Daily Devotions for November 2022 thru to 2023

316Judith

A Prerequisite for Giving Thanks - Thanksgiving Devotional - November 1

Note: For the Month of November: Check back each morning for a New Thanksgiving Devotional, “As you Give Thanks to the Lord for your Many Blessings”.

For our present troubles are small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever! (2 Corinthians 4:17 NLT)

To give thanks, we must realize as Christians that God is in control of all circumstances that surround our lives, both good and bad.

In 2 Corinthians 4:17–18 we are told, “For our present troubles are small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever!

So we don’t look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever” (NLT).

The apostle Paul also wrote, “And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love” (Romans 8:38 NLT).

God loves you, and He is always looking out for your eternal benefit. God is wiser than we are. And if He tells us to not do something, He does so for good reason.

Now, the devil doesn’t want you to believe that. He would whisper in your ear, “God hates you. God wants to ruin your life. All those rules in the Bible are just there to make life miserable.

You Christians serve an oppressive God who doesn’t want you to have any fun.”

What a bunch of nonsense. I’ve lived apart from Christ. I’ve had the so-called fun this world has to offer, and it wasn’t fun at all.

I’ve also found that a life with Christ is a life of fulfillment and purpose.

We must realize that God loves us and is always looking out for our eternal benefit, even if what we are presently going through is difficult.

Devotional by Harvest Ministries: Greg Laurie

316Judith

November 2, 2022

Love One Another

By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another. John 13:35

Recommended Reading: 1 John 3:14

In the first century, two rabbinic schools of thought held sway among Jewish scholars: the House of Hillel and the House of Shammai. Hillel and Shammai held what might today be called liberal and conservative views (respectively) on matters of the law and practice among Jews.

The followers of the two rabbis were known by their adherence to the two teachers’ views. It was common for first-century rabbis to have followers (disciples) whom they taught and who promulgated their teachings.

Jesus was often referred to as Rabbi (or Teacher) by His disciples and followers (Mark 9:5; 11:21) as well as by others who observed His role as a teacher (John 3:2).

Jesus expressed His followers’ responsibility to spread His teachings when He commissioned His disciples to teach others “to observe all things that I have commanded you” (Matthew 28:20).

But more than any teaching, He told them there was a trait that would mark them as His disciples: “love for one another” (John 13:35).

Love is the best way to reveal Christ to a loveless world. Through an unexpected act of love, show others Whom you follow.

If we love God we’ll love His children. A. W. Tozer

316Judith

Thursday, November 3

Love by Comparison

Therefore be imitators of God as dear children. And walk in love. Ephesians 5:1-2

In English class, we learn that a simile is a figure of speech used to make comparisons using the words as and like, words that occur nearly ninety times in the book of Proverbs.

That book is filled with comparisons between wisdom and folly.

For example, Proverbs 25:28 says, “Whoever has no rule over his own spirit is like a city broken down, without walls” (emphasis added).

Recommended Reading:
Matthew 5: 43 – 48

Similes occur in the New Testament as well, especially when comparing our behavior to God’s behavior.

For example, when saying we should “walk in love,” Paul uses two similes to explain how. We are to forgive “as God in Christ forgave [us],” (Ephesians 4:32), and we are to “walk in love, as Christ also has loved us” (Ephesians 5:2).

We are to compare our forgiveness and love to the forgiveness and love of God in Christ. We are to love sacrificially as Christ gave “Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God” (Ephesians 5:2). And sacrifice involves a cost, a price to pay.

Love is not cheap, especially love of enemies.

Make a point to love and forgive someone today the way God loves and forgives you.

To love to preach is one thing—to love those to whom we preach, quite another. Richard Cecil

Devotions by Turning Point- David Jeremiah

316Judith

Monday, November 7

The Secret

These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full.
John 15:11

In March 2022, CNN reported on the findings of the World Happiness Report, a United Nations publication.

The report ranked 150 nations in the world in terms of happiness. For the fifth time, Finland was rated the happiest nation with Denmark, Iceland, Switzerland, Netherlands, Luxembourg, Sweden, Norway, Israel, and New Zealand rounding out the top ten.

Recommended Reading:
Philippians 4: 11 – 13

Also instructive would be a survey of the most joyful nations, distinguishing joy from happiness. In general, happiness is deemed to be based on circumstances, but joy goes deeper—it is a sense of peace and contentment in spite of circumstances.

