Words of Hope Daily Devotional
START EVERY DAY WITH HOPE
Get the Words of Hope Devotional and get daily encouragement to love God, read His Word, and meet with Him in prayer. Available in print and email.
START EVERY DAY WITH HOPE
Get the Words of Hope Devotional and get daily encouragement to love God, read His Word, and meet with Him in prayer. Available in print and email.
THE DEVOTIONAL IS AVAILABLE IN YOUR EMAIL AND IN PRINT.
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.
DINNER WITH JESUS
Breakfast on the Beach
The Power of His Name
Read: Acts 3:11-26
And his name—by faith in his name—has made this man strong whom you see and know. (v. 16)
Many years ago, during my time at Western Seminary, I was blessed to have an office next to Dr. Stan Rock. One morning, he stopped by my office and asked me how I was doing. I said disingenuously, “I’m just fine.” It wasn’t true. A merciless cancer was taking my dad’s life one painful day after another. Stan said to me, “Look at me.” When I did, he said, “Well, you don’t look very good. What’s wrong?” I began to weep and told him everything on my heart. And somewhere in the midst of my telling, my heart began to open to God’s healing presence.
There is a verse in Proverbs that ripples with hope and is a fitting commentary on our passage today: “The name of the LORD is a strong tower; the righteous run into it and are safe” (Prov. 18:10 NRSV). Isn’t that precisely what happens in the beauty of Solomon’s Portico and what Peter points to in our reading today? In the name of Jesus, Peter commanded a man lame from birth first to look at him, and then to take up his mat and walk. It wasn’t Peter’s power that did it (v. 12), but healing was possible because Peter stopped and looked, and then called on the name of Jesus.
You and I have our Father’s eyes. Look at the people that God brings to you today, and invite Jesus to work in their lives.
As you pray, ask God to open your eyes to the people around you.
Dr. Timothy Brown is the Henry Bast Professor of Preaching and President Emeritus at Western Theological Seminary where he served from 1995-2021. Tim continues to actively coach and encourage former students and pastors who seek help in their preaching life and he has become a certified public school substitute teacher so that he can continue investing in the lives of young people. He is married to Nancy and together they have three children and ten grandchildren.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Rev. First Last
David Bast is a writer and pastor who served for 23 years as the President and Broadcast Minister for Words of Hope. In his more than 40 years of devotional writing and preaching, he has been encouraging believers around the world to be shaped by God and his Word.
Prior to his ministry and work at Words of Hope, Dave served as a pastor for 18 years in congregations in the Reformed Church in America. A graduate of Hope College and Western Theological Seminary, he is the author of nine devotional books and Bible studies, including Why Doesn’t God Act More Like God, Christ in the Psalms, and A Gospel for the World.
Dave and his wife, Betty Jo, have four children and eight grandchildren. Dave enjoys reading, growing tomatoes, and avidly follows the Detroit Tigers.
Not Alone
Read: Psalm 34 The LORD is near to the brokenhearted. (v. 18) When I was 21, I was diagnosed with a mental illness. The diagnosis stung. I knew God created me, yet I was ashamed. I prayed, but I couldn’t
The God Who Keeps Us
Read: Psalm 121 My help comes from the LORD. (v. 2) When my son was eight weeks old, he stopped breathing. After dozens of hospitalizations and through the passing years, I still find myself afraid for him. I still find
The Silence and Salvation of God
Read: Psalm 22 Remember and turn to the LORD. (v. 27) When I was seven years old, my father abandoned me after my parents divorced, but I couldn’t stop loving him or longing for him. Many of us feel similarly
How Long, O Lord?
Read: Psalm 13 I have trusted in your steadfast love. (v. 5) There have been times in my life when I felt deep despair. It felt like the world was crushing me, like everything was more difficult than it should
Joy to the World
Read: Psalm 98 Make a joyful noise to the LORD, all the earth; break forth into joyous song and sing praises! (v. 4) Every year at Christmas, we sing the lyrics “Joy to the world, the Lord is come!” Two
Biblical not Textual
Read: Luke 24:13-35 Beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself. (v. 27) A pastor in a rural village in India took the Word of God very seriously and