Author: Akedah

April 2, 2025 Devotional Post a Comment

You Need Bread, Not Blueberry Muffins

Opening Verse

“And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.”
John 6:35 (KJV)

Introduction

Blueberry muffins might taste good, but they won’t sustain your soul. They are sweet, soft, and made for comfort—not survival. Many today are feeding on spiritual blueberry muffins—things that appeal to emotion and flesh—but they are starving for the Bread of Life.

Devotional Insight

Jesus didn’t say, “I am your snack when you feel down.” He said, “I am the bread of life.” Bread is foundational. It feeds the soul. It holds weight. It brings strength. But blueberry muffins? They’re dessert—treats that give momentary pleasure and no lasting substance.

Too many churches are offering muffins instead of bread. Fluffy messages. Candy-coated truths. Motivational speeches dressed as sermons. And people leave happy but unchanged. Inspired but still in bondage. Tasting but never filled.

The Word of God—raw, convicting, and powerful—is bread. It’s not always sweet, but it saves your life. The presence of Jesus isn’t a topping to your week; it’s the core of your survival.

You don’t need more feelings. You need more truth. You don’t need blueberry muffins. You need the Bread of Life.

Think About This

Are you feeding your soul with sugar or with substance? Are you growing in Christ or just feeling good for a moment?

Prayer

Lord, deliver me from a faith built on feelings. I don’t want dessert-level devotion. I want the Bread of Life. Teach me to hunger for You and feast on Your Word, even when it convicts. Satisfy my soul with truth, not comfort. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Closing Verse

“But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.”
Matthew 4:4 (KJV)

April 1, 2025 Devotional Post a Comment

Recognizing Patterns of Reactivity

Opening Verse

“He that hath no rule over his own spirit is like a city that is broken down, and without walls.”
— Proverbs 25:28 (KJV)

Introduction

Sometimes we react before we think. We say things we don’t mean. We snap, get offended, or pull back in silence. These patterns don’t just happen once—they become habits if we’re not careful. But Scripture calls us to something better: self-awareness that leads to Spirit-control.

Devotional Story

A man was driving home after a long day at work. Traffic was heavy, and someone cut him off. Instantly, he laid on the horn and shouted in frustration. His children, quiet in the backseat, looked on. He didn’t realize how often this happened—until one evening, his young daughter mimicked his reaction during a game.

That was the wake-up call.

He didn’t need a sermon. He saw it—clear as day—how his pattern of reactivity was not just hurting his witness, but shaping his children. He went to his room, dropped to his knees, and repented. He asked the Lord, not just for forgiveness, but for a new spirit. A spirit that reflects Christ, not the flesh.

What This Means

If we don’t slow down and reflect, we’ll keep living in cycles of reaction. God wants us to respond in wisdom, not react in emotion. Self-awareness is not self-help—it’s a grace of God that helps us examine ourselves in the light of the Holy Spirit.

When we stay in God’s Word and prayer, He shows us the truth about ourselves—not to shame us, but to change us.

Think About This

  • Do you notice when you’re quick to anger, fear, or control?

  • Are your reactions bearing the fruit of the Spirit—or the works of the flesh?

  • Have you ever paused to ask God, “Why am I like this?” He will show you—if you ask Him with a humble heart.

Prayer

Lord, I need You to rule over my spirit. I confess that I’ve allowed old patterns to lead me instead of Your Spirit. Help me see myself clearly and surrender my reactions to You. Teach me how to pause, reflect, and walk in the peace of Christ. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Closing Verse

“Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.”
— Psalm 51:10 (KJV)

March 31, 2025 Devotional Post a Comment

Build the Ark Anyway

Opening Verse

“By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith.”
— Hebrews 11:7 (KJV)

Introduction

Noah was given an assignment that didn’t make sense—build a giant ark in the middle of dry land. There were no clouds, no thunder, and no one cheering him on. But Noah didn’t wait for confirmation from people. He obeyed God. He trusted the warning, and he trusted the protection. You might be in the same place now—called to build something that others can’t understand. Do it anyway.

