Devotions

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Breaking the Habit of Isolation
February 18, 2025
by Kelley Brown

“Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts …” Acts 2:46 (NIV)

I like to think of myself as a thoughtful person. I often compose messages in my mind or plan kind gestures but I don’t always follow through. Distraction is often to blame, as I get caught up in the busyness of life or sidetracked by other tasks, and those thoughtful intentions slip away before I act on them.  In today’s fast-paced world, the demands of daily life can make meaningful connections with others seem like a luxury rather than a priority. When we’re overwhelmed by to-do lists and commitments, carving out time for community can feel like one more thing to manage. As a result, isolation can creep into our lives.  We may convince ourselves that we’re too tired, busy or introverted (my No. 1 excuse) to reach out to others. But the truth is that God designed us for connection. When we try to navigate life on our own, we miss out on the joy and depth God gives us in relationships. We were never meant to carry our burdens or celebrate our joys alone.  God’s Word reminds us of the beauty and importance of community. In Acts 2:46, we catch a glimpse of early Christians living out their faith together with joy and shared purpose: “Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts.”

Isolation may feel easier at the moment, but it’s not sustainable or fulfilling. Community is a gift. Together, we find support, accountability and opportunities to grow in our faith.  Like the early Church, we thrive when we gather to share meals, worship together, and support one another when life gets hard. There’s a unique joy that comes from opening our hearts and homes to others, even when it feels vulnerable or inconvenient.  I get it building a community takes effort. It requires us to step out of our comfort zones, prioritize relationships, and be intentional with our time. Maybe you’ve been hurt in the past, or you fear rejection. Perhaps life feels too chaotic to add another commitment. Or the circumstances don’t seem right. Yet God calls us to community not for perfection but for connection. He knows we’re stronger together.  Take a moment to reflect: Where are there opportunities to invite someone into your life?

Could you join a small group at church, host a coffee date, or check in with a friend?

It doesn’t have to be elaborate; a simple act of kindness can open the door to meaningful connection.  In the hustle and bustle of life, carving out time for community isn’t just about needing others but about living the way God designed us to live: together.

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Unstuck and Unstoppable
February 24, 2025
by Brittany Maher

“He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers.” Psalm 1:3 (ESV)

Can I be honest with you?

For a long time, I felt spiritually stuck newly married in a new state, disconnected from friends and hiding to protect myself from fear and failure. I convinced myself that staying small and unseen would protect me from fear, failure and the unknown.  But staying stuck doesn’t keep us safe. It keeps us from participating in the prosperous life God has prepared for us.  Hiding only deepened the ache in my heart. My days of retreating from purpose left me feeling disconnected, inadequate and uncertain. It was like pressing “pause” on my own life. I was paralyzed by the fear of not being enough, of not measuring up.  Amid my struggle, I was drawn to Elijah’s story in Scripture in 1 Kings 19. After a powerful moment with God at Mount Carmel, Elijah fearfully fled to a cave. That hiding place became his refuge but also his prison. Yet God met Elijah in that cave, and in His gentle love, He did the same for me.  God didn’t let my stuck season go to waste. Slowly, He reminded me that He didn’t design me to stay stagnant. He created me to grow, participate and live fully in step with Him. He stirred a longing in my heart to seek Him with fresh intention. But change didn’t happen overnight. It happened through small, faithful, steady steps choices to seek Him daily, to pursue community and to surrender my fears.  Procrastination, overthinking and clinging to comfort can keep us stuck. But God offers a way out of every stagnant place. He wants us to thrive even in the most challenging seasons, like a tree planted by streams of water:  “He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers” (Psalm 1:3).

The key?

Faith and diligence. Hebrews 11:6 reminds us, “He rewards those who diligently search for him” (ISV).

As we intentionally pursue Him, He meets us with faithfulness, strength and direction.  God sees you in your stuck place. He’s gently inviting you to step out of that cave and into the life He’s calling you to. Start small. Ask Him to help you take one step closer to Him and then another.  As we root ourselves in Him through time in His Word and His presence, He strengthens us to flourish. He turns our stuck places into unstoppable purpose for His glory and our good. And that’s the life He has for you.