The Bible acknowledges both happiness and joy, but focuses on the latter when it comes to persevering during hard times.

When writing from prison in Rome, Paul stressed contentment (joy) in spite of his circumstances. He had “learned . . . to be content” (Philippians 4:11), suggesting it was a “secret” (verse 12, NASB) and realizing “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” (verse 13).

Christ wants us to be full of joy, to be content in all things. Make sure that His joy is abiding in you today.

Joy in the Lord should be the loftiest of joy. Charles Spurgeon

Devotion by Turning Points- David Jeremiah

316Judith

Tuesday, November 8

Spiritual Infections

Looking carefully lest anyone fall short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by this many become defiled. Hebrews 12:15

Since December 2019, the world has been more conscious of viral infections than ever before.

In March 2020, the World Health Organization declared the infectious spread of COVID-19 to be a pandemic—and recommended precautions: face masks, cleanliness, social distancing, vaccines, boosters, and more. Infections can be dangerous, and precautions can be necessary.

Recommended Reading:
Deuteronomy 29: 18

The same is true of spiritual infections; they can be spiritually dangerous and deadly.

For instance, the writer of Hebrews warned about a “root of bitterness springing up” in an individual, the result being that many “become defiled” (Hebrews 12:15). And Moses warned about the same thing in Deuteronomy 29:18.

But wait—if bitterness can be spread like an infection, could positive traits like joy be spread as well?

Of course! In fact, joy and similar traits might be viewed as vaccines against carnal spiritual infections. We can spread love, joy, peace, and other Christlike traits to others.

Choose today to be a carrier of joy as you interact with others. Be a super-spreader of Christlike traits wherever you go.

Love is the motive for working; joy is the strength for working. Andrew Bonar

Devotions by Turning Points- David Jeremiah

316Judith

Wednesday, November 9

On Guard

And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:7

How about a Greek lesson for today? The word “guard” in Philippians 4:7 is the term phroureo, which is used in 2 Corinthians 11:32 to describe how the governor of Damascus guarded the city gates to keep Paul from escaping.

The same word is used in 1 Peter 1:5, which says we “are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time” (NIV, emphasis added).

Recommended Reading:
Philippians 4: 4 – 9

According to Philippians 4, we have the transcendent peace of God protecting our hearts and minds. Our part is explained in verse 6: “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God” (NIV).

The worries and cares of life can overwhelm us at times, but when we bring our worries to God in prayer, His peace guards our hearts and minds like a soldier guarding a city. Trust Him to guard your heart and mind today.

We need to cultivate patience in the midst of our trials [knowing] that God is actively working on our behalf to bring us to a better day. Philip De Courcy

Devotions by Turning Points- David Jeremiah

316Judith

Friday, November 11

Come, Holy Spirit!

God’s provision of the Spirit of Jesus Christ.
Philippians 1:19, NIV

If you’re facing hardship right now, consider Philippians 1:19. Paul was also dealing with hardship and opposition, but he was convinced of victory because of God’s provision of the Spirit of Jesus Christ.

Recommended Reading:
Philippians 1: 19 – 21

Notice the presence of the Trinity in that phrase:

“God’s provision of the Spirit of Jesus Christ!” (emphasis added)

God the Father, who knows all your needs and loves you at all times, pours out the most essential provision for our sanity and saintliness—the Holy Spirit.

And the Holy Spirit brings the resources of Jesus Christ into our heart—all His peace, all His patience, all His calmness, all His wisdom, all His strength, and all His eternity.

Staying focused on the calling we have from Christ enables us to endure whatever difficulties come our way.

When we know we are living in obedience to Him, He will guide us and be with us, no matter what we face.

Pray for the unceasing, surging, filling, overflowing provision of the Holy Spirit today!

Pray for His fullness, and let God’s provision flood into your heart.

Come, Holy Spirit, every cloud dispelling, fill us with gladness, through the Master’s name; bring to our memory words that He hath spoken, then shall our tongues His wondrous grace proclaim. Fanny Crosby

Devotions by Turning Point- David Jeremiah

316Judith

Weekend Devotions

November 12, 2022

Counting Your Blessings:

And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.
1 Corinthians 13:13

Recommended Reading: 1 Corinthians 13

At the 1990 FIFA World Cup, the three greatest tenors in the world came together to sing for the first time: Plácido Domingo, José Carreras, and Luciano Pavarotti.

