May 2025 - Akedah

May 22, 2025 Devotional Post a Comment

Break Free from the Chains of the Past

Opening Verse

“Remember ye not the former things, neither consider the things of old. Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it?”
Isaiah 43:18–19 (KJV)

Introduction

The past can either be a lesson or a prison. If you dwell too long in it, it becomes a chain around your spirit. God never called us to live in yesterday; He calls us forward: to repentance, to freedom, to life.

Devotional Story

A man once carried a box everywhere he went. Inside were reminders of every wrong he had done and every hurt he had endured. He believed keeping the box close would help him remember his mistakes so he wouldn’t repeat them. But the box grew heavier over time. It slowed his steps; it wore out his strength; it filled his mind with regret.

One day he met a man who told him, “You don’t have to carry that anymore. Christ already carried it to the cross.”

Tears filled his eyes. He opened the box and laid it all at the foot of the cross. That day, he walked away lighter: free.

What This Means

Living in the past is bondage. Christ came to set us free; not just from sin, but from shame, guilt, and regret. Satan wants to remind you of who you were; Jesus speaks to who you are becoming. Your past may explain you, but it no longer defines you. When Christ died and rose again, He gave you a new beginning.

Think About This

What weight from your past are you still carrying? Have you truly laid it at the feet of Jesus? The cross is not a place to visit—it’s a place to leave everything behind and walk away changed.

Prayer

Lord, I’ve carried too much for too long. I lay down every failure, every regret, and every wound from the past. I believe that You have made all things new. Help me walk in freedom. Remind me not of what I was, but of who I am in You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Closing Verse

“If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.”
John 8:36 (KJV)

May 21, 2025 Devotional Post a Comment

Children of the King

Opening Verse

“The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ…”
Romans 8:16-17 (KJV)

Introduction

When we belong to God through Jesus Christ, we are not just followers; we are His children. That makes us heirs to something far greater than anything this world can offer. But many forget what it means to be a child of God: it’s not just about blessing; it’s about responsibility, obedience, and readiness to receive.

Devotional Story

There was once a boy who lived with his grandfather, a farmer. The old man would tell him, “One day, all this land will be yours.” The boy was excited, but he spent most of his time playing, ignoring the work needed to understand the land. Seasons passed. The boy grew older but never learned how to sow, harvest, or care for the field.

When the grandfather died, the land was his, just as promised. But because he hadn’t prepared, the field grew wild, the fruit withered, and the inheritance was wasted.

God’s promises are true, and His Word never fails. But many of us live like that boy; children of the King, but not living like it. The inheritance is ready, but are we?

What This Means

Being a child of God comes with a guaranteed inheritance: eternal life, peace, victory over sin, and a place in the Kingdom of Heaven. But we must live like His children now—walking in holiness, surrendering our will, and staying ready.

We are joint-heirs with Christ, but Christ obeyed the Father even to death. The inheritance is not for the rebellious but for those who are truly His.

Think About This

Are you living like a child of the King? Or like someone who has forgotten the family they belong to? If you are truly an heir, are you preparing to receive what God has promised?

Don’t waste your inheritance through spiritual laziness or rebellion. The Kingdom is coming—are you ready to take your place in it?

Prayer

Father, thank You for calling me Your child. Forgive me for the times I’ve forgotten who I am in You. Help me to live like an heir of righteousness, not a servant of the flesh. Teach me to obey You with joy, and to keep my heart fixed on Your promises. Let me be ready when You come to gather Your own. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Closing Verse

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you.”
1 Peter 1:3-4 (KJV)

May 20, 2025 Devotional Post a Comment

Enemy Plans Are Destroyed

Opening Verse

“The LORD shall cause thine enemies that rise up against thee to be smitten before thy face: they shall come out against thee one way, and flee before thee seven ways.”
Deuteronomy 28:7 (KJV)

Introduction

We are in a spiritual war. The enemy plots, schemes, and strikes with precision. But every plan of darkness collapses when confronted by the authority of God’s Word. The devil can prepare weapons, but God’s power disarms them.

