Daily Living Ministries, Inc.

What does always mean to you?

Be Still . . .
Devotionals for Daily Living ©

always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
(Ephesians 5:20 (NIV))

When do you give thanks to the Lord?

Are you like most people and thank Him when He turns a situation from bad to good?

What happens if bad is all that you know? Do you still thank the Lord?

What happens when things are good for a long time? Do you start to believe that things are good of your own doing? Do you find yourself forgetting to thank the Lord during these times?

What if you were persecuted because you choose to follow the Lord? Would you give Him thanks then? Would you recognize that the world sees you as His? Would you be thankful for that identification?

"If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you.
(John 15:18-19 (NIV))

Life in this sinful, fallen world is filled with uncertainty. We don't know what tomorrow will bring. We don't know what each day will hold, but we can rest assured in the knowledge that we know who holds each day in the palm of His hand. With that knowledge, those who profess a faith in Jesus as their personal Lord and Savior should never be less than thankful for what they have received. No matter the situation and no matter the outcome, we know that we are in His eternal hands.

With that said, I have but one question left.

What does always mean to you?

Copyright 1998 - 2024 Dennis J. Smock
Daily Living Ministries, Inc.
https://www.dailylivingministries.org

How is your faith today?

Be Still . . .
Devotionals for Daily Living ©

Jesus said to him, "Away from me, Satan! For it is written: `Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.' "
(Matthew 4:10 (NIV))

Do you have enough faith to turn Satan away?

How many times each and every day do we encounter Satan in one of his many deceptions? All too often these deceptions look very appealing and we do not recognize them for what they truly are.

Living in the world requires that we walk by faith. We must learn to discern God's still, small voice and seek that voice for guidance in all that we do. It is when we become arrogant and think that we can do anything on our own that we fail to recognize the subtle attacks of the enemy. It is exactly at these times that we fail, yet it is exactly at these times when we need to rely upon God the most.

Satan attacks us when he thinks that he can plant a small little sin that will take root and grow into the vilest of weeds. When the seed is planted, it looks innocent enough, yet, it soon takes root and becomes something that we do not want in our lives. These seeds get planted when we look to the things of this world. Money, power, authority, possessions, and lust can make us take our eyes off of Jesus and when we do, Satan plants something in our lives to entice us to keep looking away. It takes faith to keep focused on Jesus and to turn Satan away from his plan.

I know that it is impossible to stay focused on Jesus as we should, after all, we are sinful humans. However, faith also allows u-turns. We can repent of our sins and pray for guidance in all that we do.

No one is perfect!

Even Paul felt the urge to do what he knew that he shouldn't do. Yet, he knew without any doubt that he was forgiven by grace. This takes faith. This is the type of faith that we can use to turn Satan away. It is a faith that keeps us steadfast one day at a time.

How is your faith today?

Copyright 1998 - 2024 Dennis J. Smock
Daily Living Ministries, Inc.
https://www.dailylivingministries.org

Where have you placed your hope?

Be Still . . .
Devotionals for Daily Living ©

You are my refuge and my shield;
I have put my hope in your word.
(Psalm 119:114 (NIV))

I'm sure that you have seen the things from the opening ceremony of the Olympics. Does that upset you, or have you developed a thick skin to the mocking from this sinful, fallen world?

To be honest with you, things are on sensory overload for anyone who professes a faith in Jesus as their personal Lord and Savior!

Everywhere that you turn, there is something profoundly evil unfolding. I don't think that I need to go into details, for you are probably seeing the same things that I am seeing. I will present one bit of information that you may not be aware of. I have not been able to confirm this, for things are moving very rapidly, but reports are saying that Iran is vowing revenge on Israel. It is hinted that a direct attack will occur. In case that you have forgotten, Israel is still fighting Hamas after almost a year. This would be a second direct and active war.

I recently was reminded of something that I had to stop and pray about. It concerns the four horses from Revelation. Did you know that every single nation surrounding, fighting, or threatening Israel has those four colors, and only those four colors, in their flags?

EVERY SINGLE ONE!

I don't have the insight to know for certain that this means anything, but one thing that I do know for certain is that we need to keep our eyes focused on the Lord. We must not follow the world. We must not serve the sin that controls this world.

We must take a stand!

We must make a choice!