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Jesus Is Praying for You
February 25, 2025
by Asheritah Ciuciu

“Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them.” Hebrews 7:25 (NIV)

I can’t pray anymore.  I tried, but it felt like my prayers were hitting the proverbial ceiling.  Does God even hear me?

Does He still care?

Perhaps you’ve gone through seasons like that, too, where you’re discouraged by your inability to pray or you feel like you don’t know what to say. Maybe you’ve tried to make a new habit of praying this year, but you keep getting distracted as your thoughts pingpong from prayer to your grocery list to that unpaid bill and it’s so discouraging that you just give up.  Many things keep us from praying. But here’s one good reason to pray anyway: Jesus is praying for and with us.  A few years ago I stumbled on this quote from Robert Murray M’Cheyne: “If I could hear Christ praying for me in the next room, I would not fear a million enemies. Yet distance makes no difference. He is praying for me.”

The first time I encountered that idea, I felt shocked. Really?

Praying for us?

That’s a lovely idea, but that’s not in the Bible is it?

So I searched the Scriptures and was surprised by what I discovered. Hebrews 7:24-25 says: “Because Jesus lives forever, he has a permanent priesthood. Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them” (NIV).

And again in Romans 8:34, the Bible affirms: “Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died more than that, who was raised to life is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us” (NIV).

It seems clear that Jesus is praying for His people every moment of every day.  I don’t know what Jesus is praying, but we glimpse His tender heart in His high priestly prayer in John 17. The Bible also says even in our sorrow, heartache and darkness, and even when we don’t feel Him, Jesus strengthens us and protects us (2 Thessalonians 3:3).

Even when we don’t know what to say, Jesus is praying for us.
Even when we don’t feel like praying, Jesus is praying for us.
Even when we think our prayers don’t make a difference, Jesus is praying for us.

This one conviction has brought such comfort to my heart on hard days: believing Jesus understands what it’s like to be human and He knows exactly what to pray even when we don’t.  So let us confidently approach the throne of grace, knowing Jesus Himself is waiting and praying for you, for me and for us.

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A Fresh Look at Gratitude
February 26, 2025
by Karen Wingate

“give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” 1 Thessalonians 5:18 (NIV)

Early one morning at my local store, I told the checkout clerk, “I’m getting my weekly shopping done before I have to go to work.”

But there was a catch in my spirit as I heard my words.  I have to go to work?

My job is wonderful. That day’s project filled me with excitement. The truth is I get to go to work. So why didn’t I say that?

It’s easy to be thankful for and enthusiastic about the enjoyable parts of life and situations that resolve to our liking. It’s harder when struggles dominate our everyday moments, obstacles and distractions clog our pursuits, or unresolvable situations don’t make sense.  Still, the Apostle Paul instructs us, “Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus” (1 Thessalonians 5:18).

All things is that possible?

Yet Paul said this is God's will for us. When we see life from God’s eternal perspective and find contentment in whatever situation we're in, we discover it’s possible to thank Him for whatever we have.  Paul told his readers in the city of Philippi, “And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise” (Philippians 4:8, NLT).

Focusing on God’s perspective of Truth and meditating on the praiseworthy things of life will help us remember the cluster of blessings nestled within anything we do. For example, I don't have to wash dishes; I have dishes to wash. God has blessed me with food and tableware. I have the physical strength to complete household chores, the means to buy food, and a job that provides support.  Consistent gratitude for everything in my life is still difficult at times. But I'm gaining ground in being joyfully content in all circumstances by changing my perspective about the little things in my daily routine. And I’m taking a second look at the comments I make to others. My pessimistic words to the store clerk could be excused by rationalizing: “I have to” is a common expression. But saying “I get to” more accurately reflects my Christian values and gives me a chance to share my gratitude-laced faith in a winsome way.  Let’s do a word search today on our use of the phrase “have to.” Keep track of how many times you say it. Then tomorrow, do a find-and-replace search, exchanging “I have to” with “I get to.” Watch how it changes the reaction of those who hear your new outlook. Your words just might make it a more grateful day for someone else.