Devotional Insight

Satan is not creative; he is repetitive. He uses fear, confusion, division, and temptation. But for every trap he sets, the Lord has already issued a promise of victory. The enemy may rise against the child of God, but the Lord causes him to fall.

Do not be surprised by spiritual attacks. Expect them. But more importantly, expect the Lord to intervene. The reason enemy plans are destroyed isn’t because we are strong; it’s because God is faithful. He guards what is His. When we walk in obedience, repentance, and bold faith, we walk under the protection of heaven.

God doesn’t promise that no weapon will ever be formed. He promises it won’t prosper. That means the fight may come, but the outcome is settled. Trust this: the Lord never loses a battle.

What This Means

If you’re under pressure, if you feel targeted or overwhelmed, remember: your enemy is already defeated. The cross of Christ crushed every plan Satan had for your soul. Stay anchored in the Word. Keep your heart clean. Let God be your defender.

Victory is not something you earn; it is something you stand in.

Think About This

What lie has the enemy tried to speak over your life? Have you accepted fear where you should have declared victory?

Prayer

Lord, You are my shield and my defender. I will not fear the plans of the enemy because I know You stand with me. Break every chain, silence every lie, and scatter every weapon formed against me. My victory is in You alone. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Closing Verse

“Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.”
1 John 4:4 (KJV)

May 19, 2025 Devotional Post a Comment

Redeemed to Be His

Opening Verse

“To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.”
— Galatians 4:5-6 (KJV)

Introduction

There is a deeper longing in every soul—a cry not just for freedom, but for belonging. Galatians 4:5-6 tells us that Jesus didn’t just set us free; He brought us into God’s family. We are no longer outsiders. We are adopted children, and we can call the Almighty God our Father.

Devotional Story

A young man once sat in a courtroom, guilty of many crimes. His head was bowed, heart heavy with shame. The judge had every reason to pronounce a harsh sentence. But something unexpected happened.

Instead of judgment, the judge stepped down from the bench, walked over to him, and said, “I will take your place. I will pay the price. You are free.” The courtroom fell silent. The man didn’t know what to do.

As he walked out, overwhelmed, he was handed a letter. It read: “You are not just pardoned. You have been adopted. Come home.”

That’s what God did for us. He didn’t just remove our guilt; He gave us a new identity. We went from condemned to beloved.

What This Means

God didn’t just want to save you from something. He wanted to save you for something—relationship. Not as a distant Creator, but as your Father. Through Jesus, you have been adopted. You are not a spiritual orphan. The Spirit in you cries out, “Abba, Father.” That cry is not weak. It is the sound of sonship. The proof that you belong.

Think About This

If God has adopted you, why live like you’re abandoned? Why carry shame when Jesus already paid the price? Why chase the world’s approval when the King of Kings has called you His child?

Prayer

Father, thank You for adopting me into Your family. Thank You for not only saving me but making me Yours. Help me to walk each day knowing I am loved, chosen, and filled with Your Spirit. Let the cry of “Abba, Father” never leave my heart. Amen.

Closing Verse

“Ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.”
— Romans 8:15 (KJV)

May 18, 2025 Devotional Post a Comment

The Grace That Reaches All

Opening Verse

“For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men.”
Titus 2:11 (KJV)

Introduction

Grace is not a vague theological term. It is the very lifeline God throws to a drowning world. This grace doesn’t wait for us to become good. It appears to us while we’re still lost, still rebellious, still dead in sin. And it brings salvation: real, eternal rescue.

Devotional Story

A man once lived hardened by sin, untouched by sermons, unmoved by songs. His heart was a stone wall. Yet one day, a friend handed him a small Bible with a single verse underlined: Titus 2:11. He mocked it at first, laughed at the idea of grace reaching someone like him. But something about that verse stayed. He couldn’t escape the thought: “God’s grace has appeared… even to me?”