But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord."
(Joshua 24:15 (NIV))

When you make a choice to serve the Lord, you are proclaiming that you have placed your hope and your faith in Him. You are proclaiming that He is your protector, your defender, your redeemer, your refuge, your strength, and your shield. These come only from placing your hope in the Lord.

Where have you placed your hope?

Copyright 1998 - 2024 Dennis J. Smock
Daily Living Ministries, Inc.
https://www.dailylivingministries.org

We must pray for discernment for all!

Be Still . . .
Devotionals for Daily Living ©

The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned. The spiritual man makes judgments about all things, but he himself is not subject to any man's judgment:
(1 Corinthians 2:14-15 (NIV))

What do you consider as foolishness?

Do you watch the news about gender identity and think that this is wisdom or do you see the folly of our society and call it foolishness?

We, as a society, have turned our backs on the things of God. They are considered foolishness. What does that say about our society? What does that say about our so called leaders? More importantly, what does that say about us as believers? Are we too ashamed to call the folly of this world what it truly is?

We, as individual members of the Body of Christ must always strive to discern God's Will for all things and not simply accept the will of the fallen world in which we live. We must not accept the lies of the prince of this world.

He will become very strong, but not by his own power. He will cause astounding devastation and will succeed in whatever he does. He will destroy the mighty men and the holy people. He will cause deceit to prosper, and he will consider himself superior. When they feel secure, he will destroy many and take his stand against the Prince of princes. Yet he will be destroyed, but not by human power.
(Daniel 8:24-26 (NIV))

Too many people will not discern the things from the Spirit of God, for they only want to see the lies of this world.

We must pray for discernment for all!

Copyright 1998 - 2024 Dennis J. Smock
Daily Living Ministries, Inc.
https://www.dailylivingministries.org

Are you running with perseverance?

Be Still . . .
Devotionals for Daily Living ©

And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us,
(Hebrews 12:1b (NIV))

Perseverance is described as persistence, tenacity, and determination. Does this describe your faith and your desire to live out your faith every day of your life? Does it describe the race of faith that you are running?

I realize that this is now the third time in a row where the passage talks about finishing the race that we as believers are called to run. I did not intentionally select these passages. To be honest with you, very seldom do I know what will end up being sent out when I sit down to read, reflect and write. Lately, I have felt an urging to remind believers that we are called to not only start by professing a faith in Jesus, but we are called to live that faith out daily. We are called to always keep our eyes on Jesus. We are called to press on!

I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.
(Philippians 3:14 (NIV))

We are called to never give in to the lies of the enemy!

With all of the things that are transpiring now in this world, we must not succumb to the distractions, to the lies, that the enemy uses to keep us from Jesus. We must recognize these lies and deal with them appropriately. We must always keep our eyes on Jesus.

When you are driving, you keep your eyes on the road. You may see things pass. You may see things in your peripheral vision, but these things are not your destination. In much the same way, Jesus is our destination. He is also so much more than that. He is our guide. He is our Savior. He is our Lord. He is our redeemer. He will keep us from the distractions if we keep our eyes on Him.

We are not alone in our race. There have been many who have persevered. There are many who are persevering at this very moment. They are our great cloud of witnesses.

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.
(Hebrews 12:1-3 (NIV))

Are you running with perseverance?

Copyright 1998 - 2024 Dennis J. Smock
Daily Living Ministries, Inc.
https://www.dailylivingministries.org

Lord, help me to finish this race!

Be Still . . .
Devotionals for Daily Living ©

However, I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace.
(Acts 20:24 (NIV))

Do you love your life?

Perhaps a few more questions will help clarify your answer.

Do you love your family? Do you love your job? Do you love your social status, and do you love worldly events more than you love meeting together with other believers?

Has you answer to my first question changed since answering these questions?

If you love your life, then you are not willing to surrender aspects of your life in order to draw closer to Jesus. He wants you to surrender everything that you hold dear for the things that He has to offer, for what He has to offer is so much better than anything that this world can offer.

Is there anything that you are not willing to surrender?

Let's take a look at the analogy of finishing the race. If you are running in a race to receive a prize, I assume that you would be willing to toss aside anything that got in your way.

Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize.
(1 Corinthians 9:24 (NIV))

You would run in such a way as to receive the prize. In order to receive what Jesus has promised, we must run and we must finish.

Are you running?

Are you going to finish?

Lord, help me to finish this race!

Copyright 1998 - 2024 Dennis J. Smock
Daily Living Ministries, Inc.
https://www.dailylivingministries.org

Does this passage describe you?