The response was beyond belief, and the three went on to record albums and tour in stadiums all over the world.

They were known as The Three Tenors.

In the New Testament, the “Three Tenors” of faith, hope, and love make repeated appearances.

The apostle Paul often grouped these three into a harmonious whole and emphasized them.

Spiritual maturity is found in trusting God with all our problems (faith), remaining optimistic in life (hope), and caring more for others than for ourselves (love).

Why is love the greatest of these? When we place our faith in Christ and develop a hopeful attitude, the stage is set for our love to flourish—and love is the fulfillment of all the law.

Thank God for His tremendous trio of Spirit-inspired attitudes to rule your mind today.

Faith and hope are, in one sense, means to an even greater end, without which they would be incomplete: they transform us so that our lives overflow with Christlike love. Haddon Anderson

316Judith

Sunday November 13, 2022

They Came Back!

My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand. - John 10:27-28

Recommended Reading: John 10:22-30 -

THE SHEPHERD KNOWS HIS SHEEP

22 Now it was the Feast of Dedication in Jerusalem, and it was winter.

23 And Jesus walked in the temple, in Solomon’s porch.

24 Then the Jews surrounded Him and said to Him, “How long do You keep us in doubt? If You are the Christ, tell us plainly.”

25 Jesus answered them, “I told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in My Father’s name, they bear witness of Me.

26 But you do not believe, because you are not of My sheep, as I said to you.

27 My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.

28 And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand.

29 My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father’s hand.

30 I and My Father are one.”

Last June, New York’s Governor’s Island invited Sam, Flour, Evening, Chad, and Philip Aries back for a second summer of ministry—munching on unwanted invasive plants.

The five sheep were a hit in 2021, and gardener Malcolm Gore welcomed back the flock with open arms. “It felt like they recognized me, recognized my voice, they came right over.”

Jesus has assigned us to the island of this world, and He’s our Governor and Shepherd.

We recognize Him, know His Voice, and draw near to Him. He’s placed us here to impede the sinfulness of this world and to follow Him wherever He leads.

All of Psalm 23 is applied to Jesus in John 10, for He leads us in paths of righteousness for His Name’s sake.

What a blessed thought! We are the sheep of God’s pasture. Those of us who know the Shepherd’s Voice are known by Him—and nothing will separate us from His care.

Every day may be a day of blessing, every hour
an hour of victory, but if lived in the thought that Jehovah in his might is your shepherd. - J. Wilber Chapman

Devotion by Turning Point- David Jeremiah

316Judith

Monday, November 14

Be Careful!

My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience.
James 1:2-3

Christians are often told, “Be careful what you pray for!” If we pray for patience, we will likely encounter interruptions, delays, and distractions.

If we pray for generosity, we will likely meet with people or situations that could benefit from our resources. And if we pray for perseverance, we will likely experience trials and tribulations.

In other words, character traits are only developed by situations which test those traits in our life.

Recommended Reading:
James 1: 1 – 7

When James wrote his letter to believers who had been scattered abroad, he told them that the testing of their faith would produce patience (or perseverance, in some translations).

And that patience has a goal: our spiritual and emotional maturity. Immature people become discouraged easily.

Therefore, we need experiences which will teach us not to become discouraged and will make us more mature. Another way of saying “maturity” is Christlikeness.

God uses everything in life—especially the hard things—to conform us to the image of Christ (Romans 8:28-29).

If you experience troubles or trials today, look for how you might grow more mature by exercising patience and perseverance. And be careful how you pray!

We persevere through faith and never apart from it. Sinclair Ferguson

Devotions by Turning Point- David Jeremiah

316Judith

Tuesday, November 15

Who Needs My Compassion?

So which of these three do you think was neighbor to him who fell among the thieves?
Luke 10:36

Our modern word neighbor derives from two Old English words for “near” and “inhabitant.” In modern terms, it describes a person living near or next door.

But we tend to think in more limited terms: a person living near or next door that I know personally.

Recommended Reading:
Luke 10: 25 – 37

Jesus’ definition of neighbor was different. It arose out of a conversation with a lawyer who said that the law could be summarized as loving God and loving one’s neighbor (Luke 10:25-37).

But the lawyer then asked Jesus what a modern person might ask: “Who exactly is my neighbor?”

