Daily Audio Devotion

Before I Knew God ...

November 25, 2024 • Lori Hatcher • Proverbs 19:21, Isaiah 46:10, Job 42:2

When I was 18 years old, I had to decide where to go to college and what to study. I opened a career catalog, read the job descriptions, and chose Dental Hygiene. For 40 years, I’ve worked in this profession, through my children’s early years, during our homeschooling journey, alongside my professional writing career, and now, as I help care for my parents and grandkids. The Holy Spirit didn’t bring me to faith in Christ until after I’d chosen my career, but I know God guided my decision. He led me into a profession that has allowed me to accomplish everything he’s called me to do while providing a reliable part-time income. As a Christian, I want to seek God for every decision, but I’m comforted to know that even before I knew God, he knew me and was ordering the circumstances of my life for good.

We Wish to See Jesus

November 24, 2024 • Jeremy Klaustermeier • John 12:21, Hebrews 12:1–3, Psalm 96

I’ll never forget the first time I saw the words, “Sir, we wish to see Jesus” etched in metal plates on the pulpit at our church. At first it struck me as quite odd, but as I’ve been a pastor now for many years, it makes perfect sense. As I get tempted to spend the precious few minutes I have in that pulpit talking about the latest trend or railing against the latest thing that offends, the Lord brings me back to those words. All of us, as Christians, need to have our hearts and minds refixed on this same request that the people made to Philip that day. We need to show people and tell people of Jesus, because he is what matters, and he alone is the way of salvation.

Tense Times

November 23, 2024 • Ed Grube • Psalm 90:1, Psalm 90:1–6, Matthew 24:36

Time sometimes makes us tense. There always seems a need to be somewhere on schedule. Some cultures are much less compelled by time. Languages operate by tenses. Some count it vital. (Like the astronaut adjusting to connect with the space station.) Does God ever let time get in the way of his loving us? Does he ever miss an “appointment?” God has his own time zone. He is the God of time, no matter what time it is or will be. Don’t get tense about your salvation. God has always been on time to take us to heaven. Remember “For while we were still weak ... Christ died for the ungodly ... while we were still sinners, Christ died for us (Romans 5:6-8).

God’s Perfect Timing

November 22, 2024 • Harriet Monn Stennfeld • Isaiah 65:24, Psalm 50:15, Luke 11:9

A friend recently wrote me that she had been sitting in her doctor’s office waiting for her scheduled appointment when she suddenly had a heart attack. Some might see that as convenient, a remarkable coincidence, or a lucky break. As Christians, we recognize it as God’s perfect timing. She was grateful, looking back later, that she was in a place where immediate help was available from medical personnel who knew what to do. We may not always experience such a quick response to our problems and/or prayers, but God is always there to help — in his time and in his way. All we need to do is ask. Pray! Pray! And give thanks!!

Changing Seasons

November 21, 2024 • Marilyn Nutter • Ecclesiastes 3:1, Lamentations 3:21–23, James 1:5

Over a cup of coffee, Lyn sighed, “I’m making a seasonal readjustment. It’s not just holidays, temperature changes, and different clothes, but a mental readjustment.” As we talked, she wondered what life would look like as the year ended and a new one began. We often become overwhelmed as we turn pages on a calendar. As the months and seasons change, so do we. Our interests and health change. We decline some activities and perhaps new opportunities emerge. Friends move away. Grandchildren leave home. But in change, we can be certain God is present and has a “future and a hope for us” (Jeremiah 29:11). He promises to lead us and remain faithful. “For great is his steadfast love toward us, and the faithfulness of the LORD endures forever (Psalm 117:2).

As I Get Older

November 20, 2024 • Don Luepke • Proverbs 1:5, Psalm 25:4, 2 Timothy 3:7

How do you feel as you “get older?” What changes do you experience as “you age?” Now, wait a moment. As near as I can tell, I’ve been “getting older” since the day I was born. That’s simply the process; that’s how it works! It is a matter of how you approach that query; of how you approach life. Is every day seen as an adventure? As a great opportunity to explore the boundaries of new experiences? To use the gifts that the Lord has poured out on you? Many years ago, instead of ending my letters to people with “Sincerely,” I changed it to, “Always growing in Jesus!” In my octogenarian years, I have been gifted time to explore new hobbies and ventures; time to study the Bible and how it gives powerful meaning to life. Such a blessing!

Always With You

November 19, 2024 • Sarah Geringer • John 14:26, 1 Corinthians 6:19, John 14:16

Wouldn’t it be wonderful to have a helper with you 24/7? I could have used an extra pair of human hands with my busy four-year-old, my potty-training two-year-old, and my nursing newborn. Even with my children being much older now, I’d love to have a constant helper for all I do. The good news is that we always have our Helper — the Holy Spirit. Jesus promised he would send this Helper to us once he was in heaven. The Holy Spirit is with us 24/7, comforting us and guiding us. He leads us into all biblical truth and helps us understand God’s ways. The Holy Spirit is so much better than an extra pair of human hands. He lifts up our hearts every time we turn to him for strength. He redeems our present with his constant presence.