He started reading more. Slowly, the wall cracked. He knelt one night, tears soaking the pages, and cried out, “God, if Your grace really has come to all, then come to me.” And it did. That night, the man passed from death to life.

What This Means

This verse leaves no room for excuse or exclusion. God’s grace has appeared — not hidden, not restricted, not earned. It reaches every soul regardless of their past. That includes you. You don’t have to clean yourself up before coming to Christ. You come because grace has already come to you.

Think About This

If the grace of God has appeared to all, why do so many still ignore it? Have you received this grace, or are you keeping your distance? What are you waiting for?

Prayer

Lord, thank You for grace that reached for me when I wasn’t reaching for You. Thank You that salvation is not based on my goodness but on Your mercy. Help me never take Your grace for granted. Let me walk in it, live by it, and share it with others who still think they’re too far gone. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Closing Verse

“But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”
Romans 5:8 (KJV)

May 17, 2025 Devotional Post a Comment

The Burden of Moab

Opening Verse

“Because in the night Ar of Moab is laid waste, and brought to silence; because in the night Kir of Moab is laid waste, and brought to silence;”
Isaiah 15:1, KJV

Introduction

Isaiah 15 is a lament, a prophetic warning to Moab, a nation known for pride but headed for destruction. This chapter is a sobering reminder that no nation, no person, is safe when they stand apart from God. Judgment does not always come with noise. Sometimes it arrives in silence, at night, without warning.

Devotional Story

A man worked diligently for years building a company. His pride was his achievements: the awards on the wall, the car he drove, the title on his business card. He had no room for God, just goals. One morning, his business email access was revoked. By noon, he was out of a job. Silence. No scandal. No warning. Just gone.

He returned home, sat in silence, and finally opened the Bible his mother had given him decades ago. Dust covered the cover. Inside was a note: “Don’t wait until everything falls apart to turn to Jesus.”

What This Means

Isaiah 15 shows us how God can bring a nation low in a single night. If God’s judgment could fall upon Moab, a strong and proud nation, how much more should we fear God if we ignore Him? The warning is clear: pride leads to destruction, and silence does not mean peace—it can mean judgment has begun.

Think About This

Is your life built on your name or on God’s? Are you trusting your own strength, or are you daily surrendering to Christ? When judgment comes, it may not be loud. It may come quietly, like it did for Moab, and like it has for many who ignored God’s Word.

Prayer

Lord, break our pride. Strip away everything we lean on that is not You. Help us not to wait for judgment to seek You. Teach us to fear Your holiness and run to Your mercy now. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Closing Verse

“And the waters of Dimon shall be full of blood: for I will bring more upon Dimon, lions upon him that escapeth of Moab, and upon the remnant of the land.”
Isaiah 15:9, KJV

May 16, 2025 Devotional Post a Comment

The Lord Is Not Slack

Opening Verse

“But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.”
2 Peter 3:8 (KJV)

Introduction

Time is running out. But many live as though the clock is frozen. God’s patience is not permission to delay repentance. This verse breaks all human assumptions about time and reminds us that God is not on our schedule. He is holy, eternal, and purposeful.

Devotional Story

A young man worked at a large corporate office. He kept telling himself, “I’ll turn back to God later. Let me live how I want right now.” Every sermon he heard about repentance, he brushed off. “I’ve got time,” he thought.

Years passed. His heart grew colder, his conscience quieter. One day, his friend called with urgent news: someone they knew had died suddenly. The shock struck him deeply. That person had been talking just days before about “getting right with God… eventually.”

It shook him to the core. He realized he had wasted so many opportunities. That night, he wept. He prayed. He turned.

He learned the hard way that while God is patient, our time is not guaranteed.

What This Means

God’s timing is not like ours. He is not slow. He is merciful. He gives space for repentance. But don’t confuse His mercy with indifference. Every heartbeat is a gift. Every day is a warning. The day of the Lord will come. Are you ready?

