two for today

My two daily devotionals for today…

Hope For The Future

Scripture Reading: Psalm 42
Key Verse: Psalm 42:5 – Why are you cast down, o my soul? And why are you disquieted within me? Hope in God, for I shall yet praise Him for the help of His countenance.


Hope brings an anticipation of blessing. We live in hope of a wedding day or the birth of a child or grandchild. We have hope over graduation from college or the day we can finally place “Dr.” in front of our names. There are as many reasons to hope as there are people who live each day.

To know hope, you must endure times of hopelessness. Hope represents an end to desperate longing – a need that begs to be satisfied and in the end is fulfilled. When hope burns within your heart, it cries out to be heard.

The psalmist wrote,

As the deer pants for the water brooks,
So my soul pants for Thee, O God…
My tears have been my food all day and night,
While they say to me all day long,
“Where is your God?” (Ps. 42:1-3 NASB)

What is your hope, your dream, the cry of your heart? Take a moment and go to Jesus with your deepest, most earnest pleas.

Realize that whatever is important to you is even more important to the Lord. Let Him be your Source of hope today.

O Lord, my heart cries out to You today. Like the psalmist, I long for You as a deer desires the cool, refreshing water. Rekindle the dying embers of my hope.



Unshakable Faith

Scripture Reading: John 20:24-29
Key Verse: John 20:29 – Jesus said to him, “Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”


The apostle Thomas felt deserted. The One he had followed closely and served for almost three years was gone. A cold cave of stone held Jesus’ battered, torn body, and no one knew what to do next.

Later that Sabbath when Thomas arrived at the disciples’ meeting, their mood had changed completely. “We have seen the Lord!” they cried. But Thomas couldn’t share their enthusiasm. He had not seen the Lord, and he did not want to be set up for yet another disappointment. His focus was gone, his grand vision of the future shattered, and his faith shaken.

Have you been there? A negative experience left a bad impression, and you are afraid to trust again. One more letdown, and you aren’t sure how you might respond. If you could have a glimpse of God in the dark times, you would have hope.

Jesus met Thomas right where he was in wavering faith. The living Christ stood before him face-to-face and told him to feel His hands and side. Thomas responded with one of the most moving confessions of faith in the Scriptures: "My Lord and my God!” (John 20:28 NASB).

Look at Jesus. He is real, and He is there to meet you in the bleakest hour. You will have the same reply when you see Him as He is.

O Lord, sometimes the shadows of the past make me afraid to trust. During these dark times, meet me where I am. Let me see You as You are. Let me touch You with the hand of faith.