Be Still . . .
Devotionals for Daily Living ©

I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.
(Philippians 3:14 (NIV))

In the midst of all of the chaos in the world, what do you do?

In the midst of all of the sin in the world, what do you do?

In the midst of all of the mocking in the world, what do you do?

In the midst of all of the evil in the world, what do you do?

Do you keep your eyes focused on Jesus?

Do you press on toward the prize?

The decision is, and always will be yours. It is a decision that must be made each and every single moment of every single day in this sinful, fallen world. We can choose to give in to the temptations of this world, or we can press on toward Jesus knowing that the prize that we seek is far better than anything that this world has to offer.

I could dive into many different questions, but the most powerful question about pressing on toward the goal to win the prize is simply stated as this.

Does this passage describe you?

Copyright 1998 - 2024 Dennis J. Smock
Daily Living Ministries, Inc.
https://www.dailylivingministries.org

Are you ready to go with Jesus?

Be Still . . .
Devotionals for Daily Living ©

You know the way to the place where I am going.
(John 14:4 (NIV))

Do you know the way?

Do you even know the destination, the place where He is going?

The answer to both questions can be found in the following passage.

Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
(John 14:6 (NIV))

Do you long to be with the Father?

Do you long for an eternity in paradise?

Do you know Jesus as your personal Lord and Savior, for He is the only way. Jesus is the fulfillment of God's plan for our salvation.

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.
(John 3:16-18 (NIV))

Do you believe?

If you believe, then you know the destination. You also know the way to get to that destination.

Are you ready to go with Jesus?

Copyright 1998 - 2024 Dennis J. Smock
Daily Living Ministries, Inc.
https://www.dailylivingministries.org

Are you truly gathering in His name?

Be Still . . .
Devotionals for Daily Living ©

For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them."
(Matthew 18:20 (NIV))

Is Jesus with you at home?

Is Jesus with you at work?

Is Jesus with you when you are with friends?

I realize that your initial answer may be "Yes," but do you truly invite Him to join in during these times, or do you limit Him to only an hour or two on Sunday?

Think about this in the context of the enemy's attacks on the Body of Christ. What will you do if, or should I say when, gathering together is outlawed? What will you do when having a copy of God's Word is against the law?

We read about these things and think that they could never happen, but they already are happening in some parts of the world.

Would you comply, or would you gather with one or two other believers to pray and to praise His name? We should be doing these things now!

The next time that you are at home, pray with your family. When you are at work, find other believers and pray. When you are with friends, pray!

As believers, we simply cannot sit around and do nothing. We have the power of prayer. We must rely on others to lift us up. We must lift others up as well.

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.
(James 5:16 (NIV))

If one is powerful, how much more will two or three be?

We must stop relying on large groups. We must learn to welcome Jesus into our midst even if there is only one other person with you.

Are you truly gathering in His name?

Copyright 1998 - 2024 Dennis J. Smock
Daily Living Ministries, Inc.
https://www.dailylivingministries.org

I long to be a little child in the arms of the Lord!

Be Still . . .
Devotionals for Daily Living ©

Jesus said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these."
(Matthew 19:14 (NIV))

I am in shock!

I recently moved my parents closer to me so that I could be more help to them. It wasn't easy, but I know that it was the right thing to do. This has been confirmed multiple times in the last few months with things such as shootings less than two miles from their old house and shootings right outside of the hospital that my father has been in several times. Today, my heart is heavy. I am sick to my stomach.

They found a dead baby in a trash can at a Wal-Mart not too far from where they used to live!

What have we become?

Life has no value. Evil is called good and good is called evil. Don't get me started on the wars and rumors of wars, or nation rising against nation.

I am so tired of the evil in this world.

I am so tired of the sin in this world.

I don't know about you, but I honestly believe that all of these events are breaking the very heart of God.

When I hear of the sins of this world, my heart breaks. None of us are innocent, but little children come the closest to that innocence. How could a society allow such things? How could a society embrace evil to this extent?

I am ready for Jesus to return!

Are you looking up?

I know that I am!

I long to be a little child in the arms of the Lord!

Copyright 1998 - 2024 Dennis J. Smock
Daily Living Ministries, Inc.
https://www.dailylivingministries.org

Is Jesus the Messiah, the Son of the living God?

