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
When Heaven Breaks Loose
Read: Acts 2:1-13
Suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind. (v. 2)
I invite you to come with me to Jerusalem for the celebration of Pentecost—the ancient Jewish festival celebrating the giving of the Law and the ingathering of the barley harvest. It could not be more festive nor could the streets of Jerusalem and the temple have been more crowded. Josephus, a noted ancient Jewish historian, says that during this annual event there were more than a million people in the holy city. Acts 2 records that people from every nation under heaven were there. This is not a block party for neighbors, it’s Times Square in New York City on New Year’s Eve!
It’s precisely then in the house where the disciples had gathered, waiting, that the wind began to whip violently and fire broke out and rested indiscriminately on them. They all began to speak in other languages so that the people all around them could hear the good news of Jesus in their heart language. This is the DNA of the church, and the DNA of every Christian. We’re not a social club called to merely enjoy one another, we’re a worldwide body whose sole purpose is to witness to the doing, dying, and rising of Jesus Christ until all may hear that Jesus is Lord.
Quoting Emil Brunner, Lesslie Newbigin the great missionary theologian, said, “The church exists by mission, just as a fire exists by burning.” He took his cue from this very passage, and we are called to do the same.
As you pray, ask God to send the Holy Spirit on us!
About the Author
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.
- Tim Brownhttps://www.woh.org/author/tim-brown/
- Tim Brownhttps://www.woh.org/author/tim-brown/
- Tim Brownhttps://www.woh.org/author/tim-brown/
- Tim Brownhttps://www.woh.org/author/tim-brown/

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.

Witnesses
Read: Acts 1:6-11 You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth. (v. 8) When Christians

Loving God
Read: Acts 1:1-5 In the first book, O Theophilus, I have dealt with all that Jesus began to do and teach. (v. 1) I have a friend that I have known since college days. I was once his pastor before

Finding Our Safe Place
Read: Psalm 46 Be still, and know that I am God. (v. 10) Natural disasters are scary. Destroyed homes, loss of life, and the chaos of displacement—experiencing it ourselves is devastating, but even seeing images in the news and on

Lifted Up
Read: Psalm 30 I shall never be moved. (v. 6) Do you remember climbing the first hill on your first rollercoaster ride? You got to the top, and for a moment the world stopped—the ground was a distant memory, and

Staying the Course
Read: Psalm 18:27-42 You equipped me with strength for the battle. (v. 39) For me, long distance running didn’t come easy. I started by walking, and I wasn’t fast. Over time, through many months and years of training, I racked

A United Heart
Read: Psalm 86 Teach me your way, O Lord, that I may walk in your truth; unite my heart to fear your name. (v. 11) The heart is vital to our bodies. In a lifetime of 70 years, it will