Daily Devotional

Southside Church of God - GA

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Daily Devotional

God Promises Protection

November 22, 2024

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God Promises Protection

“I will never leave you nor forsake you.”

—Hebrews 13:5, NKJV

Never doubt that you are in the midst of a battle—a spiritual battle with Satan, who will do everything he can to discourage and defeat you. Never underestimate his determination or misunderstand his intentions.

God wants to teach us how to defend ourselves against sin and Satan. Satan, the ultimate bully, attacks us at our weakest points and wants to defeat us so that we will not be effective for God.

God offers spiritual “training” to build us up inside in much the same way that physical exercise can build us up on the outside. He has also provided all the resources we need to defend ourselves and keep Satan at bay. These include the Bible, prayer, faith, righteous living, and the Holy Spirit within us.

But, like physical training, we must be diligent in their application. God has not promised to shield us from trouble, but He has promised to protect us in the midst of trouble. Most of all, never forget that because of Christ’s death and resurrection, Satan is already a defeated foe—and someday the war will be over.

Hope for Today

Satan loves to be underestimated. He would love for believers to view him as a harmless cartoon character. Scripture paints a very different picture. We must be on guard for the enemy who seeks to devour.

Daily Devotional

November 26, 2024

The Blessing of Burdens “The Lord has comforted his people and will have compassion on his suffering ones.” Isaiah, 49:13, NRSVUE Comfort and prosperity have never enriched the world as much as adversity. Out of pain and problems have come the sweetest songs, the most poignant poems, the most gripping stories, and inspiring lives. Yet it is hard to think about this when troubles overwhelm us or uncertainty and fear grip our hearts. Our problems are real, and it is difficult in the heat of the moment to think of anything else. In my travels over the years, I have often visited Switzerland and gone soaring above the countryside on chair lifts high in the Alps. Looking down we can see almost a carpet of wild flowers, some of the most beautiful in the world. Only a few months before, those plants were buried under heavy snow. Yet that snow prepared the way for their growth—providing them with water, and even insulating them from the winter winds. Our burdens can be like that snow, preparing the way for something beautiful once the winter is past. Hope for Today When have you felt closer to the Lord: times of prosperity or times of pain? Scripture says that God is close to the broken-hearted. Whatever your trial, ask God to make His presence known in the midst of it.

Daily Devotional

November 25, 2024

Goaded “The words of the wise are like goads, and like nails firmly fixed are the collected sayings; they are given by one Shepherd. My son, beware of anything beyond these.” Ecclesiastes 12:11–12 ESV Left to their own devices, oxen often wander in the wrong direction. One time-honored way of keeping them on track was through a goad. These sharp-pointed sticks get their attention and help them move in the right direction. The Bible uses the goad as a picture of the way God works in our lives. There are times when we want to go our own way or drift in the wrong direction. We sometimes draw wrong conclusions or think wrong thoughts. These are times when we might need a goad. The Bible says that the words of the wise are like goads. They can get our attention and point us in the right direction. God often acts like a goad in our lives. He can act to spur us on and provide correction, so we look at life in new ways and correct our mistakes. God gave us His Word because He wants us to understand His principles and experience the fullness of His blessings. He wants us to think His thoughts, be filled with His Spirit, have discernment, grow in our faith, and become more like Jesus. This can mean changing in some ways, so we are alert to deceptive ideas that can tempt and mislead us. If you feel stretched or challenged, God may be goading you. Let Him speak to you to be sure you are on the right path. Reflection Question: Have you felt God prodding you in a different direction lately?

Daily Devotional

November 24, 2024

Beyond the Starry Sky “We are looking for the city that is to come.” Hebrews 13:14, NRSVUE Paul looked forward to death with great anticipation. He said, “For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain” (Philippians 1:21). Death for him was not an enemy to be feared, but a reality to be welcomed, in God’s time. For him death was the joyous gateway to new life—the life of Heaven. Without the resurrection of Christ there could be no hope for the future. The Bible promises that someday we are going to stand face-to-face with the resurrected Christ. All our questions will be answered, and all our sorrows and fears will vanish. An old gospel hymn puts it well: Face to face with Christ my Savior, Face to face, what will it be? When with rapture I behold Him, Jesus Christ who died for me? Face to face I shall behold Him, Far beyond the starry sky; Face to face in all His glory I shall see Him by and by. —Carrie E. Breck Hope for Today Death, for a Christian, is not an end. It’s a celebration, a chance to see loved ones, heroes of the faith, and Jesus. To die truly is gain.