Be Still . . .
Devotionals for Daily Living ©

"But what about you?" he asked. "Who do you say I am?"
Simon Peter answered, "You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God."
(Matthew 16:15-16 (NIV))

It all comes down to one simple answer, and that answer will determine your eternity!

Who do you say that Jesus is?

I know that I haven't said anything lately about the events transpiring in the world, but things are strange. It seems that we no longer pay any attention to the wars and rumors of wars, even though they are still raging on. We are only focused on the latest distractions that our society sends our way. Things are not going to return to what we used to call normal. With that said, how you see Jesus is crucial.

Do you stand firm in the promises that He is the Son of God?

Do you stand firm in the promises that if you believe in Jesus, you will be redeemed from the consequences of sin and death?

Do you believe that He is our Rock, our Firm Foundation and all other ground is sinking sand?

With the current state of the world, we cannot, we should not, place our faith in the things of this world. We must turn our hearts toward Jesus. We must look up when things are looking down. We must rest firmly in this truth.

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.
(John 3:16-18 (NIV))

We are not guaranteed anything in this sinful, fallen world. We are drowning in a sea of sin and death. Jesus is the lifeline that we have been given to have salvation. Salvation is a gift, but we must ask to receive it. It is as easy as ABC.

A is for admit that you are a sinner in need of a savior.

B is for believe in your heart that Jesus Christ died for your sins, was buried, and that God raised Him from the dead.

C is for confess that Jesus is Lord!

Is Jesus the Messiah, the Son of the living God?

Copyright 1998 - 2024 Dennis J. Smock
Daily Living Ministries, Inc.
https://www.dailylivingministries.org

Have you chosen the way of faithfulness?

Be Still . . .
Devotionals for Daily Living ©

I have chosen the way of faithfulness;
I have set my heart on your laws.
(Psalm 119:30 (NIV))

Do you profess a faith in Jesus as your personal Lord and Savior?

I pray that your answer to that question is "Yes," however, I have a few more questions for you that may require some in-depth reflection and possible repentance.

Do you believe and follow everything that we are told to do as His followers? Are there some of His teachings that you simply choose to ignore because you don't agree with them? If that is you, does that make you faithful, or does that make you a hypocrite? Will this result in a well done good and faithful servant, or will it result in something much different?

"Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?' Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!'
(Matthew 7:21-23 (NIV))

When you choose to follow Jesus, you must accept His Lordship over your life. You must accept Him in totality, even the things that make you uneasy. If you aren't willing to accept the things that make you uneasy, then you are as those described in the following passages from the parable of the Sower.

Then he told them many things in parables, saying: "A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants.
(Matthew 13:3-7 (NIV))

We are to choose complete faithfulness. We are to set our hearts on His laws.

Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop—a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.
(Matthew 13:8 (NIV))

This is the example that yields a harvest!

Have you chosen the way of faithfulness?

Copyright 1998 - 2024 Dennis J. Smock
Daily Living Ministries, Inc.
https://www.dailylivingministries.org

Are you able to give these things?

Be Still . . .
Devotionals for Daily Living ©

My sacrifice, O God, is a broken spirit;
a broken and contrite heart
you, God, will not despise.
(Psalm 51:17 (NIV))

What do you give to the God of all creation?

What do you give when all that exists is His?

for every animal of the forest is mine,
and the cattle on a thousand hills.
I know every bird in the mountains,
and the insects in the fields are mine.
If I were hungry I would not tell you,
for the world is mine, and all that is in it.
(Psalm 50:10-12 (NIV))

If you truly stop to think about it, the only thing that you can give is yourself. In order to give yourself completely, you must be willing to surrender your will. You must recognize that you are a sinner in need of a savior. You must be willing to humble yourself. Don't stop with a willingness. You must humble yourself!

Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up.
(James 4:10 (NKJV))

We are to sacrifice our sinful nature. We are to sacrifice our human pride. We are to sacrifice our will and accept His Will.

Are you able to give these things?

Copyright 1998 - 2024 Dennis J. Smock
Daily Living Ministries, Inc.
https://www.dailylivingministries.org

Are you willing to be bold for Jesus?

Be Still . . .
Devotionals for Daily Living ©

For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile.
(Romans 1:16 (NIV))

Have you ever been in a situation that was uncomfortable to acknowledge Jesus?

I want you to think about something for a moment, if you will. At present, we still live in a society that allows believers to publicly acknowledge Jesus, but there is coming a time that will make the days of persecution in the Roman Colosseum seem tame.

