Holy Bible Online Daily Devotional
A daily devotional to strengthen your relationship with God.
Today's Devotional
Tackling your troubles with obedience
When the wine had run out, Jesus' mother said to him, "They have no more wine.
Jesus replied, "What do we have in common, woman? My hour has not yet come.
His mother said to the servants, "Do whatever he tells you".
John 2:3-5
The hosts were facing a crisis: the party had started, the guests were present, the bride and groom and their families were celebrating, but they had run out of wine. Wine at wedding parties in those days was like cake at our birthday parties: it was essential. Wine symbolized joy, and not having any to offer your guests could appear incredibly disrespectful.
In this story, we read that Mary reacted to this dilemma by turning to Jesus. He responded to her with words of authority as someone might when they know they aren't subject to another person's instructions. He would act at the right time and only according to his Heavenly Father's will. Mary goes on to give the servants the best possible advice, advice that we too should follow: "Do whatever he tells you". The servants obeyed Jesus and witnessed a great miracle: water turned into the finest wine.
Navigate life's challenges by obeying Jesus
- Identify your problem. That's the first step you need to take to solve it.
- Pray to God! Whenever you face a problem, large or small, offer it up to Jesus.
- Trust and wait on him. Submit to God's will and timing. He wants to help you.
- Pursue the Word of the Lord (read it, meditate on it and apply it to your life).
- Obey! Do what He says and you will see Him act in your favour.
Pray:
Lord God, thank you for always helping me through my daily dilemmas... Help me to place all my problems in your hands, trusting that you will do your will in my life, in your own precious time. You are a God of miracles. Teach me to listen to and obey your word, so that I may follow every commandment and instruction that you give. In the name of Jesus, I ask you. Amen!
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!
Day Before Yesterday's Devotional
God is in control!
39 He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm.
40 He said to his disciples, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?”
41 They were terrified and asked each other, “Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!”
Mark 4:39-41
This passage tells of a very interesting situation from the Gospel. Jesus was in a boat with his disciples, crossing the Sea of Galilee to the other shore. Other boats were following him. Jesus must have been tired because he lay down and slept right there in the bow. All of a sudden, a huge storm began, with strong winds and huge waves threatening to swamp the boat they were in, and no doubt the other boats too.
The disciples were desperate! Although many were fishermen and were experts in handling boats in challenging situations, this particular storm was beyond their ability. They feared the worst would happen... In their distress, they might have thought: How can he sleep through this torment? Jesus has power over all things, including the things his friends feared. They cried out to the Master who calmed the storm, and it became calm.
Jesus chose this moment to rebuke his disciples; they had seen him perform so many miracles, including turning water into wine (John 2) and healing a paralyzed man (Mark 2), and yet they still doubted him. In every situation they had seen, Jesus showed that God was in control, and so Jesus wanted his disciples to have faith in him... and he continues to ask his believers today to show the same faith in him.
Trust in Jesus
- Believe that Jesus is all-powerful! His power surpasses the power of nature and all the powers of this world.
- Give control of your life to the Lord Jesus. He is the only one who can take care of you and give you eternal security!
- Don't be afraid of adverse circumstances if Jesus is in control of your life.
- In the storms of life, seek Jesus, knowing that the boat will not sink if he is there!
- Cry out to God who has dominion and power over everything in the universe? He will bring peace to your heart.
- Share the Gospel of the grace of Jesus Christ with others. He is the same yesterday, today and forever.
Pray:
Lord God, thank you for teaching me to trust in you. Your strength can contain nothing and your power can be compared to nothing. Why am I still sometimes afraid of circumstances? You are with me, always... Help me to believe in you! I will cry out to you for help when all seems lost and my heart is troubled. Calm the storm, Lord! Help me to see Your serenity and trust that You are in control of all things. In Jesus' name, amen!
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:
- 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.
- Read the verse or Bible passage attentively: develop a lifestyle committed to the Word of God every day and avoid distractions.
- Read the daily meditation: reflect and try to understand God's purpose for your life through the comments.
- Practical application: jot down your findings and don't forget to put into practice everything you have learned through the Bible.
- 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!