A Devotional Life

Matthew 2:1-11. I still remember my first attempt at reading through the Bible from Genesis to Revelation. My mum gave my elder sister and me a classic reading plan during my first year at university, with a small prize for whoever finished first. At first, I was motivated by the reward. But somewhere along the way, something deeper happened. When I reached Genesis 6:5-6 and read about humanity’s sin and the grief of God, the weight of our brokenness became real to me. As I continued through the Old Testament, I journeyed with the strong sense of awareness that: the world was lost, and we needed rescue. But when I arrived at the first two chapters of Matthew, I found the hope. Particularly in this verse “She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” (Matt. 1:21) For me, it was as though the grief of ...

2 Kings 6:1-23. In 2 Kings 6, God grants a fresh vision to Elisha in moments of need, fear, and conflict. What seems like setback or danger becomes the very place where the Lord displays His power and kindness. At some point Elisha prays for his servant to have the same vision and the Lord grants that request, and the servant sees differently. In life’s journey we too can ask for fresh visions amidst whatever we face. When we ask, like Elisha, we too can have a fresh vision for a blessing even in the midst of adversity. We can have a fresh vision of... Divine provision in times of need (v1-7). The company of prophets had grown, and the place where they met had become too small (v1). As they built a new place, a borrowed axe head fell into the Jordan (v5). The concern was real, “It was borrowed.” Elisha cut a stick and threw it into the water, and the iro...

Galatians 5:16-26. “Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit” (v25). Paul does not leave this command undefined. In Galatians 5 he shows us clearly what it means to walk or keep in step with the Spirit. The Christian life is not aimless wandering; it is intentional, Spirit-led walking. And we keep in step with the Spirit by: Crucifying our sinful flesh (v16-21, 24). “Walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh” (v16). Keeping in step begins with a decisive choice of direction. The flesh and the Spirit are opposed (v17). To walk with the Spirit means saying “no” to sinful desires and “yes” to His leading. It is not passive. Each day we consciously turn from attitudes and actions that belong to our old life and depend on the Spirit for strength to obey. Paul lists the works of ...

Psalm 139:1-18. The Psalm reveals a beautiful picture of God’s character. He is not distant or detached. He is both supreme in His power and deeply loving in His relationship with us. David reflects on God’s greatness and discovers that the One who rules over all things also knows, guides, and cares for him personally. This psalm shows us a God who is infinitely above us, yet intimately near to us. And this is why I trust in God, because... He knows me completely (v1-6). David begins by declaring, “You have searched me, Lord, and you know me.” God knows when we sit and when we rise. He understands our thoughts from afar. Before a word is on our tongue, He knows it completely. This shows God’s supremacy in knowledge. Nothing is hidden from Him. Yet this knowledge is not cold or threatening. David describes it as “too wonderful” for him...

James 5:16. James gives a powerful instruction and promise in one verse: “Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.” In this passage, we learn that effective prayer is not about impressive words, but about the condition of the heart and the way we approach God. We can build an effective prayer life by how we practice prayer. And the passage gives us the following three key principles for building effective prayer life: Pray righteously. James begins with a call to confession: “confess your sins to each other.” Sin, hidden struggles, and unrepentant hearts can hinder our fellowship with God. A clean heart comes through confession, repentance, and a desire to live rightly before Him. The verse reminds us that the prayer of a “righteous...

Joshua 1:1-9. So many times we come across portion of Scripture that though encouraging might seem far from our present reality. This is often the nature of God's promises. They are sure and certain, but they may not be fully visible in our current circumstances. So what do we do with God's promises? After Moses’ death, Joshua stood before a daunting task. He was to lead Israel into the Promised Land, a land God had spoken about for generations. The promise was certain, but Joshua still had a responsibility. In this passage, God shows him exactly what to do with His promises. The same principles guide us today. See it: Receive God’s promises by faith (v2-3). God told Joshua, “Every place that the sole of your foot shall tread upon, that have I given unto you.” The land was already promised, but Joshua had to see it by faith before he ever possessed it....

Matthew 11:28-30. Jesus gives one of the most comforting invitations in all of Scripture: “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” (v28). He promises rest not just for the body, but for the soul. Yet this rest is not automatic. Scripture shows that we enter it in two ways, through: Faith in Jesus (v28). Jesus says “Come to me” (v28), this is a faith invitation. Hebrews 4:1-3 teaches that God’s rest is entered by faith. The good news was preached, but it did not benefit some because it was not mixed with faith. Faith comes by hearing the Word of God (Romans 10:17). When we believe in Jesus, trusting fully in His finished work and His promises, we come to Him and receive the rest He offers. Unbelief, however, keeps people outside that rest (Hebrews 3:18-19; 4:6). The first and most important step into divine r...