Jesus answered by telling the story of the Good Samaritan—a man who helped a Jewish stranger who had been beaten and robbed and left for dead by the roadside.

Two Jewish religious leaders had passed by without offering help.

But the Samaritan man stopped and helped the victim and took care of his needs.

This was amazing because Jews and Samaritans were enemies in that day.

Jesus’ point was this: Your neighbor is anyone with a need that you are able to meet. Look for a neighbor whose need you might meet.

People may excite in themselves a glow of compassion…by going and seeking an object that requires compassion. Henry Ward Beecher

Devotions by Turning Points- David Jeremiah

316Judith

God’s Gatekeepers - One Year Devotions for Women Wednesday November 16, 2022

And now, dear brothers and sisters, let me say one more thing as I close this letter. Fix your thoughts on what is true and honorable and right. Think about things that are pure and lovely and admirable.

Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. - Philippians 4:8

Paul names eight “gatekeepers” that should stand in the gateway of our thinking.

First, as our mind is fed information, we should ask ourselves, “Is it true?” God’s own truth can be our measure.

Then we should inquire, “Is it honorable?” Does the thing I hear have a noble ring to it? Is the action I am being asked to take respectable?

Next we need to determine, “Is it right?” Is it just and fair? We can search the Gospels and see if Jesus addressed the issue. What did he say was right?

When we consider what we watch on television or at the movies or what we read, we should inquire, “Is this pure and lovely?”

Will this data I am feeding into my mind result in godly love and beautiful actions? What’s more, we need to ask, “Is it admirable?” Is what I am thinking about praiseworthy and well reputed? Does it sound attractive or appealing?

Finally, we must consider, are we thinking what is “excellent and worthy of praise”? I’m sure many of us would have difficulty labeling most of our thought life as excellent. We should hold our thoughts above the world’s thoughts. Reach for a star; don’t settle for mediocrity.

If we would all determine to allow only that which calls down the approval of God into our thought patterns, then we would be well on the way to experiencing continual peace of mind. So if you value the approval of God, Paul concludes, “fix your thoughts on” these things.

For Further Study: Philippians 4:8-23

Devotional by Jill Briscoe

316Judith

Filling Up the Emptiness - One Year Devotions for Women Thursday November 17, 2022

For in Christ the fullness of God lives in a human body, - Colossians 2:9

Human beings living without Christ long for a completeness that somehow they know there should be yet they sense isn’t there. They are conscious of something missing in their lives.

This sense of lack, of incompleteness, is a result of how we were created. We were created for fellowship with God. But as a result of the Fall, God is distant without Christ, and the unregenerate person is very often aware of it.

Once a person is saved from sin and filled with the Spirit, however, the “lack” is filled up with God. In every dimension of our life, we begin to experience healing and wholeness. How does this happen?

When the Spirit fills our life with God’s presence, we feel his healthiness in every part of our life—spiritually, morally, and mentally. Saved people recognize that they are new creations, indwelt by God himself.

You can be full of yourself, full of good intentions, full of pleasures, full of ambition and drive and yet at the end of the day find yourself as empty as a drum.

To be a partaker of the very nature of God, however, means sharing in the divine fullness—and there is no fullness like God’s fullness!

Do you have a busy life but still feel empty?

Through Christ you have been reconciled to God; through Christ you can have peace with God. You were made by God, for God.

The remedy that gives health and wholeness is in God’s fullness!

For Further Study: Colossians 2:1-23

Devotion by Jill Briscoe, Women’s Devotional

316Judith

What to Do?” - One Year Devotions for Women Friday November 18, 2022

Work hard and cheerfully at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people. Remember that the Lord will give you an inheritance as your reward, and the master you are serving is Christ. - Colossians 3:23-24

The people in Liberia have many problems. But when they come to an impasse, they simply smile a marvelous Liberian smile, shrug their shoulders, and say, “What to do?”

Coming from a culture that tends to believe that people can do anything they want to do if they try hard enough, we may think that this sounds like a weak excuse.

However, simple acceptance of the situation may be the first step to the realism required to live amidst trying circumstances without falling apart.

Christians should be willing to wait upon the Lord until we are told what to do—and herein lies our rest. In acceptance we find peace. Once instructed, however, we must “work hard and cheerfully.”

Enthusiastic “doing” delights the heart of God!

