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Words of Hope 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. The devotional is available in your email and in print.

Thy Will Be Done

Read: John 6:35-40

For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me. (v. 38)

As every parent soon learns, children develop a will of their own. It happens early, often during a time we sometimes call “the terrible twos.”

An essential part of our surrender to God is the surrender of our will. The best example of this is Jesus. He came not to seek or do his own will but the will of his father. This is precisely what our attitude must be: to do not our will but God’s.

We cannot be God’s children if we don’t submit to his will. Only when we submit to his will can we gladly and fully accomplish it. The Lord’s Prayer includes the petition “Your will be done” (Matt. 6:10). This is a statement of surrender: to do his will even if it “interferes” with our own will (and to do so without stubbornly dragging our feet).

But in order to say “Yes” to God’s will, we must know what his will for our lives is. We do this by studying his Word and listening to his voice. Romans 12:2 encourages us to be transformed by the renewing of our minds, “that by testing [we] may discern what is the will of God.”

As we surrender our will to him, we can grow in understanding his will. Then we may obediently follow and fulfill it.

As you pray, ask God to do his will in your life.

About the Author

Jessica Heikoop was a writer and editor from Ontario, Canada. Beloved by her family and community, she died in 2013 at the age of 31.

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Miraculous Compassion

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Claimed by Jesus

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Believing Is Seeing

Read: Mark 5:21-23, 35-43 Taking her by the hand he said to her, “Talitha cumi,” which means, “Little girl, I say to you, arise.” (v. 41) We sometimes believe we must have some extraordinary “amount” of faith for God to work

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Healing Follows Forgiveness

Read: Matthew 9:1-8 But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins . . . (v. 6) There are times in my life when I’ve had to forgive someone who hurt me. There are other times

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A Miracle of Deliverance

Read: Mark 5:1-15 They came to Jesus and saw the demon-possessed man . . . sitting there, clothed and in his right mind, and they were afraid. (v. 15) Have you ever felt divided against yourself, unable to accept constraint, even wanting to end

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