His Light Neighborhood Church

Daily Devotion - Why? Why is light given to a man whose way is hidden, whom God has hedged in? (Job 3:23) I am sitting in our local library as I write this devotional. Not only have I always loved the library, but this space became a place of refuge for me a few years back. I had experienced an unexpected change in my work life, and was wrestling hard with the question of why. The quiet inspiration of the library was a blessing during a time of personal hurt and healing.... Our reading for today finds Job in the direst of circumstances: in just one day his children died, his flocks were wiped out, and his servants savagely murdered. When Job himself endures boils from top to bottom, even his wife tells him to curse God and die (Job 2:9)! And yet, Job doesn’t curse God, but he does ask why he was even born. He doesn’t shake his fist and give God a piece of his mind, but he questions the pain. We serve a God who is big enough that He can shoulder the why questions of life. We can’t, in our finite minds, understand or possibly even bear the answers to those questions in the midst of suffering, but God is still listening. If you are enduring a hard thing today, don’t be afraid to take your questions, and your hurt, to God. In His perfect timing He will help you see His greater plan, and while you wrestle with why, He will continue to draw you near. As you pray, ask for obedience like Job’s, even in the hardest of times. Today's Scripture - Job 3:20-26

Daily Devotion - God, Our Refuge The LORD is your keeper; the LORD is your shade on your right hand. (Psalm 121:5) The game of soccer fills a portion of our family calendar each fall. One of our sons is the goalkeeper on his team. In this role he is the last line of defense, constantly watching and changing position in front of his team’s net. Protecting the goal may require diving at strange angles to cause a deflection, challenging the advancing offense, or physically cover...ing the ball to prevent a score. In the Christian life, God is our keeper; our constant, our protection. The writer of Psalm 121 reminds us that our help comes from the very creator of heaven and earth (v. 2). Our keeper watches our steps (v. 3), and as tired as we may be, He will not fall asleep on the job (v. 4). Verse 7 highlights the extreme care God has for us, stating The LORD . . . will keep your life. Perhaps you feel as though you are losing in life right now. The opposition, whatever that may be or represent, has dealt a substantial blow that landed hard. If you are nodding in agreement right now, remember that God is your defender, and you can trust Him. His mighty hand has deflected shots you were never aware of. He provides shade in which you can rest (v. 5). He is your ultimate safety net. But the Lord is faithful. He will establish you and guard you against the evil one (2 Thessalonians 3:3). As you pray, praise God for being your constant keeper. Today's Scripture - Psalm 121

Daily Devotion - A HEAVENLY INVITATION I’ll be a Father to you. What is the most important verse in the Bible? Many people would answer, John 3:16: God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son. However, this verse from Paul’s second letter to the church in Corinth can make a very big claim as well. In a way, the entire plan and purpose of God can be summed up in the words, I’ll be a Father to you. This has been God’s plan ever since Adam and Eve sinned in th...e Garden of Eden. When that happened, human beings became separated from the Father’s love. In effect, we became spiritual orphansno longer able to relate to God as our Father. But thanks to Jesus, all that has changed! Jesus is the answer to our orphan state. He came into this world to die for our sins and adopt us into the Father’s family on earth. Now we can call God Father and rest in His arms of love. In this book of devotions, Jesus is inviting us to respond to these timeless words: I’ll be a Father to you. PRAYER Thank You, God, for Your invitation to know You as Father. With all of my heart I say Yes, as I begin this series of devotions. In Jesus’ name. Amen. Today's Scripture - 2 Corinthians 6:18

Daily Devotion - The Power of Hope In our ministry we want to help more people every year, and we believe God wants us to grow. But we also realize that if God has a different plan, and if we end our year with no growth, we cannot let that situation control our joy. We believe for many things, but beyond them all, we believe in Someone. That Someone is Jesus. We don’t always know what is going to happen. We just know it will always work out for our good!... It is reported that Abraham, after sizing up his situation (he didn’t ignore the facts), considered the utter impotence of his own body and the barrenness of Sarah’s womb. Although all human reason for hope was gone, he hoped in faith. Abraham was very positive about a very negative situation! Hebrews 6:19 tells us that hope is the anchor of the soul. Hope is the force that keeps us steady in a time of trial. Don’t ever stop hoping. Don’t be afraid to hope. No one can promise that you’ll never be disappointed. But you can always have hope and be positive. Have hopeful expectation every day of your life. Today's Scriptures - Romans 4:18-20