Devotional Story

Imagine Noah, hammer in hand, surrounded by mocking voices. Day after day, he built. People passed by and laughed. “What are you doing, old man?” they probably sneered. “There’s no flood. There’s no storm.”

But Noah kept building.

He didn’t argue. He didn’t try to win their approval. He just obeyed. Each nail he drove, each board he placed—it was all done by faith. He wasn’t just building a boat. He was building a legacy. A place of protection. A house for the promise.

And then it rained.

The very thing that looked foolish became the only safe place left. The ark wasn’t just a big boat—it was God’s plan. And because Noah stood firm, his house was saved.

What This Means

When God tells you to build, you build—even if there’s no sign of rain. The world might not see what you see. That’s okay. They didn’t hear what God told you. The ark in your life might be a calling, a family, a ministry, or a new beginning. Trust God enough to move forward without needing applause.

Stand firm. God’s protection is real. His warnings are true. And the work He’s given you is not in vain.

Think About This

  • Are you waiting for visible proof before you act in faith?

  • Are you afraid of looking foolish for obeying God?

  • What has God told you to build that others don’t understand?

Prayer

Father, help me to be like Noah. Let me obey even when it’s hard. Let me build even when others laugh. I trust You. I trust what You’ve shown me, even when I can’t explain it. Strengthen my hands to keep working, and strengthen my heart to keep believing. Let my obedience be a refuge for others. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Closing Verse

“And the LORD said unto Noah, Come thou and all thy house into the ark; for thee have I seen righteous before me in this generation.”
— Genesis 7:1 (KJV)

March 30, 2025 Devotional Post a Comment

Led by the Spirit, Not by Feelings

Opening Verse

“For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.”
Romans 8:14 (KJV)

Introduction

Feelings cannot be trusted. They rise and fall. But God calls us to walk by faith, not by what we feel. If we follow our feelings, we will walk in the flesh. If we follow the Spirit, we walk with God.

Devotional Story

A man once said, “I don’t feel God anymore.” He still prayed. He still read his Bible. But the joy was gone. He felt dry, empty, and forgotten.
One night, as he sat in silence, the Holy Spirit whispered, “Keep going.” No signs. No voice from heaven. Just the Word and a choice to obey.
Day after day, he kept praying. He kept reading. Nothing changed on the outside. But something changed inside. His faith was being tested. He did not quit.
Then one morning, as he read the Word, it cut deep. Not because he felt it, but because it was true. The tears came. The breakthrough came. God had been with him the whole time.
He did not need a feeling. He needed faith.

What This Means

We are not called to live by emotions. We are called to live by faith. Feelings are weak. They lie. The flesh wants feelings. The Spirit calls for trust. When we obey the Spirit, even in silence, we grow strong.

To live by feeling is to drift. To live by the Spirit is to stand.

Think About This

Are your choices led by emotions or by truth? Are you waiting to feel close to God before you follow Him? Faith obeys without proof. The Spirit leads without noise. Obey now. Delay is danger.

Prayer

Father, I repent for following my feelings. Teach me to follow Your Spirit. Help me to trust Your Word even when I feel nothing. I surrender my will, my emotions, and my understanding. Lead me. Strengthen me. Keep me. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Closing Verse

“This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.”
Galatians 5:16 (KJV)

March 29, 2025 Devotional Post a Comment

Judgment and Mercy

Opening Verse

“Thus saith the Lord GOD; This is Jerusalem: I have set it in the midst of the nations and countries that are round about her.”
Ezekiel 5:5, KJV

Introduction

God’s Word in Ezekiel 5 is not soft. It is sharp. It is a warning. God speaks through the prophet Ezekiel using a dramatic sign—cutting and dividing hair—to show what’s about to happen to His people. Judgment is coming. Not because God delights in punishment, but because His people have rebelled beyond the nations around them. This chapter is a wake-up call for anyone who thinks God is silent about sin.

Devotional Story

A young man was raised in church. He knew the truth. But as he grew older, he began to see God’s commands as optional. He still prayed occasionally, still said “God bless you,” but his heart was far from God. He compromised with the world—just a little at first. A little lie. A little lust. A little pride.

