Pastor Tom's Daily Devotional

Psalms 55:6-7 (NLTSE) Oh, that I had wings like a dove; then I would fly away and rest!  7 I would fly far away to the quiet of the wilderness. There are times in life when we want to do what this Psalm says, and that is to fly away from all our problems and be at rest.  But one thing that we find in life is that when we run from our problems, they seem to never go away.  We might get away from them for a few days, and sometimes even longer, but they always seem to come right back, and at times, worse than they were. So what are we to do if flying away is not the answer?  We need to face our fears and problems, not in our own strength or our own ability, but by God’s Spirit.  Zechariah 4:6 says, “’Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,’ says the LORD of hosts.” We need to face our problems in the strength of our God!  He knows the answer, and He wants to deliver us from all of our fears.  Jesus told us that in this world we wo...

Revelation 3:20 (NKJV) Behold, I stand at the door and knock.  If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me. Can we really take hold of this verse?   Our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, would like to come and sup with us.  When we think of eating with someone, we think of fellowship and sharing with one another, and that is what our Lord is talking about here.  He would like to come and fellowship with us. I once heard someone say that the meaning of the word fellowship is “two fellows in a ship.”  What would two fellows in a ship do?  They would talk, and share, and laugh, especially if they are good friends.  Well, there is no greater friend than Jesus!  So as you hear Him knocking on the door of your heart, open up to Him and let Him in. I guarantee that your life will never be the same! When God comes down in your “cool of the day,” like He did with Adam and Eve, a...

John 10:4-5 (NKJV) And when he brings out his own sheep, he goes before them; and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. 5 Yet they will by no means follow a stranger, but will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers. It is such a great feeling to know that Jesus is our Shepherd, and that we know His voice. Sometimes, we are going through things in our lives, and we wonder, “Do I know His voice?  Am I hearing Him?”  Well, this verse says that His sheep know His voice, and the voice of a stranger they will not follow. The Shepherd's voice is not hard to hear, but many times in our busyness, we are not listening.  God is so patient with us, and He is always guiding us and helping us in our course of life.  Do not get discouraged because you might miss it, or you do not know for sure what to do.  Learn to become more God inside-minded, and as you do, you will hear His voice clearer and clearer. Learn to say this t...

Psalms 16:11 (NKJV) You will show me the path of life; in Your presence is fullness of joy; at Your right hand are pleasures forevermore. God, our Father, has shown us the path to true life.  True life can only come through a relationship with the Father, through Jesus.  This life is so full and so rich, yet so many born-again Christians lose out on it by getting so caught up in the lower life of this world.  This verse says that in God’s presence is fullness of joy.  As we take time to hang out in His presence, it brings such joy and fullness to our being.  God is the One who created us, and He knows what makes us tick. I have found out that what makes me tick is knowing Him, and the only way I can get to know Him is by spending time with Him. Our Heavenly Father yearns for that.  As He came down in the cool of the day to hang out with Adam and Eve, so He wants to come down and spend time with us.  Jesus showed us that the Father now li...

Psalms 34:4 (NKJV) I sought the LORD, and He heard me, and delivered me from all my fears. As we take time to seek the Lord and look to His face, our Father delivers us from our fears.  There are so many fears in this life, and without the Lord’s goodness and His being true to His Word, we would live in torment in our lives.  As we look at this verse today, we see that God did not deliver us out of some of our fears, but He wants to free us from all of our fears.  There are some who would say that this is not possible.  Well, why would God put it in His Word if it were not possible?   For those who say that it is not possible to live without fear, it is not possible for them, because Jesus said that all things are possible to them that believe .  It says in 1 John 4:18, “There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment.  But he who fears has not been made perfect in love.”  A...

Haggai 2:5-9 (NKJV) “’According to the word that I covenanted with you when you came out of Egypt, so My Spirit remains among you; do not fear!' 6 "For thus says the LORD of hosts: 'Once more (it is a little while) I will shake heaven and earth, the sea and dry land; 7 and I will shake all nations, and they shall come to the Desire of All Nations, and I will fill this temple with glory,' says the LORD of hosts. 8 'The silver is Mine, and the gold is Mine,' says the LORD of hosts. 9 The glory of this latter temple shall be greater than the former,' says the LORD of hosts. 'And in this place I will give peace,' says the LORD of hosts.” God, our Heavenly Father, is such a good God.  In these verses, He tells us not to fear, and that He will give us peace.  In these last of the last days that we are living in, God’s glory is going to shine brighter and brighter in those who stay close to Him.  He says that the glory of the latter temple will be g...

2 Corinthians 9:6-9 (NKJV) But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. 7 So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver. 8 And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work. 9 As it is written: "He has dispersed abroad, He has given to the poor; His righteousness endures forever." God, our Heavenly Father, is a Father of generosity.  He has given to us not just what we need, but an overabundance.  He has given to us so much food, so much beauty, so many stars, so many birds, and the list goes on and on.  God wants us to be a generous people.  As we let a spirit of generosity guide our life, it is truly amazing how everything comes together, and we have an overflow of abundance. The Scripture is clear that if we hoard u...

Matthew 22:35-40 (NKJV) 35   Then one of them, a lawyer, asked Him a question, testing Him, and saying, 36   “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?” 37   Jesus said to him, “’You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ 38   “This is the first and great commandment. 39   “And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40   “On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.” Love God!  It sounds easy, until we think of what that means. God tells us that if we love Him, then we will love people.  Now that is where it gets hard!  Oh, it is easy to wake up and say, “Oh Father, I love you.  I love you so much , and my life is yours.  Anything that you ask , I will do.”  Then we hear His still small voice saying, “Ok, go and love so-and-so,” and that is when the challenge begins! You see , people are made in the image ...