Think About This

What are you putting off that God has called you to do?
Do you treat God’s patience as a reason to delay obedience?
If Christ returned today, would you be found ready or found resisting?

Prayer

Lord, forgive me for using Your patience as an excuse to delay repentance. Help me to live today like it could be the last. I surrender my timing to Yours. Give me urgency to obey, to turn, and to follow You with my whole heart. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Closing Verse

“The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.”
2 Peter 3:9 (KJV)

May 15, 2025 Devotional Post a Comment

The Trap of Sin

Opening Verse

“Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners.”

— 1 Corinthians 15:33 (KJV)

Introduction

2 Samuel 13 tells a heartbreaking story that begins with desire and ends in destruction. It is not a story of inspiration; it is a solemn warning. When sin is not checked, when lust is not denied, and when counsel is wicked, the end is always devastation. This chapter is one of the darkest in Scripture: we must not look away. We must learn.

Devotional Story

There was a young man who had everything: strength, position, and access. But he lacked one thing: self-control. His name was Amnon. He became obsessed with his half-sister Tamar. Instead of resisting temptation, he fed it. And when his friend Jonadab gave him a wicked plan to satisfy his lust, Amnon followed through.

He pretended to be sick; he asked that Tamar come serve him food. And when they were alone, he forced her. It was rape. Then, after his sin, the same desire that once burned turned to hatred. The Bible says he hated her “exceedingly”: more than he had loved her.

Tamar was left desolate. Absalom, her brother, burned with rage. And though two years passed, vengeance came. Amnon was murdered. The family was shattered. The kingdom destabilized. All because one man refused to master his lust and listened to the voice of a friend who spoke from hell, not heaven.

What This Means

This is not a story to be softened; it is a divine warning. Sin does not end where it begins. Lust never stays hidden. Evil friends are poison. If you are feeding sin today, know this: it will grow. If you are playing with temptation, it will strike.

To continue in sin while ignoring God’s voice is like doing wrong and tying a blindfold around your own eyes; you’re choosing darkness and pretending it’s light.

There are voices around you: some speak truth, others speak destruction. Are you listening to Jonadabs or to Jesus? Are you hiding sin or confessing it?

God sees what’s done in secret. And He warns through stories like 2 Samuel 13: stop now, before the damage is done. The shame, the guilt, the fallout—these can all be avoided. But only if you repent.

Think About This

Who are the voices you allow to influence your decisions?
Are you hiding a sin that needs to be confessed?
Do you treat temptation as dangerous or harmless?

Prayer

Lord, open my eyes to the trap of sin. Give me strength to flee from lust, deceit, and evil counsel. Let me not be like Amnon, who destroyed others and himself. Create in me a clean heart. Surround me with godly people who point me to You. And if I’ve fallen, help me to repent quickly. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Closing Verse

“He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.”

— Proverbs 28:13 (KJV)

May 14, 2025 Devotional Post a Comment

Pulled in Every Direction

Opening Verse

“Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong.”
1 Corinthians 16:13 (KJV)

Introduction

When life starts pulling at you from every side; responsibilities, people, pressure; it’s easy to lose your grip on God’s peace. In the middle of the chaos, God is calling us to hold on, stand firm, and not let the darkness drag us down.

Devotional Story

A young believer was walking through a season of heaviness. Friends leaned on him for support. Strangers expected more than he could give. Temptation knocked. His peace was under attack. Every day felt like being caught in a tug of war; he called it “pushin’ and pullin’.”

He didn’t want to lash out. He didn’t want to fall. So he prayed: “Lord, I need strength.” He started turning down arguments, avoiding conflict, and waking up early not to fight, but to seek peace. He wrote down his prayers. He memorized God’s promises. He reminded himself daily: “I will follow G-O-D.”

The dark days kept coming, but something inside him changed. He had a different kind of strength; not loud, not flashy, but steady. God’s will became his compass. He knew he wasn’t alone. Even when the pressure didn’t stop, he stayed grounded in Christ.

