Kerusso Daily Devotional

1 Peter 5:6–7 says, “Humble yourselves, then, under God’s mighty hand, so that he will lift you up in his own good time. Leave all your worries with him, because he cares for you.”

These two short verses tell us several things: One—if we submit to God’s power by acknowledging we can’t solve our problems, He is strong enough to intervene and bring about the outcome we really want.

Second, He does this in His own time, on His own timetable.

Third, we are to leave our problems at His feet. There is nothing wrong with getting an image in your mind where you actually do this, and then walk away—your burden lifted.

Key in getting on track is recognizing that you might have a trust problem. If you’ve been deeply hurt by, say, a family member, you might subconsciously be failing to trust God himself.

And this is the first step in getting free of fear for good.

Know that an unburdened mind is not usually gained quickly, or without what we would call maintenance. The only thing predictable about our world is that it’s unpredictable. If you think you’re going to have one great afternoon and then every day after that is carefree, you’re deluding yourself.

We’ve already established that a daily time of prayer, reading your Bible, and focusing on God’s love for you is a combination that our enemy can’t overcome. Choosing to believe God’s Word is practical, and it works. That can’t be emphasized enough!

Jesus said in John 16:33 that we will absolutely have trouble in our lives, but that He has already overcome the world. This fact will help to keep you on that straight path that will ultimately one day lead to paradise with the One that created you, sustains you, and loves you forever.

Let’s pray.

Lord, having the discipline to daily rely on you is something we often lack. When we focus and concentrate our minds and our hearts on your good gifts, fear leaves, and can be replaced with courage and peace. Thank you for providing for all of our needs, all the time. In Jesus’ name, amen.

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You may have heard someone say before that they’ve put down deep roots. Usually, they’re not talking about gardening, but about the roots of their lives. Family. Friends. A career. A church home.

We all want to belong. We want to be planted deep in the soil of community.

Colossians 2:6–7 says, “So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.”

If you’re searching right now, wondering where you should be, consider this verse. In it, we find that Christ our great Savior has a deep desire to keep us growing in good soil. Spiritually, we are to put down deep roots where He has planted us.

If you find yourself far from family, either geographically or because of hurt and conflict, turn to Jesus and tell Him how you feel.

His strong hands will carry you to the place He has waiting just for you, where you will belong. And He will plant you deep.

Let’s pray.

Lord, thank you for caring about us as individuals, and knowing exactly what we need and when. We love you. In Jesus’ name, amen.

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It was once said that the sun never set on the British Empire. The island nation had expanded its reach around the world for hundreds of years, and the Union Jack flew over many countries. But as happens with earthly kingdoms, the sun did set. Today, the British are back to being basically just that island nation.

The Bible talks about a kingdom that will have no end. What do we mean when we talk about that Kingdom? The Kingdom of God. The concept is found in the New Testament and refers to the entrance of God into the world again, through His Son, Jesus. They will be fully established at the end of history when God reconciles all things to Himself, and opens a glorious eternity for believers. Christians are invited to participate in making sure the Kingdom of God is heavily populated. We do this not in our own strength, but through the power of the Holy Spirit.

For 300 years, the Roman Empire tried to kill Christianity, but by the end of the first century, there were 500,000 Christians throughout the empire. By the Middle Ages, with all its terrors and plagues and wars, the Kingdom of God had increased to 50 million. And today, even in oppressed areas like China, Christianity is experiencing explosive growth. Worldwide there are 2.2 billion Christians.

When times are tough, people turn to the living God. And as we’ve discussed, God invites us to participate in building His kingdom. We have daily opportunities to talk freely about what Jesus Christ has done for us.

Talk about a purpose-driven life—making your life count for something eternal. Share the Good News so much that when eternity comes, you’ll have no regrets.

Revelation 21:23 says, “The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it. For the glory of God gives it light and the Lamb is its lamp,” and that is a kingdom that will never sit in twilight.

Let’s pray.

Father, you are always adding to your kingdom, drawing people to you. Thank you that we can participate with you by sharing our faith in all the diversity of our days. In Jesus’ name, amen.

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Have you ever had the pleasure of waking up in a cozy cabin...after you’ve let the fire go out from the night before? If you don’t get out of bed and put more wood in, the squirrels or raccoons aren’t going to do it for you!

Much more serious is the tendency to get lazy about the fire inside us to share the love of Christ. After so many years of being a Christian—especially living in a free country—sharing the Gospel can be put on the back burner.

Romans 12:11–12 says, “Never let the fire in your heart go out. Keep it alive. Serve the Lord. When you hope, be joyful. When you suffer, be patient. When you pray, be faithful.”

Do you see what God is urging us to do in Scripture? He says to never let the fire go out! Never doesn’t mean sometimes, when we’re tired or annoyed about something. This is too important to mess up. Remember—Jesus saved you. And more than likely, through someone keeping their own inner fire going, they saw you through the eyes of compassion.

Let’s pray.

Lord, give us a passion for the souls of all people, at all times. And help us be ready to share Christ with them. In Jesus’ name, amen.

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The Bible’s book of Daniel tells us that one day knowledge and innovation will increase exponentially in our world. And it could be surmised that the prophet was looking ahead to our day, but maybe he was looking even further. The technological advances of the 21st century are no secret. In the ancient world, an ocean voyage could take months. Now, a person can have breakfast in New York City and dinner in Paris.

Communication is beyond anything our grandparents could have imagined. The number of mobile devices at this moment stands at 7.22 billion, a slightly bigger number than the human population of our planet. There are more than two billion personal computers around the globe. People in Asia can chat in real time with friends in Chicago or anywhere else. Such communication is instant and constant. Consider that as recently as World War II, whole armies could be on the move before the enemy was aware.

Travel is easier, too. There’s a wonderful story from our friends at Our Daily Bread, in which a teen on a mission trip shared the Gospel with an elderly man in Jamaica. He was disabled, but listened intently when she described new life in Jesus and the hope of a new body in heaven. He asked her, “Will you dance with me up there?” He accepted Christ.

Romans 1:16 says, “For I am not ashamed of the Gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes.” We have almost limitless ways to get a Bible into someone’s hand. According to The Bible Society, between 1816 and 1975, 2.5 billion Bibles were printed. Many people, of course, still prefer to hold a book and read the printed word, and that method has been responsible for many millions of conversions over the years.

It’s exciting to think that, now, 100 million Bibles are being printed every year. Technology brings advancement here as well. That remarkable YouVersion Bible App has been installed on 300 million devices around the world.

Knowledge is increasing drastically. We have the greatest opportunity in all of history to share the Good News of Jesus with the world. God has given us the means to use technology, prayer, and one-on-one conversations to bring people to Jesus. What will you do with your finite amount of time? It’s up to you.

Let’s pray.

Father God, your provision for us is wonderful. You’ve made it possible for each believer to share their faith with close friends and family, as well as those around the world. Give us a sense of urgency. In Jesus’ name, amen.