Over time, the compromise grew. He mocked warnings from believers. He stopped reading the Word. He started justifying sin. He was convinced that God wouldn’t judge him. After all, hadn’t he once believed?

But one night, after a long season of sin, he had a vivid dream. In it, a city burned. The people screamed. The sky turned black. In the center of the chaos was a mirror, and in that mirror was his own face. He woke up trembling, realizing the Lord had given him a glimpse of what happens when mercy is rejected.

The next morning, he opened his Bible, and it fell to Ezekiel 5.

What This Means

Ezekiel 5 reminds us that God holds His people accountable. Jerusalem had been given every blessing—God’s temple, His law, His prophets. But they rebelled worse than the nations around them. So God said, “I will execute judgments in the midst of thee… and will do in thee that which I have not done” (v. 9).

This wasn’t just about Jerusalem—it’s about anyone who receives the truth and then turns from it. To know God’s will and still rebel is dangerous. Jesus said it would be more tolerable for Sodom than for those who reject Him after knowing Him.

Yet even in judgment, God sends a warning. He speaks before He strikes. Ezekiel was the trumpet. The question is: will we listen?

Think About This

Have you been ignoring the voice of God? Are you living like you’ll never stand before Him?

Ezekiel 5 is not meant to make you afraid of God—it’s meant to bring you back to Him. The God who warns is the God who forgives, if we repent. The hair in the fire was a picture of destruction, but a small portion was kept—God always preserves a remnant.

Will you be part of it?

Prayer

Father, forgive me for treating Your Word lightly. I have seen how You judge rebellion, and I do not want to be found among the unfaithful. Cleanse me. Restore my fear of You. Help me turn from anything that dishonors Your Name. I want to be part of the remnant that remains faithful. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Closing Verse

“Yet will I leave a remnant, that ye may have some that shall escape the sword among the nations, when ye shall be scattered through the countries.”
Ezekiel 6:8, KJV

March 28, 2025 Devotional Post a Comment

Still Covered, Even in the Fog

Opening Verse

“For we walk by faith, not by sight:”
– 2 Corinthians 5:7 (KJV)

Introduction

There are moments when the soul cannot explain what feels wrong. Everything looks the same, yet the spirit senses a shift. Peace seems distant. Prayer feels quiet. The atmosphere is strange. It is in these uncertain hours that the adversary whispers lies: “You’ve lost your way.” But divine favor is not measured by how things feel. Grace holds firm even when all else seems unclear. In the fog, the faithful are still covered.

Devotional Story

There is one who seeks after the Lord—not for gain, but for closeness. One who prays, fasts, and remains in the Word. Yet even in devotion, there comes a time when the heavens seem silent. There is no deep emotion, no loud confirmation, no visible breakthrough. Just quiet. Stillness. A feeling that something is off.

In that moment, the pages of Scripture open—not by plan, but by divine hand—and the eyes land on Psalm 139:12:

“Yea, the darkness hideth not from thee; but the night shineth as the day: the darkness and the light are both alike to thee.”
– Psalm 139:12 (KJV)

What a truth. The fog may be thick, but it does not hide anything from the eyes of the Almighty. The darkness is not dark to Him. The day and the night are the same in His sight. The one who walks with God is never out of His view.

Even when the path feels strange, grace is still active. Favor does not depend on feelings. Strength is being formed in silence.

What This Means

The spiritual walk is not about how it feels—it is about who leads. God is not moved by human emotion. He is faithful when the heart soars, and He is just as faithful when it struggles to lift a word in prayer.

Favor is not loud. It is often silent. Grace is not always seen. It is often working behind the veil. When nothing seems to be happening, heaven is still moving.

Think About This

  • Are you walking by what is written or by what is felt?

  • Have you confused stillness for separation?

  • Could this moment of fog be where faith is made pure?

