Daily Devotional

A daily devotional to strengthen your relationship with God.

Today's Devotional

Living in peace requires effort

Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord.
- Hebrews 12:14

It may not seem like it, but we must admit: living in peace with everyone requires personal effort. Living in peace requires from us temperance, kindness, goodness, gentleness, self-control, qualities of the fruit of the Spirit that we only develop as we walk in holiness.

God never hid from us that His Kingdom is taken by effort and that we must seek it in order to find it. Through the pursuit of the things above, as a result, the fruit of the Spirit becomes visible in our lives. Living in peace with our brothers and sisters is living in peace with God, with a heart free of resentment and bitterness.

Living in peace is an effort worth making, because first of all, we are the ones who benefit from these actions. Every peaceful attitude produces good fruit and bears good witness. This kind of posture is also part of proclaiming the Good News of the Lord. It is no use speaking about the peace that surpasses all understanding while living with an aggressive and reactive attitude toward every situation.

When Jesus spoke about the Beatitudes, many of them called for a peaceful heart, and all are a reflection of holiness unto the Lord. In light of so many blessings and promises, living in peace and holiness is an effort worth pursuing! Be holy!

Practice peace and seek holiness

  • The best way to begin sanctifying yourself is by meditating on the Word of God. In it, we have all the guidance and every source needed to nourish our spirit.
  • Prayer is our faith in action, it is the moment when we must strive in faith and worship. God hears the prayer of His children and longs to hear our voice!

Prayer:

Lord God, pour out Your Spirit upon me. May Your move in my life reflect Your love, and may my actions reflect Your work within me. May Your peace overflow in me and reach those around me. In Jesus’ name, amen!

Yesterday's Devotional

God answers our prayers at the right time

We know that God answers our prayers, we just don’t know when. Because we don’t know the timing of His response, we often become anxious and even impatient with God. But understand this: the Lord answers our prayers at the right time!

I will stand at my watch
and station myself on the ramparts;
I will look to see what he will say to me,
and what answer I am to give to this complaint.
- Habakkuk 2:1

The prophet Habakkuk prayed to God, seeking His guidance. God’s people were losing their identity, turning away from the Lord’s commandments, and this deeply troubled the prophet. He did not receive an immediate answer to his prayer, yet he did not complain, instead, he waited attentively for God’s voice.

Sometimes, God may answer us immediately; other times, the waiting itself is part of His answer. Therefore, talk to God and wait patiently for His response. Stay alert to His signs and remain faithful, surely, God will answer you at the right time!

God Answers Our Prayers

  • Don’t set conditions for God. Speak with Him and wait for His answer with patience and attention.
  • Believe that God will answer your prayer. He never leaves us without a response. If you haven’t received one yet, wait and keep praying.
  • If something continues to trouble you, pray again. Persevering in prayer is an act of faith.

To Pray:

Lord, I come to speak with You once again. I trust in You, and that’s why I cry out once more for there is no one who can hear me and change my situation but You. Speak to me, answer my prayer. In Your mighty name, amen.

Suggested Reading:

Day Before Yesterday's Devotional

On what does your life depend?

"and that you may love the Lord your God, listen to his voice, and hold fast to him. For the Lord is your life, and he will giveyou many years in the land he swore to give to your fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob."
- Deuteronomy 30:20

Our life, longevity and well-being depend on just one thing: obedience to God. This is the cost of a life in the presence of Jesus. We mustn't forget that our relationship with God is based on love and commitment to his will. If we refuse to obey him, we jeopardise everything that is most important in life.

That was also the cost of living in the Promised Land: obeying the Lord. As much as they thought the Law was rigid, that there were too many rules, or that it was too difficult, the commandments were given to protect and help the people stay on the path.

Likewise, in our lives, God's commandments are good, they guide us and they are for our good. They enable us to live in God's presence and in peace with one another. The life of blessing that God wants to give us is linked to the obedience we give him in love.

The benefits of obedience are far greater

  • Pray and ask God for forgiveness if you have been disobedient to His Word.
  • Reflect: "It is better to obey than to sacrifice" (1 Samuel 15:22)
  • Obeying is a personal decision. Be careful not to follow bad examples and the influence of disobedient people.
  • God doesn't want your harm. On the contrary, obedience to what He determines will be the best thing for you.
  • "We ought to obey God rather than men" (Acts 5:29). Have priorities.

Pray:

Lord God, help me to obey you in everything, whatever the cost. Forgive me when I selectively choosing inwhich areas of life to obey you. I need to be honest and totally faithful to your Word. Help me to cling to you, because my whole life depends on you. In the name of Jesus Christ, I pray and thank you.
Amen!

See also:

What is the Daily Devotional

The Daily Devotional is a special moment of your day that you dedicate to having a precious time of intimacy with God. It is very simple to establish an exciting routine of discovery and spiritual growth. You will achieve this by setting aside a moment each day to draw near to the Lord. During the Devotional, you will read a Bible verse with a meditation on the text. Then, you will meditate on the teachings and how to apply them in your life. In the end, you can pray.

How to do your Daily Devotional

Here are some tips for making the most of reading the Bible message during the Daily Devotional:

  1. Set aside a moment and choose a specific place: your devotional time will be more beneficial if you set aside the hustle and bustle and invest in a pleasant time alone with God.
  2. Read the verse or Bible passage attentively: develop a lifestyle committed to the Word of God every day and avoid distractions.
  3. Read the daily meditation: reflect and try to understand God's purpose for your life through the comments.
  4. Practical application: jot down your findings and don't forget to put into practice everything you have learned through the Bible.
  5. Share what you learned: try to share with people around what God has been teaching you in your moments of daily devotion as you go about your daily conversations and interactions.

Don't forget the importance of living a life fully committed to the Word of God!

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