I know today’s title may not be an expected devotional title. I truly believe in showing love, grace, hope and friendship to our brothers and sisters serving time in prision. They need a reminder of the love of Christ. They need hope that only Christ can bring. And just like us, our brothers and sisters in prision need the reminder that they have been redeemed and forgiven of their sins through the blood of Jesus Christ.
Hebrews 13:1-3
Living Bible (TLB)
13 Continue to love each other with true brotherly love. 2 Don’t forget to be kind to strangers, for some who have done this have entertained angels without realizing it! 3 Don’t forget about those in jail. Suffer with them as though you were there yourself. Share the sorrow of those being mistreated, for you know what they are going through.
Be strong and courageous, while praising and serving the Lord.
Today, if you haven’t already, focus your attention on things that are good and things that bring you joy. I think about the song by Louis Armstrong entitled, “What a Wonderful World.”There is a lot to be said for what we put our attention toward.
Philippians 4:8
New International Version (NIV)
8 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.
Be blessed today. Rejoice and giving thanks, while praising and serving the Lord. Look for the good today.
1 1-2 I, Paul, together with Silas and Timothy, greet the church of the Thessalonian Christians in the name of God our Father and our Master, Jesus Christ. Our God gives you everything you need, makes you everything you’re to be.
Justice Is on the Way
3-4 You need to know, friends, that thanking God over and over for you is not only a pleasure; it’s a must. We have to do it. Your faith is growing phenomenally; your love for each other is developing wonderfully. Why, it’s only right that we give thanks. We’re so proud of you; you’re so steady and determined in your faith despite all the hard times that have come down on you. We tell everyone we meet in the churches all about you.
5-10 All this trouble is a clear sign that God has decided to make you fit for the kingdom. You’re suffering now, but justice is on the way. When the Master Jesus appears out of heaven in a blaze of fire with his strong angels, he’ll even up the score by settling accounts with those who gave you such a bad time. His coming will be the break we’ve been waiting for. Those who refuse to know God and refuse to obey the Message will pay for what they’ve done. Eternal exile from the presence of the Master and his splendid power is their sentence. But on that very same day when he comes, he will be exalted by his followers and celebrated by all who believe—and all because you believed what we told you.
11-12 Because we know that this extraordinary day is just ahead, we pray for you all the time—pray that our God will make you fit for what he’s called you to be, pray that he’ll fill your good ideas and acts of faith with his own energy so that it all amounts to something. If your life honors the name of Jesus, he will honor you. Grace is behind and through all of this, our God giving himself freely, the Master, Jesus Christ, giving himself freely.
Be blessed, Family. Keep the faith. Continue to encourage and support one another.
Be aware and consumed by the fact that God knows every detail of your life. He knows your secret prayers and your unspoken fears. He knows every plan for you. It is up to us to seek him and draw close to his presence.
Jeremiah 29:11
New International Version (NIV)
11 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosperyou and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
May the Grace and Mercy of God go before you and behind you in all that you do. May we always know that as we grow, in Christ, we learn to extend that grace and mercy to others that was shown so freely to us.
Hebrews 4:16
New International Version (NIV)
16 Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.
The Gospel of Jesus Christ is what we stand on in our faith. If someone asked you what you believe, what will you say?
1 Corinthians 15:1-6
New International Version (NIV)
The Resurrection of Christ
15 Now, brothers and sisters, I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you, which you received and on which you have taken your stand.2 By this gospel you are saved,if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain.
3 For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures,4 that he was buried,that he was raised on the third dayaccording to the Scriptures,5 and that he appeared to Cephas, and then to the Twelve.6 After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers and sisters at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep.
First, thank you, All, so much for your prayer, while I was out sick and recovering. It is the strangest feeling to literally feel the life trying to leave my body.
I know through this devotional that I encounter spiritual warfare. I try to always stay girded up and covered in the Blood of Jesus. This attack on my body was like none I have faced before.
I prayed every day. My husband prayed and I could feel all of your prayers as well. God is faithful to hear us when we cry out to Him. Praise God, I’m here.
Lamentations 3:22-23
New International Version (NIV)
22 Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. 23 They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.
With a great love, serve the Lord with all your heart, mind and soul.
Have you ever said one sentence prayers to God, when you are at your wits end? Whether you say, “Jesus, take the wheel” or “Lord, have mercy on this situation.” Those phrases are that I like to call prayer for help phrases.
When I first heard today’s worship video, I instantly said, “That’s it! Love, take me over!” Listen the words carefully and read the scripture message below. Remember the song and stand on the Word of God. Before emotions take you/us out of our divine nature, call out to God. When a situation is hard and you feel like lashing out or giving up, call out for the divine love of God to take you over.
Philippians 4:4-9
New International Version (NIV)
Final Exhortations
4 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!5 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near.6 Do not be anxious about anything,but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
8 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.9 Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.
Go in peace, while praising and serving the Lord, in Jesus’ mighty name. Amen.
Many of you know how much gospel and contemporary Christian music means to me. However, we have a lot subscribers that are new to Sacred Journey Devotionals. So, every few weeks, I like to share my heart.
Gospel and Christian music are vessels that are used to lift up, edify, encourage, teach, mature and grow the body of Christ. The reason I always attach a video to each devotional is because it will help us remember what we learned and read for the day.
My heart’s desire is for each devotional to be planted in the good soil of our heart. Music helps us remember the thought for the day. It also allows me to showcase different artist from all genres of Christian and Gospel music. You may hear artists that you have never heard before.
My heart is for us to remember that we are all ONE FAMILY IN CHRIST. My desire is that you never forget the foundational truths of the Christian faith. We have a Trinitarian Faith. We believe that God is three persons in one Godhead. We believe in God – The Father, God – The Son, and God – The Holy Spirit. If you are being taught anything different than the Trinity then you are missing the power and truth of Christianity.
Today’s worship song is entitled, “We Believe” by the Newsboys. It is a foundational song of the Christian faith. Every time I hear it, I go back to my childhood in the Lutheran Church (ELCA). We would, as one church, recite aloud the Apostles’s Creed, which declared what we believed as Christians.
Apostles’ Creed Evangelical Lutheran Church of America
I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, God’s only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried; he descended to the dead (hell).* On the third day he rose again; he ascended into heaven, he is seated at the right hand of the Father, and he will come to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic (World Wide/Universal) church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.
May you never be lead astray by anything that does not have its foundation in Jesus Christ as our Lord and Redeemer.
Sacred Journey Devotionals - Where Christianity and Metaphysics Meet 