Prayer

Lord, when the atmosphere feels strange and the heart is unsure, remind Your servant that You do not abandon in the silence. Let Psalm 139:12 echo in the soul—that even the darkest night shines in Your sight. Teach the heart to rest in truth, not emotion. Let grace uphold every step, even when it feels unclear. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Closing Verse

“The LORD is good, a strong hold in the day of trouble; and he knoweth them that trust in him.”
– Nahum 1:7 (KJV)

March 27, 2025 Devotional Post a Comment

Holy Ground and Ready Feet

Opening Verse

“And he said, Draw not nigh hither: put off thy shoes from off thy feet, for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground.”
Exodus 3:5 (KJV)

Introduction

We often rush into God’s presence without realizing where we’re standing. But Scripture shows us something powerful: before God sends us out, He calls us to stop, recognize His holiness, and prepare ourselves. Today’s verses show both stillness and movement—Moses removing his shoes on holy ground, and believers being ready to go with the gospel of peace.

Devotional Story

A woman walked into church after a long season of spiritual dryness. She wasn’t sure why she came—maybe habit, maybe hope. As the worship began, she stayed seated, arms crossed, heart guarded. Then the lyrics shifted: “We are standing on holy ground…”

She felt it. The stillness. The weight. Not guilt—just awe. It was as if God Himself whispered, “Take off your shoes. This moment is Mine.” She began to weep—not because of sorrow, but because of the presence of a holy God who still wanted her.

Later that week, she found herself at a coffee shop talking with a hurting coworker. The words came naturally, full of grace and truth. Her shoes may have been on, but her feet were now shod with readiness. The peace she had received, she was now ready to share.

What This Means

Exodus 3:5 reminds us to pause. To remove what doesn’t belong. To see that God’s presence demands reverence. Ephesians 6:15 calls us to go—not in chaos or anger, but with the gospel of peace.

Before you run, stop. Before you speak, worship. Before you serve, recognize that you’re on holy ground.

Only those who stand still before God can walk boldly into the world for Him.

Think About This

  • Have you rushed past holy ground this week?

  • Are you ready to share the peace you’ve received?

  • What “shoes” of pride, sin, or self have you refused to take off?

Prayer

Lord, help me to see when I’m on holy ground. Teach me to stop and listen. Remove the things from my life that don’t belong in Your presence. Then, when I rise, may I walk in peace, ready to carry Your gospel to a hurting world. Make my feet swift with obedience, and my heart slow to move without You. Amen.

Closing Verse

“And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace.”
Ephesians 6:15 (KJV)

March 26, 2025 Devotional Post a Comment

Faith That Stands in the Fire

Opening Verse

“That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:”
— 1 Peter 1:7 (KJV)

Introduction

Trials aren’t proof that God has left you. They’re proof that He’s preparing you. Faith is not built when everything is calm—it’s revealed when everything shakes.

Devotional Story

A young man named James had just started walking seriously with the Lord. He was reading the Word daily, praying, and sharing his testimony. But right when his passion ignited, life started falling apart.

His job hours were cut. His car broke down. One of his closest friends turned against him. And in the middle of it all, he got sick.

He knelt beside his bed one night and said, “Lord, I thought walking with You meant things would get better.”

That’s when he opened his Bible and his eyes landed on this verse: “My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience” (James 1:2-3, KJV).

He realized this wasn’t punishment—it was a furnace. And furnaces don’t destroy gold. They reveal it.

From that night forward, James didn’t pray for the trial to end. He prayed for strength to endure. And soon, others started noticing something different about him. He glowed—not with ease, but with endurance. His fire didn’t burn him out. It refined him.

What This Means

Trials will come. That’s not a threat—it’s a promise. But for those who belong to Christ, trials don’t mean failure. They’re training. Every hardship is a chance for your faith to be proven real. God isn’t trying to break you. He’s showing the world that you are already His.

Think About This

What if your hardest season is the very thing God will use to show others His strength in you? Are you praying to escape the fire—or to be strengthened in it?

