Encouraging Words Devotional

Waiting On God

Some people say, “All roads lead to God, so it doesn’t matter which religion you follow so long as you’re seeking God.”  But a famous prophet in Old Testament times strongly disagreed. He declared that the God of the Bible is different from all other gods.  He asserted that no other god exists who acts on behalf of the one who believes in Him.

How To Thank God

When we lived in Asia, one of the surprises was that when we gave someone a gift, that person might or might not say the words, "Thank you."  Since saying "Thank you" is such an automatic response in the western world, I was uncomfortable when I didn't hear those words of response.  Did the person not like the gift?  Did I choose the wrong time to give her the gift? Or was it wrapped in the wrong color of paper?

He Wants The Very Best For You!

A young woman in her twenties commented to me that she really has no choice but to obey God, because when she doesn’t obey Him, she is the loser. Actually, she’s right.  At a young age she had figured out the very important principle that God’s will, as difficult as it may be, is always the best for us. 

How To Stop Gossip

"A bit of juicy gossip is very satisfying," says wise King Solomon. The Living Bible puts it this way: "What dainty morsels rumors are. They are eaten with great relish!" (Proverbs 18:8).

God Blesses Us For Our Faithfulness

When Chris Haggai's visitor arrived at the door, Chris was feeding their adult son Johnny, who had cerebral palsy because of negligence on the part of the attending doctor when he was born. The visitor had come to take a look at a refrigerator the Haggai's had just purchased because she was thinking of buying one like it. But the woman became so curious about Johnny that she almost forgot the real purpose of her visit.

The Christmas Jacket

I've told you before how much I admire my pastor friend Eric Denton, who every Sunday night takes a group to Los Angeles to feed the street people and pass out jackets to those who need them to stay warm.  But one December evening was special.

Run To God For Comfort

After our grandson Christian was born, I gave his mother, Cheryl, a soft robe.  Within a few months, however, Christian had decided that her new robe was what he wanted to hold when he needed comfort. Now, Cheryl still wanted her robe, so she simply cut 12 inches or so off the bottom for Christian to enjoy, which meant she still had a robe to wear. The problem was that while Christian was okay with having "little robe" with him in the car, he wanted "big robe" in his crib when he went to sleep at night. Being the grandma, my solution was to buy Cheryl another robe.

Stop Being Fearful!

In 1938, as Bill and Mildred Dillon were sailing to England for ministry, a storm developed, and Mildred was scared.

"I Love You"

Robert McQuilkin was serving as president of Columbia Bible College when his wife, Muriel, began to develop Alzheimer’s disease. Slowly she became more and more confused, until at last she could form only one sentence: “I love you.” 

God Is for You When Circumstances Aren’t

Jacob was dealing with a disaster. In the middle of a famine, his sons had just returned from Egypt with bad news. If he wanted to buy food from Egypt, Jacob would have to allow his favorite son, Benjamin, to go to Egypt as required by the Pharaoh’s second in command, who controlled all food sales. Jacob had already lost his son Joseph, whom he believed to have been killed by wild animals. The truth is that his brothers hated him and had sold him into slavery. None of them knew Joseph had become second in command in Egypt—next to the Pharaoh.