Daily Devotion - The Words You Speak The apostle Peter plainly tells us that enjoying life and seeing good days, and having a positive mind and mouth, are linked together (1 Peter 3:10). If we change our words, we can change our life! Our mouth gives expression to what we think, feel, and want. Our minds tell us what to think, not necessarily what God thinks. Our wills tell us what we want, not what God wants. Our emotions tell us what we feel, not what God feels. As our soul... is purified, it is trained to carry God’s thoughts, desires, and feelings; then we will begin to speak life instead of death. Your words, as reflections of your thoughts, have the power to bring blessing or destruction not only to your life but also to the lives of many others. In 1 Corinthians 2:16, the Word of God teaches us that we have the mind of Christ and that we hold the thoughts, feelings, and purposes of His heart. We don’t manifest them all the time, but we are daily growing and being transformed into Christ’s image. He that has begun a good work in us will complete it and bring it to its finish (Philippians 1:6). The closer we come to God, the quicker we will experience victory in our mind, mouth, moods, and bad attitudes. No matter how far you have to go, I know you can change because I did. It took time and heaping helpings of the Holy Spirit, but it was worth it. Today's Scripture - Proverbs 18:21

Daily Devotion - Believing the Best The person who is close to God thinks positive, uplifting, edifying thoughts about other people as well as about himself and his own circumstances. You exhort others with your words only after you have first had kind thoughts about that individual. Remember that whatever is in your heart will come out of your mouth (Matthew 12:34). Thoughts and words are containers or weapons for carrying creative or destructive power (Proverbs 18:21). This... is why it is so important to do some love thinking on purpose. I encourage you to send thoughts of love toward other people. Speak words of encouragement. Come alongside others and urge them to press forward in their spiritual life. Speak words that make others feel better and that encourage and strengthen them. Everyone has enough problems already. We don’t need to add to their troubles by tearing them down. We can build up one another in love (1 Thessalonians 5:11). Love always believes the best of everyone (1 Corinthians 13:7). We are living in obedience to the Word of God when our thoughts, actions, and attitudes line up with what it says. Today's Scripture - Matthew 12:34

Daily Devotion - Developing Trust How many times have we allowed trying situations that come our way to frustrate us and get us needlessly upset? How many years of our lives have we spent saying, Oh, I’m believing God. I’m trusting God, when in reality, we are worrying, talking negatively, and trying to figure everything out on our own? Sometimes we think we are trusting God just because we are saying the words, but inside we are anxious and panicky. It is good that we are ...taking the initial steps to trust God, but we must also realize we can still grow in trust. Trusting God is more than just wordsit’s words, attitudes, and actions. Trust and confidence are built up over a period of time. It usually takes some time to overcome an ingrained habit of worry, anxiety, or fear. That is why it is so important to hang in there with God. Don’t quit and give up, because you gain experience and spiritual strength as you go through situations. Each time you become a little stronger than you were the last time. Sooner or later, if you don’t give up, you will find yourself in a place of complete rest, peace and trust in God. If you are in a time of trial, realize that worry is completely useless, and use the time to build your trust in God. Today's Scripture - Isaiah 26:4

Daily Devotion - The Greatest Blessing The quickest way to be blessed is to decide to be a blessing to others. When you choose to have a generous heart that reaches out to meet the needs of those around you, God pours His provision into your life. A person who is a river of blessing never runs dry. Something deep in the heart of every believer wants to help others. However, selfishness can make us so aggressive about our own desires that we become oblivious to the needs aroun...d us. People are hurting everywhere. Some are poor; others are sick or lonely. Still others are emotionally wounded or have spiritual needs. A simple act of kindness to a hurting person can make that individual feel loved and valuable. People can get caught in the trap of striving to have more and more. The struggle often produces little or no results. With God’s help, we can strive to excel in giving to others. If we do so, we will find that God makes sure we have enough to meet our own needs plus plenty to give away. There is no greater blessing than giving to others in need. Today's Scripture - 1 John 3:17-18

Prayer for Unity

Daily Devotion - Unconditional Love According to God’s Word, He loved us before the world was formed, before we loved Him or believed in Him or had ever done anything either right or wrong. Isn’t that amazing? God’s love for us was, is, and always will be unending and unconditional. Because God does not require us to earn His love, we can follow His example, not requiring others to earn ours. Love is not something we do and then don’t do. We should not turn it on and off, dep...ending on who we want to give it to and how they are treating us. As believers in Jesus Christ, the love we can demonstrate to the world is the unconditional love of God flowing through us to them. We cannot understand this God-kind of love with our minds. It far surpasses mere knowledge. It is a revelation that God gives to His children. It is something we feel as we draw closer to the Lord, and it is something we can’t wait to share with those around us. Unconditional love always believes the best of people. It sees what they can become if only someone will love them. That is what God did for us. He believed the best and saw that His unconditional love could conform us to the image of His Son. If you’ll freely receive God’s love, you’ll be able to freely give that same love away. Today's Scripture - 1 John 4:21