Tuesday, May 14

Ephesians 3:14-21 Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us… (v.20)

Today’s readings are tied together by the theme of power. When Samuel anointed David, we are told that “from that day on the Spirit of the Lord came upon David in power” (1 Samuel 16:13). In Matthew, we see a display of Christ’s power, at whose rebuke even the winds and the waves were stilled. The psalms paint a picture of a sovereign God who is Lord over heaven and earth. Our “King is mighty” (Psalm 99:4) indeed!

In Ephesians, Paul points out that the love of Christ is so astounding that we need power to grasp it! Jesus totally redefined the concept of power, showing us that God’s mighty power is fueled by His outrageous love. We cannot separate God’s power from His love.

Christ’s most powerful act was his triumph over evil and death on the cross, an act of self-emptying love. To the world, this message is foolishness, “but to us who are being saved it is the power of God” (1 Corinthians 1:18). May we grasp this truth and receive it personally today, that our hearts may be set free to love.

1 Samuel 16:1-13a; Psalms 97, 99, 100; Matthew 8:18-27

Wednesday, May 15

Psalm 101 The deeds of faithless men I hate; they will not cling to me… I will have nothing to do with evil. (vv.3b, 4b)

Abraham Lincoln once said, “I remember my mother’s prayers, and they have always followed me. They have clung to me my whole life.” I have something in common with Lincoln’s mother, as so many of us parents do! I, too, want my prayers to cling to my children like a garment, protecting and embracing them.

My oldest son’s birthday is coming up in a few weeks. Please join me as I pray for him with the words of Paul from Ephesians 4:

Lord, I pray that my David will “live a life worthy of the calling” he has received. May he grow to be “completely humble and gentle, bearing with others in love.” May he, in all things, “grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ.”

I pray with the psalmist that “he whose walk is blameless will minister” to all my children (Psalm 101:6b). May they have nothing to do with evil. And, Lord, create over them “a cloud of smoke by day and a glow of flaming fire by night” (Isaiah 4:5). May they remain under the shadow of your wings.

Isaiah 4:2-6; Psalm 109; Ephesians 4:1-16; Matthew 8:28-34

Thursday, May 16

Psalm 105:1-22 Let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice. (v.3b)

I can recall going on a memorable nature hunt with my son, Joshua, when he was very young. We found pinecones, leaves, acorns, rocks, and listened for animal sounds. We saw squirrels, birds, butterflies, bees, and a peculiar crawling insect I had never seen. With each new discovery, we were both so excited! Although we couldn’t find the family of four deer that had recently visited our front yard, the search was so enriching.

Today’s psalm speaks of rejoicing as we seek the Lord, even before we find him. As Joshua and I walked in attentive expectation, all our senses were heightened. We paid attention to every sound and every smell. Things that normally might have been taken for granted became a source of delight, especially as we shared our discoveries.

Our faith walk is so much like this nature hunt. Our God is incomprehensible. But as we seek Him earnestly, we get glimpses of His goodness and His love. As we seek our Lord, we find Him—sometimes in unexpected ways. And as we share our journey with others we rejoice, realizing that He is the treasure we seek.

Zechariah 4:1-14; Ephesians 4:17-32; Matthew 9:1-8

Friday, May 17

Psalm 102 But you, O Lord, sit enthroned forever; your renown endures through all generations. (v.12)

How blessed is the psalmist, who was able to focus on God in the midst of his affliction. A crucial transition takes place between verses 11 and 12. The word “but” brings hope out of utter despair. It’s amazing how quickly negativity can consume us, if we allow it. This often starts with one seemingly innocent thought that is not submitted in obedience to Christ (see 2 Corinthians 10:5). If we’re blessed to recognize the downward spiral being built thought by thought, an act of the will can stop the construction process. When we choose to focus on God’s sovereignty rather than our fears, everything changes.

We are told in Romans 12:2 to be “transformed by the renewing of (our) minds”. One great way to do this is by memorizing Scripture; another is praise. Paul exhorts us to “Sing and make music in (our) heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything…” (Ephesians 5:19-20) This is a simple yet often elusive key to contentment, joy, and peace. Praise is a powerful balm unto our souls, as it keeps us in communion with God and joined to the host of angels who forever praise him.

Let us praise the Lord who sits enthroned forever, and let us build him a throne in our hearts.

