Akedah, Author at Akedah

May 25, 2025 Devotional Post a Comment

Building a Fence

Opening Verse

“He that diggeth a pit shall fall into it: and whoso breaketh an hedge, a serpent shall bite him.”
Ecclesiastes 10:8 (KJV)

Introduction

Boundaries matter. Not just in land or in life, but in the spirit. A fence keeps out what doesn’t belong and protects what does. In God’s Word, spiritual fences are essential. Without them, the enemy slithers in.

Devotional Story

A man was tired of his neighbor’s animals wandering into his yard. They trampled his garden and disrupted his peace. After many complaints and no change, he decided to build a fence. It wasn’t fancy, but it was firm. It marked where his land ended and theirs began.

Weeks passed, and he noticed something. Not only did the animals stop entering, but peace returned. His garden thrived again. But the greater surprise came from his neighbor. With the boundary clear, the neighbor started respecting his space; their conversations even became more civil.

That fence did more than separate; it healed.

What This Means

In your walk with Christ, you must build spiritual fences. Not walls of hatred, but boundaries of holiness. Scripture warns: when you break the hedge, the serpent will bite. If you flirt with sin, entertain darkness, or open the door to the enemy, don’t be surprised when chaos enters.

God isn’t calling you to isolate; He is calling you to separate. To mark clearly what belongs to Him and what doesn’t. Guard your heart. Guard your time. Guard your home.

Think About This

What spiritual fences have you let fall into disrepair? Are there areas of compromise you’ve left exposed? What needs to be rebuilt before the enemy strikes?

Prayer

Lord, I confess I have left parts of my life unguarded. I have allowed things in that don’t honor You. Help me build spiritual fences with wisdom, not fear. Strengthen me to say no to sin and yes to holiness. Let my life be marked by Your boundaries: protected and fruitful. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Closing Verse

“Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.”
Proverbs 4:23 (KJV)

May 24, 2025 Devotional Post a Comment

Healing or Heaven?

Opening Verse

“For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.”
Philippians 1:21 (KJV)

Introduction

When we pray for healing, our hearts often cry out for more time, more moments, more earthly restoration. But when a believer is in Christ, is it possible that we sometimes forget the weight of eternity in our petitions?

Devotional Insight

To know someone is saved in Jesus Christ is to know they already have victory. They are not chasing heaven: heaven has already claimed them. When we ask God to fully heal a dying saint, we may be asking for more of them here when the Lord is ready to have them there.

Paul wrestled with this himself. He desired to remain and serve, but he also longed to depart and be with Christ, which he said was “far better” (Philippians 1:23). Heaven is not a backup plan. It is the reward. It is the glory. It is the presence of God unhindered by flesh or sorrow.

What This Means

Praying for healing is not wrong. Jesus healed many. But we must also submit to the will of the Father, just as Jesus did in the garden. The highest form of faith is not in demanding a miracle, but in trusting God’s decision. When our loved ones are in Christ, their passing is not a defeat: it is a promotion.

The real disservice is to withhold release because of our own fears and desires. A soul in Christ is not losing their life. They are stepping into fullness. They are shedding pain and putting on glory. That is not a loss: that is gain.

Think About This

Have your prayers become more about your comfort than God’s will? Are you ready to accept that sometimes healing comes not through restoration, but through release?

Prayer

Father, give us wisdom to know how to pray. We ask for healing, but we surrender to Your will. Help us not to cling to this life when You are calling a soul to eternal rest. Let us trust that Your presence is better than anything we can offer. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Closing Verse

“Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints.”
Psalm 116:15 (KJV)

May 23, 2025 Devotional Post a Comment

Trapped by Subtlety

Opening Verse

“Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:”
1 Peter 5:8 (KJV)

Introduction

Satan rarely attacks head-on. Instead, he lays traps in the form of small, seemingly harmless temptations. The flesh works with him, drawing us little by little toward compromise. We must stay awake. The enemy’s bait is often dressed as comfort, approval, pleasure, or even good intentions.

Devotional Story

A young man named Caleb worked in a quiet office. Every day he passed by a co-worker’s desk who always had gossip to share. At first, he walked past politely. Then he started lingering, just to listen. Before long, he was chiming in, laughing along, and even carrying the stories to others.

What began as casual listening became sin. Caleb started to notice a coldness in his heart when he read the Bible. His prayers felt empty. One evening, while alone, he saw a verse on his phone screen:

“Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth…” (Ephesians 4:29).

He fell to his knees and cried. That night, he repented, deleted contacts, and committed to speak only words that built others up. The subtle trap had almost choked his spirit—but by God’s mercy, he escaped.

What This Means

The devil uses small, subtle things to catch us. He doesn’t always come with a loud voice or obvious temptation. Sometimes it’s a friendly voice, a flattering word, or a quick moment of laziness. The flesh doesn’t resist; it partners with him. And when we are not watching, sin takes root.

Think About This

Are there small things you’ve allowed into your life that are pulling you away from Christ? Is there something that started as “no big deal” but is now stealing your time, your purity, or your faith?

Prayer

Lord, open my eyes to every trap the enemy has placed before me. Show me the subtle things that are luring me into sin. Strengthen my spirit to say no. Help me to walk in truth, holiness, and clarity. I repent of anything that offends You. Lead me back into the light of Your Word. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Closing Verse

“Abstain from all appearance of evil.”
1 Thessalonians 5:22 (KJV)

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)