In Ages Past

November 18, 2024 • Eileen Ritter • Psalm 37:25, Psalm 90, 2 Timothy 1:3–7

Confined to a nursing home due to her advanced dementia, my grandmother seemed to be reverting further and further into her early years, even lapsing into the German language she had not spoken for eight decades. As my mother prepared her for bed one evening, Grandma closed her eyes and prayed, “Ich bin klein, mein Herz ist rein ...”, the prayer she had learned as a little girl. What a beautiful picture of a Christian life! As a child redeemed by Jesus’ blood, she had received faith at her baptism long ago. Taught by Christian parents, pastors, and teachers, she had grown in that faith for 86 years, kept faithful and faith-filled by the Holy Spirit. Now, as death approached, she rested securely in the faith that had sustained her.

Is God Still Around?

November 17, 2024 • Celeste Cummins • Job 38:4, Psalm 90:1–2, Deuteronomy 33:27

There are people who believe in the Big Bang Theory, which maintains there was a large fireball floating around that exploded one day — and poof — the world began. Others believe that God created the world, but then disappeared to let it run on its own. However, believers contend that God created the world and is still active in it today. Job had no answers to all of the Lord’s questions to him. As a human, Job, nor us, can answer how God created and still sustains the world. Yet, God’s presence is everywhere from the tiniest blossom on the spring trees to the amazing and miraculous details of conception and birth. God has always been in the world — and he continues to be through eternity!

Is Your Future Tense?

November 16, 2024 • Neal A. Orabka • Matthew 5:6, Matthew 5:3–12, Matthew 6:25–34

The future is any time after right now. It is a year or two away, it is tomorrow. The one sure thing about the future is that it shall come. The Beatitudes speak about the future. Each verse expresses a future hope. Sometimes it’s implied, but usually it’s clearly stated in the words, “they shall.” Before we reach the future there’s the present. People grieve, are treated unfairly, deal with many worries or difficult problems. The present can be very tense. Jesus’ message to any tense one is, “There is a future. You have one with me. You see glimpses of the future when you are comforted, when mercy is granted you, when your faith is acknowledged. The future is coming, and it will be very good.” Today your future might be tense. But because of our Lord’s willingness to be present with you, your future is also assured.

What If?

November 15, 2024 • Clare Hilgendorf • Matthew 28:20, Joshua 1:5, Isaiah 43:2

Two young boys were playing with their trucks in the dirt in front of the garage. Unaware of their presence, a man entered the garage from a back door, got into the car, and started backing out. Screams brought the car to a halt, but not before leaving tire marks on the forehead of the younger boy. That little guy survived the scary moment, grew up, and became my husband and the driver, my father-in-law. Often, after events like this, we think, “What if WE had done this, or WE had not done that?” I prefer to think, “What if GOD had not been present at that minute?” We’ve all known fear at times, but our God has promised to be with us always. Believe it!

Little by Little

November 14, 2024 • Dave Ebeling • Deuteronomy 7:22, Psalm 31, Isaiah 25

“Dear Lord, I need healing NOW.” It’s our sinful human nature that tends to make demands. It’s God’s nature to give us opportunities to practice patience. He says his grace is sufficient for us. As the desert dwellers of 40 years were about to enter the Promised Land, Moses preached a pretty long sermon, recounting the key events of the time since their forefathers left Egypt. Read the whole account in Deuteronomy 6:1-10:5. He reminded them that, as they will next have to defeat the powerful heathen nations that were living there, God’s promises are always fulfilled. But, he warned, “The Lord your God will clear away these nations before you little by little.” God’s timing is often not our timing. So, we watch for the little blessings, thanking God that he is gracious and merciful as we await his coming.

Open 24 Hours

November 13, 2024 • Lynne Waite Chapman • Hebrews 4:16, Jeremiah 1:5, James 1:5–6

Life is stressful. Recently I was faced with a decision that would affect my future. No one could make the choice for me. But as I sat contemplating the answer, I was reminded that I am not alone in it. The weight of the question didn’t rest fully on me. My Lord stands waiting for me to ask, and he will answer. The promise pinged in my memory. “I am with you always” (Matthew 28:20). And “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God” (Philippians 4:6). What a blessing.

The God We Know

November 8, 2024 • Katherine Klemp • Luke 8:24–25, Luke 8:22–25, Psalm 23

A valid question. The disciples knew Jesus well. They had listened as he opened scripture to them. They had seen him heal great numbers of people. They stood witness as he cast out demons. He raised a widow’s son from the dead. What part of his limitless and loving care for people didn’t they get? Whenever you’re faced with new fears and challenges, look back. How many years have you walked with Jesus? How many blessings has he bestowed on your life? When has he let you down? This simple review will show his obvious presence and care over the years and upholds our faith in the One who always loves and cares.

To Remember or Forget

November 7, 2024 • Ken Holdorf • Job 17:11, 1 Peter 2:10, Ephesians 2:1–10

No doubt there are times in your past that you would like to forget. But what does God want you to remember about the past? Job had a lot of things in his past that he wanted to forget. God wanted Job to remember these words recorded in Job 19:25, “I know that my redeemer lives, and that in the end he will stand upon the earth.” God wants you to remember what he did in the past — that he sent Jesus to be your Redeemer through his death on the cross as the sacrifice for your sin, and to remember that Jesus rose from the dead on the third day to give you the assurance of life everlasting. That’s the good news of the past that is still the good news of the present.

Hope-Full Living

Daily devotions for living life to the fullest!