Jeremiah 31:27-34; Ephesians 5:1-20; Matthew 9:9-17

Saturday, May 18

Psalm 108 I will awaken the dawn. I will praise you, O Lord, among the nations; I will sing of you among the peoples. (vv.2b-3)

Years ago, I attended a Cursillo retreat that changed my life. Since then, I often awaken in the middle of the night singing praises to the Lord. It’s as if my spirit has been awake singing to God while the rest of me sleeps. What a glorious gift! This has been one of many “showers of blessing” (Ezekiel 34:26) that I’ve received since knowing Jesus.

Praise has transforming power. I’m not talking about insincere flattery. I’m talking about honoring, applauding, paying tribute to our Creator for who He is and what He has done. Praise is full of life. It regenerates, renews; it waters the garden of our soul as it magnifies the Lord.

I love the imagery in today’s verse. I visualize our praises ascending to heaven as incense. As they join those of the choir of angels that forever sing “Holy, holy, holy,” God’s light pierces the darkness as if to say: “Remember you have already been conquered.” The praises of humans and angels alike join mysteriously to awaken the dawn by praising the Maker of the dawn. And, yes, our praise can also awaken the dawn within our weary souls, bringing light out of darkness.

Praise the Lord, oh, my soul; praise the Lord!

Ezekiel 36:22-27; Psalm 107:33-43; Ephesians 6:10-24; Matthew 9:18-26

Sunday, May 19

Deuteronomy 16:9-12 Count off seven weeks from the time you begin to put the sickle to the standing grain. (v.9 ESV)

On this Church festival day in 1770, British Navy Captain James Cook sailed into a beautiful 74-island group, the Whitsundays, near the Great Barrier Reef in Australia, and named the islands after the occasion. The term “White Sunday,” used in England, refers to the baptismal garments worn by those who entered the church at this time. The other popular color of the day is red, a reference to the tongues of fire that appeared above those who were baptized in the Holy Spirit seven weeks after the resurrection of Jesus on Easter Sunday.

Jesus revealed the universal change to the world’s segregated habits that his arrival foreshadowed when he told the Samaritan woman, “The hour is coming when neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem will you worship the Father.” Neither red nor white, Northern Hemisphere nor South, would define the encounter the Father sought with those who were created in His Image. The Son came to rescue all. And the Holy Spirit would be poured out on all mankind, to the farthest corners of the world.

Psalm 118; Acts 4:18-21, 23-33; John 4:19-26

Monday, May 20

Proverbs 3:11-20 Nothing you desire can compare with her. (v.15b)

Jay Rosenblatt took home movies with his daughter on her birthday every year from age 2 to 17, the year she was leaving home for college. He asked her the same questions each year. The short documentary, How Do You Measure a Year, shows Ella growing by stages from being a giggling child, a spunky tomboy, an unhappy teenager, to a serious but shy high school senior. As she meets the ongoing string of life expectations, older viewers who have been there and done that can only groan sympathetically. Frustrations arise when we use the wrong desires, out of order, to set our agendas. Having a patient dad who loves you is priceless.

Our ears are sensitive to the world we walk through, but they can’t respond to ice cream. Our eyes don’t care what music is pleasing our ears. The collector of Proverbs warns that, in a clutter of life desires, nothing is as valuable as God’s direction and wisdom. Having a loving Father who gladly shares that with us is priceless.

Psalms 1, 2, 3; 1 John 3:18—4:6; Matthew 11:1-6

Tuesday, May 21

Psalm 5 Make your way straight before me. (v.8b)

The week I was writing these daily devotions, I was also wrestling with computer monitor problems. Suddenly I could only get a small, old-style “narrow” image on the screen instead of a proper, full “wide screen” display. I tinkered to my shallow technical limits. I went online ordering 3 or 4 new parts one at a time. Nothing resolved the problem. Computer user group readers suggested that I might need a whole new (not cheap) video card. The first one I got didn’t fit. The second one worked only after a kind tech friend came by to look things over. The whole DIY “try this, try that” process took two weeks.

What I do know about computers is that these complicated, ingenious devices are designed to connect and work one, intended, right way. Any alternative choices I may try, no matter how shiny the ideas seem, won’t work for long, if at all. When I have a problem, I save time by asking for the manufacturer’s directions first and then doing that. People always tell me that. They’re right.

Proverbs 4:1-27; Psalm 6; 1 John 4:7-21; Matthew 11:7-15