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
Holy Boldness
Read: Acts 4:23-31
They were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with boldness. (v. 31)
It took courage in the days of the apostles to speak up for the sake of the gospel, and it’s no different today. Two primary sources of courage are laid bare in this remarkable passage for us today—the power of the Holy Spirit and the company of the faithful.
Under enormous stress from the religious authorities, Peter and the others prayed with tremendous faith, and as a group, they relied on the encouragement of one another. In response, the power of the Holy Spirit was so powerful that it shook the building. Believe it or not, that same power is available to us today.
So here are a couple of action steps for us to take immediately. First, turn to other followers of Jesus to pray together and encourage each other (vv. 23-24). It’s remarkable to me what can happen when we simply stop, look, and listen to someone in need. Second, tell others what Jesus Christ can do for them by first telling them what he has done for you (v. 31). There is enormous power in a humble but forthright testimony. If God has done something gracious and lovely for you, tell someone about it.
Jesus has promised he’ll use our voice and our vision to heal. Let’s put that promise to the test!
As you pray, ask God to fill you with holy boldness.
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.
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
Guilt to Gratitude
Read: Romans 8:27-39 He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? (v. 32) How do you respond to God’s gift of
All Is Well
Read: John 14:18-31 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. (v. 27) Do you ever
Love Your Enemy
Read: Matthew 5:38-48 Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you. (vv. 44-45) In May 2023, violence broke out in the state of Manipur, India. Over the next year, more than 200 Christians were killed, more than 1,000
Under Construction
Read: Philippians 3:12-21 One thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. (vv. 13-14) One Sunday