Daily Devotional
The Words of Hope Devotional is a non-profit, donor-supported publication whose goal is to encourage readers to grow in faith through the practice of daily Bible reading and prayer.
Honoring God in the Ordinary
Read: 1 Corinthians 10:31–11:1
So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. (v. 31)
We tend to segment our service to God. That is, we think, When I volunteer at the soup kitchen, then I am honoring God. And of course that’s true. But you don’t just honor God when you work at the soup kitchen. You also honor God when you work in your own kitchen. Every daily duty, every task, can and should be done as a gift to God. In Sunday worship, people put their gifts in the offering plate. But that’s just money, and it’s all God’s money to begin with.
Everything we do can be considered an offering unto God—the way you do your job, the way you tend your garden, the way you handle sickness. I can remember, when I was a boy, how my mother would say that one’s posture—simply the way you sit or stand—is done to the glory of God. At the time I thought that was a preposterous idea. But increasingly, as the years have gone by, I’ve thought that Mom was right. “Whatever you do, do all to the glory of God,” said Paul.
On your next visit to the Lotz home be sure to notice the painted wooden plaque that hangs on the wall in the kitchen: “Fulfill each daily duty as beneath the eye of God . . . Simply, Zealously, Cheerfully, Completely.” Think about that. And sit up straight. —Lou Lotz
As you pray, be mindful that we honor God in life’s ordinary tasks.
When It Seems Hopeless
Read: Habakkuk 3:16-19; Isaiah 43:1-3 . . . yet I will rejoice in the LORD; I will take joy in the God of my salvation. (v. 18) In the transitions of life, we often experience loss. Perhaps you have experienced
Transitioning with Perseverance
Read: Romans 5:1-5; Philippians 3:13-14 Suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope. (Rom. 5:3-4) When you find yourself experiencing a life transition, do you try to move through it as quickly as possible? It’s easy to
Transitioning with Prayer
Read: 1 Peter 5:6-11 Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. (v. 7 NIV) It’s not uncommon to ask God for help after trying to handle a situation on your own. Think about the difference it
Loving Others amidst Hardship
Read: Romans 12:9-21 Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. (v. 10) I am writing these devotionals in early 2021, and at this time COVID-19 vaccines are in the early stages of distribution. There is
Openness to God at Work
Read: Acts 15:1-21 We should not make it difficult for the Gentiles who are turning to God. (v. 19 NIV) By nature, most people want to be comfortable and feel safe. Likewise, our tendency to return to the past is
Keep Moving Forward
Read: Numbers 14:1-4 “Let us choose a leader and go back to Egypt.” (v. 4) It’s common to reminisce and yearn to go back to the “good old days.” A grown adult may wish they could play high school sports
Transitioning with Mercy
Read: Genesis 45:1-15, 50:15-21 “As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today. So do not fear; I will provide
Never Separated from God
Read: Genesis 39:1-4, 20-23; Romans 8:37-39 The LORD was with Joseph, and he became a successful man, and he was in the house of his Egyptian master . . . the LORD was with him and . . . caused
Reasons We Experience Transitions
Read: Genesis 37 But when his brothers saw that their father loved him more than all his brothers, they hated him. (v. 4) “Why?” is a question people often ask when they face transitions in life, particularly painful ones. Despite