Pastor Tom's Daily Devotional

Colossians 3:1-2 (NKJV) If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. 2 Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. When we read a verse like this, it should make us say, “Wow!  So that is how God sees me.  He sees me raised with Him.”  It should make it so much easier to set our minds on things above, and not on things of this earth. Each day, as you go about your daily tasks, keep God on your mind, and you will see that whatever things come your way, through Him, you will be able to do them, and enjoy them! All things do work out for the good of those who set their minds on the King.  Brother Lawrence, a monk who wrote the book "Practicing the Presence of God,” said, “I have found that the shortest way to God is to go straight to Him.” It sounds so simple, and you know what, it is!  It is when you set your mind on Him, when you think about Him and H...

Romans 1:16 (NKJV) For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. What would we do without the Gospel?  It is through the Gospel that we receive eternal life.  The Gospel is God’s power to us in our lives.  The word "salvation" means deliverance, safety, preservation, healing, and soundness.  In this Gospel of salvation, there is not only forgiveness of sins, but there is safety, healing, soundness of mind, life, and the promise that God preserves us unto good things.   What an amazing Father we have Who has given us so much!  As we learn His Word and His ways, we see all the good that He has set in order for us to live the victorious life in Christ Jesus.  God could have so easily said, “I have provided salvation through Jesus so you will live for eternity,” but He gave us that, plus all things that we would need to live a blessed lif...

John 14:1-4 (NKJV) Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. 2 In My Father's house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. 4 And where I go you know, and the way you know. In this second verse, Jesus said that in our Heavenly Father’s house are many mansions, and that He is going back to prepare one for us.  Oh, the goodness of God!  He did not just make a few dwelling places, but many dwelling places!  There is a place being made today for you and for me, and He is making it special just for us! Can you imagine that?  The great architect of all times is making a special place for us to live in throughout all eternity!  It is a place where every desire or want that we would ever have for a home is fulfilled.  It is a...

John 14:1-4 (NKJV) Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. 2 In My Father's house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. God does not want our lives to be filled with trouble, stirred up, or agitated.  He wants us to have a peaceful life; a life filled with His goodness and His presence. Our God is a God of peace, and He wants His kids to have a life of peace.  Peace is that assurance that no matter what life might throw at us, we know that God will work it all out for His good.  You see, life and the devil can bring some pretty rotten things our way, but the Father who is all love, who has no evil or bad within Him whatsoever, will always give you a way of escape. The enemy comes to steal our joy, but our Heavenly Father has come to gi...

Psalms 25:14 (TLB) Friendship with God is reserved for those who reverence Him. With them alone He shares the secrets of His promises. As children, we used to run around and say, “I know a secret, I know a secret!”  Well, God has special things that He holds for special people.  Our Father wants to reveal them to those whose hearts are right with Him. You see, a secret is shared only with close friends.  I do not go and share my inner thoughts with just anybody.  No, I share them with true friends. And you know what? Those that have a respect and love for the Father, and that give Him that special place in their hearts, are friends of God, and He shares His inner thoughts with them. Jesus said that He does not call us servants anymore, but He calls us friends.  So, as a friend of God, are we taking time each day to listen to His voice as He reveals His mysteries to us?  God’s secrets are revealed to those who reverence Him.  They are re...

Psalms 8:3 (NKJV) When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, the moon and the stars, which You have ordained. Yesterday, we brought out how God made all of this for His creation, humanity.  Have you ever stopped to wonder why everything God makes is so extreme?  You may ask, “What do you mean by that?”   Well, look at the sky.   God could have made enough stars to surround the earth, but no!  He made enough stars to surround the universe.  They say that there are stars that are billions and billions of light-years away!   A light-year is approximately 186,000 miles per second, so can you even imagine how far away the are, and how many stars there are?  Look at the trees.  He could have made a few varieties, but not our Heavenly Father!  He made thousands of different types of plants and trees.  He made big ones and small ones .  He made ones with lots of color , and some with one color....