Our daily “doing” must not be for our earthly honor or success either. We must not “do” for people so that people will “do” for us!

Instead, we must “do” for people as though we are “doing” for God.

My mother-in-law was a great example of this text. Whenever she cleaned a pair of shoes, they shined as if Christ were going to wear them; whenever she cooked a meal, she cooked it as if Christ were joining us for dinner. And she was satisfied to receive her “reward” from him!

Devotion by Jill Briscoe

316Judith

My Heavenly Oscar - One Year Devotions for Women Saturday November 19, 2022

After all, what gives us hope and joy, and what is our proud reward and crown? It is you! Yes, you will bring us much joy as we stand together before our Lord Jesus when he comes back again. For you are our pride and joy. - 1 Thessalonians 2:19-20

Did you know that there will be an awards day in heaven?

When it comes, God will give crowns to his faithful servants who have preached the gospel or have led people to Christ.

The Thessalonian converts were Paul’s crown, and they gave him much joy: When Paul spoke of the Thessalonian believers as a crown of joy, he was thinking of his reward as an evangelist.

Some have a special gift for evangelism, but we are all to be witnesses and win people to Christ. Those who do this will experience “much joy” when our Lord Jesus returns.

What other awards will be given in heaven? A crown of righteousness will be given to all who have been eagerly looking forward to Christ’s second coming (2 Timothy 4:8).

You could call this a “crown of readiness.”

Those who have cared well for God’s flock, the church, will receive the shepherd’s crown (1 Peter 5:1-4).

God will give a crown of life to those who “patiently endure testing” (James 1:12).

During the Oscar presentations, I have been struck by the way every recipient takes the platform to thank the people who have made it possible for him or her to win.

When the “heavenly Oscars” are presented, all of us will want to take our opportunity to thank the one who made it possible, the Lord.

And unlike the earthly Oscars, the heavenly Oscars have no limit—there are plenty of rewards for everyone!

Everyone, that is, who is faithful to the Lord.

For Further Study: 1 Thessalonians 2:17 thru to chapter 3:1-13

Devotion by Jill Briscoe

316Judith

Being Wholly Whole - One Year Devotions for Women Sunday November 20, 2022

God wants you to be holy, so you should keep clear of all sexual sin. 1Thessalonians 4:3

What is God’s will for my life? What does God want me to do?

These are very important questions. But one thing God wants of us has nothing to do with doing, but rather with being.

Before we ask God what he wants us to do, we need to understand and accept what he has already said we must be.

God wants his people to be holy, and this requires us to give up our sin. In a process called “sanctification,” God works to transform our behavior to his holy standards.

This happens in the lives of all who have accepted Christ as Savior, in whom the Holy Spirit is working to make them more like Christ.

Because we will not be perfectly holy until heaven, our sanctification requires constant repentance from sin.

Repentance involves turning away from our sins, from all that hinders us from being set apart for God’s special use, from all that keeps us from being holy.

If you are struggling to find out what God wants you to do with your life, you need to ask yourself these questions:

Will what I am contemplating doing mean I will be more like Christ by doing it?

Will I be more holy, more whole than before?

The answers to these questions should help you to decide!

God calls us to be holy. When we are set apart for him, we will be able to serve him—in our family, in the church, and in the world.

This is the will of God!

For Further Study: 1 Thessalonians 4:1-18

Devotions by Jill Briscoe

316Judith

Working While We’re Waiting - One Year Devotions for Women Tuesday November 22, 2022

And I say to the rest of you, dear brothers and sisters, never get tired of doing good.
2  Thessalonians 3:13

Some of the believers in Thessalonica were so convinced that the Lord’s second coming was imminent that they decided it was useless to work for their living! Paul was horrified by this, so he told the idlers, in no uncertain terms, to earn their own living, following the example he gave them while he was with them.

As we await his return, Jesus prays for us that our faith and our strength will not fail (Luke 22:32; John 17:15-17).

He doesn’t want us wilting while we’re waiting! Think about it—Jesus worked hard. He spent years working for his living. And when he did kingdom work fulltime, he was never too harried to heal, never too faint to fight for a soul, never too tired to talk with those who sought him, never too weary to listen in love.

And yet, because he experienced our human nature, he knows how tiredness can weaken our body, and he understands what it is like to be on the edge of tears. Now, as we continue his work on earth by doing good and building the kingdom, Jesus rejoices in heaven over the sheep on earth coming into the fold.