What This Means

You don’t need to carry it all. You don’t need to fight every battle. Some struggles are meant to drive you to the feet of Jesus. When you’re being pushed and pulled, the enemy wants you to break; but God is building something in you that cannot be shaken. Your peace doesn’t depend on your surroundings; it comes from knowing Who holds your future.

When you say “God’s will,” you are not just repeating words; you are surrendering your strength and trusting His. You are walking steady when everything else shakes.

Think About This

Are you trying to hold it all together by yourself?
What’s pulling at your heart right now?
Have you spent more time worrying than praying?

Let the pushing and pulling remind you to hold tighter to Jesus. Let it remind you to trust His will above your feelings.

Prayer

Lord, I feel the pull of this world every day; it wears me down. But I know You are stronger than all of it. Help me stop relying on my own strength and start leaning on You. Give me peace in the middle of pressure, and help me to walk steady no matter how hard life tries to pull me away. Let my life tell the story that I followed You through it all. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Closing Verse

“The Lord will give strength unto his people; the Lord will bless his people with peace.”
Psalm 29:11 (KJV)

May 13, 2025 Devotional Post a Comment

God, Our High Tower

Opening Verse

“The Lord is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower.”
— Psalm 18:2 (KJV)

Introduction

Psalm 18:2 is not just poetic. It is a spiritual survival guide. When trouble rises, when fear sets in, when you are pressed on every side, this verse reminds you who God truly is. Each title in this verse carries meaning. Each one shows how God protects, strengthens, and saves those who trust Him.

Devotional Insight

The LORD Is My Rock

A rock is unshakable. It does not move when the winds blow or the earth trembles. When everything around you falls apart, God remains. He is steady when your emotions are not. Build your life on Him. He does not change.

My Fortress

A fortress is a place built to keep the enemy out. In the spiritual battle we face daily, we need a place to run. God is that place. When you are under attack, He surrounds you. He is your defense when you feel exposed.

My Deliverer

God doesn’t just shield you. He brings you out. He rescues you from sin, darkness, and destruction. He does not leave you stuck in fear or shame. He reaches into the pit and pulls you up. He makes a way where there is none.

My God

This is personal. Not a distant God. Not someone else’s God. He is my God. You must know Him yourself. You must walk with Him. You cannot survive on borrowed faith. He must be yours.

My Strength

Our own strength will fail. The weight of trials, temptations, and burdens is too heavy. But God never runs out. He gives strength to those who ask. When you are weak, He is strong. He holds you up when you want to give up.

In Whom I Will Trust

Trust is not based on how you feel. It is a choice. You decide to rest in His Word, even when your circumstances scream the opposite. You lean on Him when your own understanding is not enough.

My Buckler

A buckler is a small shield used in close combat. This means God helps in the most personal struggles. He is not just a distant helper. He is near in the daily temptations and battles that others cannot see.

The Horn of My Salvation

A horn in the Bible stands for power and victory. God does not just save you quietly. He saves you with power. The blood of Jesus crushed the enemy. Through Him, you walk in victory, not defeat. Salvation is not weak. It is mighty.

My High Tower

A high tower lifts you up. It places you above the attack and gives you vision. From the tower, you can see clearly. When you rest in God, He helps you rise above confusion, fear, and the noise of the world. He gives you peace and perspective.

What This Means

God is not just one of these things. He is all of them. He is your rock when the ground shakes, your fortress when war breaks out, your strength when you have nothing left, and your high tower when you need to see clearly. Do not wait for the battle to come before running to Him. He is everything you need. Right now.

Think About This

Which of these names of God do you need most today? Are you building your life on the rock or on something that can fall? God is offering safety, strength, and salvation. Will you trust Him fully?

Prayer

Father, I turn to You alone. Be my rock when I am shaken. Be my fortress when I am attacked. Be my strength when I am weak. Lift me up to see from Your tower. Help me to trust You in everything. I declare today that You are my God. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Closing Verse

“The name of the Lord is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe.”
— Proverbs 18:10 (KJV)