner. 60-70 mile weeks of training were common and I completed two marathons a year plus several half marathons and shorter distance races each year for a decade or more.

Competing in the Boston Marathon for the first time was quite a challenge and quite an experience. The course has an elevation gain of around 815 feet, which is a lot of climbing. But Boston also has a descent of 1275 feet, making it a significant net downhill course. Only about 1.6 miles of the course is actually flat, meaning you’re either running downhill (about 15 miles) or uphill (about 10 miles) almost the entire race. A little under half of the course is between +1% and -1%, and 11% is +/- 4% or steeper.

The start of the Boston Marathon is on the crest of a hill and it’s a dramatic downhill start, far steeper than many probably expect.I made the rookie mistake of going out too fast, taking a toll on the quads.

In the last couple miles of that race, I was struggling a bit. But, as Boston runners begin the last 2.2 miles, the crowds grow bigger around Fenway and line the street all the way to the finish. As the crowds cheered, I reached the right turn onto Hereford, then took the slight uphill for two blocks, before a left onto Boylston. The crowd noise really peaks around here and after I had turned onto Boylston, I could see the finish line 600m ahead.

There are not many finish lines which are as good as the Boston Marathon. It’s a tunnel of cheering all the way to the finish. It’s incredible. With all the cheering, my legs felt a little lighter, and I made it to the finish line, carried along on a wave of encouragement.

Living for God is often a sweaty, difficult process, so we need to encourage one another. Hezekiah was a great encourager. When the Levites had to retrain themselves to do the work of the Lord, “Hezekiah spoke encouragingly” to them–even though they made a few mistakes along the way.

It is God’s great gift to each of us as parents, as church members, as spouses, to build each other up and be cheerful encouragers.

On that hot day when I finished that race, someone handed me two glasses of water and then some fruit. How rewarding that was–and how exciting to be with the other runners, all smiling and congratulating each other. There was a great feeling of accomplishment.

Serving Jesus is worthwhile. Someday we will all be rewarded with his gift of full life, and we’ll celebrate together and with God. In the meantime, be a Hezekiah Christian–one who has an encouraging word to say.

Lord, give me the eyes to see the good in your people, and give me genuine words of encouragement so that I can help strengthen others. In your name I pray. Amen.

God’s peace to all,

Dave

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