A journey with Jesus is not an easy thing. You won’t get to your destination without sand in your sandals and dirt in your hair, but you will have the incalculable joy of his company.

His abundant sympathy and his “Well done” at the end of the day will be worth it all.

For Further Study: 2 Thessalonians 3:6-15

Devotion by Jill Briscoe

316Judith

The Librarian - One Year Devotions for Women Wednesday November 23, 2022

You have been taught the holy Scriptures from childhood, and they have given you the wisdom to receive the salvation that comes by trusting in Christ Jesus. - 2 Timothy 3:15

The Bible is like a library. It has a historical section, a poetry shelf, and a collection of wisdom literature.

There are practical helps for daily living. If you are musically inclined, there is a section just for you. If you like human interest stories, there are lots of biographies and autobiographies.

There are even books that look into the future!

When you visit a library, you need to know how it is arranged so you can quickly select the material of your choice.

Take some time to sit down with God’s Word and familiarize yourself with its layout.

Then try to read something from each section in the course of the year, so you will have a balanced view of the whole.

The Holy Spirit is like the librarian. His job is to answer your questions, see to your complaints, and encourage you to become an accomplished reader. In the end though, you have to sit down and read the book.

The librarian cannot do that for you; neither can the other people who use the library!

Many of us treat our Bibles as we treat our public libraries. Some of us never even bother to get a card. Others of us start a book, never finish it, and find ourselves fined for keeping it too long.

That’s a shame! It will always cost you if you make a habit of doing that!

It will cost you the encouragement, wisdom, and instruction that are available to you.

Become a book lover. Read in God’s library today.

For Further Study: 2 Timothy 2:1-17

Devotion by Jill Briscoe

316Judith

Drifting Away - One Year Devotions for Women Friday November 25, 2022

So we must listen very carefully to the truth we have heard, or we may drift away from it. - Hebrews 2:1
What is this truth that we must listen to so carefully?

Christ is Lord. After fulfilling his mission on earth to pay for our sins, Jesus Christ, our risen Savior, “sat down in the place of honor at the right hand of the majestic God of heaven” (Hebrews 1:3).

Christ is supreme. Christ is, in fact, greater than the angels, greater than the greatest of people, and greater than the devil and all his emissaries. Jesus is Lord, and his word is true, so we must fall on our face and worship him.

The first-century Christians, to whom the letter of Hebrews was written, knew these facts yet were in danger of drifting away from the truths that they had received.

Is it really any different today? To drift away is literally “to flow by; to slip away.” If only we would so earnestly endeavor to stay securely moored to the truths we have learned about Christ.

The warning of Scripture is clear: “We must listen very carefully to the truth we have heard, or we may drift away from it” (Hebrews 2:1).

The readers of this letter were established believers, and yet the pressures of their circumstances were such that they were willfully neglecting the basic tenets of their faith, and they began to drift away.

We must be warned by their example—we need to be disciplined and pay more careful attention!

For Further Study: Hebrews 2:1-8

Devotion by Jill Briscoe

316Judith

Today - One Year Devotions for Women Saturday November 26, 2022

That is why the Holy Spirit says, “Today you must listen to his voice. Don’t harden your hearts against him as Israel did when they rebelled, when they tested God’s patience in the wilderness.” - Hebrews 3:7-8

Quoting Psalm 95, the writer of Hebrews pleaded twice with the Jews, “Today you must listen to his voice” (Hebrews 3:7, 15).

God’s word never changes. Like the Old Testament psalmist and the New Testament letter writer, we have only today.

Yesterday is gone, and tomorrow is never certain. Today is what counts. Will you listen to his voice today?

“But how do I hear his voice?” you ask. We hear it first by listening to what he has already said in his word. Daily we must expose ourselves to God’s voice through Bible reading, worship, and prayer.
Suppose, for example, that at work today your boss makes a pass at you. He’s a married man. You may feel flattered or even tempted, but as a Christian you know that the Bible is very clear on matters of fidelity in marriage.

You could pass the buck by saying to yourself, “Jesus will say no for me. I can do nothing; he will do it all!” But as you wait for Jesus to say no, nothing happens. Then you discover that you have to say no—and you have to say it today, at that very moment!

Once you have said no, however, the power to keep on saying no will be supplied.