Are you ready?

If you can't acknowledge Jesus now, how will you be able to do it when it will mean severe persecution or even death? Is your faith strong enough to face what none of us want to face, but what we probably will face? Let me put it another way. If someone held a gun to your head and told you that you will be killed if you are a Christian, what would your answer be? Would you lie to save your physical life and lose eternal life, or would you boldly proclaim that Jesus is Lord? Are you secure in your faith to die for your faith?

I realize that nobody wants to think about this, but we don't know what tomorrow may hold for us. What we do know is the one who holds tomorrow in His hands. We must place our faith in Jesus and trust that all of His promises are "Yes" and "Amen" through the cross!

It is time to take a serious look at your faith.

Are you willing to be bold for Jesus?

Copyright 1998 - 2024 Dennis J. Smock
Daily Living Ministries, Inc.
https://www.dailylivingministries.org

Does the world know you?

Be Still . . .
Devotionals for Daily Living ©

The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him.
(1 John 3:1c (NIV))

Did you ever have a desire to make a name for yourself? Did you ever want to be famous?

In other words, did you want the world to know you?

What does this desire have in common with pride?

Is this how we are supposed to act? Isn't this very nature the thing that caused Satan to rebel against God? Sadly, he deceived Adam and Eve and convinced them to believe a lie. This lie was that they could be like gods. To this day, many people still have this desire within them. This desire was the downfall of humanity from the beginning.

Jesus came to show us another way. He lived His life as an example. He humbled Himself, and we are to do the same.

In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:

Who, being in very nature God,
did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage;
rather, he made himself nothing
by taking the very nature of a servant,
being made in human likeness.
And being found in appearance as a man,
he humbled himself
by becoming obedient to death—
even death on a cross!
(Philippians 2:5-8 (NIV))

If our Lord can humble Himself, we must do the same. We must be willing to know Jesus and show Jesus to the world. If you have professed a faith in Jesus as your personal Lord and Savior, you are to allow Him to become greater than your own life, your own desires.

He must increase, but I must decrease.
(John 3:30 (NKJV))

With all of this for consideration, I have one more question for you.

Does the world know you?

Copyright 1998 - 2024 Dennis J. Smock
Daily Living Ministries, Inc.
https://www.dailylivingministries.org

Have you accepted what Jesus has done for you?

Be Still . . .
Devotionals for Daily Living ©

But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
(Romans 5:8 (NIV))

It is common knowledge that humanity has fallen from grace and that we have fallen into sin. It is also an accepted fact by the church that we are all sinners in need of a Savior. But, are we sinners because we sin, or do we sin because we are sinners?

To be honest, my first reaction was that we are sinners because we sin.

Why do we sin?

If we sin because we are sinners, that means that our human nature has been set to seek sin. We seek after the things that are wrong. In other words, humanity has a sinful nature. Individually, we sin because we have a sinful nature. We sin due to the fact that since the fall from grace, the righteous nature has been replaced with a sinful nature.

While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
(Romans 5:8b (NIV))

If you realize that it is in our nature to sin, this takes on a whole new meaning.

All of us have become like one who is unclean,
and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags;
we all shrivel up like a leaf,
and like the wind our sins sweep us away.
(Isaiah 64:6 (NIV))

We are truly the filthy rags. We are not capable of doing good without grace, for we are all prone to sin. We sin because we have a sinful nature. Sin is anything that goes against the will of God.

Yet, we can be washed clean!

We can be free from our sinful nature.

Our sinful status can be eternally changed!

Have you accepted what Jesus has done for you?

Copyright 1998 - 2024 Dennis J. Smock
Daily Living Ministries, Inc.
https://www.dailylivingministries.org

Are you praying?

Be Still . . .
Devotionals for Daily Living ©

I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people— for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.
(1 Timothy 2:1-2 (NIV))

I realize that this passage was my passage of choice just two days ago, but with recent events, I feel that it must be stressed just how important that this should be for our society.

Regardless of political affiliation, human life is sacred, for we are made in His image.

With this said, I want to keep this short. I simply want to remind you of the calling that is placed on the lives of those who profess a faith in Jesus as their personal Lord and Savior.

We are called to pray!

if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.
(2 Chronicles 7:14 (NIV))

Are you praying?

Copyright 1998 - 2024 Dennis J. Smock
Daily Living Ministries, Inc.
https://www.dailylivingministries.org