Prayer

Father, I don’t ask You to take the fire away—I ask You to walk with me through it. Help me to trust You when nothing makes sense. Let my faith be strong, even when I feel weak. May every trial I face bring glory to You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Closing Verse

“Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you:”
— 1 Peter 4:12 (KJV)

March 25, 2025 Devotional Post a Comment

If We Trusted God More

Opening Verse

“Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.”
—Proverbs 18:21 (KJV)

Introduction

What if we trusted God’s promises more than we trust our fears? What if we believed His goodness with the same boldness we use to expect trouble? So many of us declare the worst over ourselves—and it happens. But not because God wanted it. Because we spoke it and believed it.

Now imagine the impact if we flipped that.

Devotional Story

Rebecca was sure something bad was going to happen. She had been saying it for days, maybe weeks—declaring it like it was guaranteed. And when it happened, she wasn’t surprised. She was frustrated. Not just at the situation, but at herself for expecting it, speaking it, and then watching it come true.

She walked around the house with that heavy feeling, thinking, “Why did I let this get to me?” Then God spoke clearly to her heart.

He said, “Rebecca, why do you speak the bad things like they’re facts? Why do you believe them so easily? Why do you declare them with confidence—and then act upset when they show up? Why not trust Me with that same confidence? Why not declare My promises the same way?”

That moment hit her hard. She realized she had put more faith in what could go wrong than in the One who always makes things right.

What This Means

If you can speak fear and see it grow, you can speak faith and see it move mountains. Our words are not small. They’re powerful. And God is listening.

Imagine what would happen if we trusted God’s Word more than we trust our worries. Miracles would begin where fear once lived.

Think About This

  • Are you declaring defeat or victory?

  • Do you trust God’s promises more than your fears?

  • What would change if you spoke faith daily?

Prayer

Lord, I don’t want to waste another word on fear. Help me to trust You deeply and speak only what lines up with Your Word. Let my thoughts, my words, and my heart agree with Your truth. Teach me to declare life, healing, and victory. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Closing Verse

“For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith.”
—Mark 11:23 (KJV)

March 24, 2025 Devotional Post a Comment

Don’t Trade Your Fire for Their Formula

Opening Verse

“But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.”
Matthew 6:6 (KJV)

Introduction

Sometimes we try so hard to be accepted by others that we forget who we are in God. But real power, real purpose, and real direction come from being alone with Him. Not from big stages. Not from people’s praise. Just Him.

Devotional Story

A young man had prayed for years to be noticed. He wanted to help people. He wanted his voice to matter. One day, the doors opened. He got invited into meetings with important people—folks he used to admire from a distance.

At first, he was excited. He thought, “God really answered my prayer.” But after a while, he noticed something. Every time he spoke about what God was showing him in prayer, people would go quiet. They smiled, but it was clear—they didn’t want to hear anything that sounded too bold or too different.

So, he started changing. He toned down his words. He shared what he thought they wanted to hear. Slowly, he stopped spending time with God the way he used to. And deep down, something was missing.

One night, he sat alone and prayed. No crowd. No lights. Just him and God. And right there, in the quiet, God spoke again. Not with a loud voice, but a deep reminder:

“I called you in secret. Don’t lose Me in public.”

He realized something big—he didn’t need approval from people to do what God had told him. The same quiet room where God first spoke to him was the place he needed to return to. That’s where the fire had started. And that’s where it would burn again.

What This Means

God wants your heart more than your performance. Don’t change who you are just to fit in. Don’t water down the truth just to be liked. Go back to the quiet place. Go back to prayer. That’s where God gives strength, direction, and boldness.

When the world says, “Be like everyone else,” God says, “Be who I made you to be.”

Think About This

  • Are you shrinking back just to be accepted?

  • When was the last time you really sat with God—no phone, no noise, just Him?

  • What has He told you in private that you’ve been afraid to walk out in public?

Prayer

Lord, I’ve let other voices get louder than Yours. I’ve tried to fit in when I should’ve stood out. Bring me back to the quiet place where it’s just You and me. Help me to remember that everything good starts with You. Speak to me again. I’m listening. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Closing Verse

“Be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”
Romans 12:2 (KJV)