Jesus expects us to be obedient, to make right moral choices, to strive to stay in his place of blessing by living holy lives. What is Jesus saying to you today? Are you listening? How must you respond today?

For Further Study: Hebrews 3:1-19

Devotion by Jill Briscoe

316Judith

As Long as Life Lasts - One Year Devotions for Women Sunday November 27, 2022

Our great desire is that you will keep right on loving others as long as life lasts, in order to make certain that what you hope for will come true. - Hebrews 6:11

How do we “keep right on loving others as long as life lasts” (Hebrews 6:11)?

It seems an impossible task, especially when we feel wrapped up in our own concerns and problems. We do it by faith and patience, realizing that this is the best way we can show God how much we love him. It’s fine to tell God you love him but far better to show him. And one way we show him is by loving other Christians.

Whenever we call a friend in trouble and take time to listen to her struggles, whenever we take small children off a single mother’s hands to give her a break, whenever we pay the electric bill for a student struggling financially to stay in Bible school, we show God how much we love him.

Whenever we visit a grandmother in a nursing home who loves Jesus but has no relatives to care for her, whenever we spend our vacation building a house for the homeless, whenever we give to missions till it really costs us something, we show God how much we love him!

What do you do for other Christians? It’s not enough to pray for them or just say we love them. God sees our heart and watches our life. He knows what we are doing, and when he sees us
love and care for his people, he will not forget to
reward us! As long as life lasts, keep on loving!

For Further Study: Hebrews 6:1-20

Devotion by Jill Briscoe

316Judith

Sorry will return tomorrow

316Judith

Our Things or His Things? - One Year Devotions for Women Tuesday November 29, 2022

And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage and warn each other, especially now that the day of his coming back again is drawing near. - Hebrews 10:25

As a boy of twelve, Jesus had said to his parents, who had been looking for him, “You should have known that I would be in my Father’s house” (Luke 2:49).

Jesus’ focus in life—even as a young man— was his Father’s business. This is what he was about.

What are we about—our things or his things? Jesus’ “things” included being in the temple listening and asking questions (Luke 2:46).

Years later he taught in the synagogues (Luke 4:14-15). When he went to his hometown, Nazareth, “He went as usual to the synagogue on the Sabbath” (Luke 4:16).

If we, like our Lord and the apostle Paul, want to be doing God’s business, we, too, must meet with a body of believers.

We will never find a perfect church, and if we do, we should be careful not to join it, lest we spoil it! We should make our presence felt in our church!

If the church is a group of God’s people, God promises that he will be there.

He said, “For where two or three gather together because they are mine, I am there among them” (Matthew 18:20).

Fellowship is a very important part of our spiritual life, for it keeps our faith burning. If a coal falls out of a fire, it will soon go out.

Believers need to be an active part of a local church. As we focus individually and collectively on God’s things, God is pleased.

For Further Study: Hebrews 10:23-31

Devotion by Jill Briscoe

316Judith

Praying According to the Instructions - One Year Devotions for Women Wednesday November 30, 2022

So, you see, it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to him must believe that there is a God and that he rewards those who sincerely seek him. - Hebrews 11:6

One of the things that discourages some from praying is the fear that they won’t do it right. For example, it says in Hebrews 11:6 that whoever comes to God must believe. But what if I feel I don’t believe enough? How do I measure my faith, or how does God measure it? Do I have to do it right in order to get my prayers answered?

If you buy a cake mix and then ignore the instructions on the box, you can’t blame the manufacturer if the cake flops! It’s a little the same with prayer. We need to read the instructions:

We must come in faith, believing that there is a God who will hear us and reward us (Hebrews 11:6).

We must willingly let God examine our heart (Psalm 139:23-24), confess our sins (1 John 1:9), and then repent (Acts 3:19).

We can pray even if we feel that our faith is small (Matthew 17:20).

We must consider if there are any of our relationships that need mending. Then we need to go and try to make them right (Matthew 5:23-24).

We must come to prayer by asking in Jesus’ name and for his sake.

We can ask ourselves, “Will the answer to this prayer glorify Jesus and extend the work of the kingdom?” (John 14:13).

As you practice the discipline of prayer and try to keep these basic things in mind, you’ll find yourself on the way to doing it right. What’s more, the more you practice, the nearer to a “perfect cake” you’ll get!

For Further Study: Hebrews 11:1-12