Christian daily devotions can be the perfect way to continually be both challenged and reminded of what Jesus has done for us. Some of the best classic Christian literature has been in the form of devotions, but if you want to guarantee to have a new reading every day of every year then you need to choose a modern devotion. With so many great choices available though, which do you pick to read? To help you, here are the pick of the modern Christian devotions:
The Word for Today
The Word for Today is superb modern devotion that is available both online (RSS or web page) or in printed copy in many countries. It is very professionally written and covers a variety of topics which helps ensure you are always being challenged.
”…SHOULD A MAN LIKE ME RUN AWAY?… I WILL NOT…’ NEHEMIAH 6:11
He had confidence in God!
1) He had passion! He could not sleep at night for picturing the problem and seeing himself solving it (Nehemiah 1:3-4). That is what it takes!
2) He could motivate others! What good is your vision if you cannot involve others in it? (Nehemiah 4:17)
‘THIS I DECLARE OF THE LORD: HE ALONE IS MY…PLACE OF SAFETY… ‘ PSALM 91:2
let His peace fill your heart
‘Do not be afraid of the terrors of the night, nor fear the dangers of the day, nor dread the plague that stalks in darkness, nor the disaster that strikes at midday. Though a thousand fall at your side, though ten thousand are dying around you, these evils will not touch you. . .
‘If you make the LORD your refuge, if you make the Most High your shelter, no evil will conquer you, no plague will come near your dwelling. For he orders his angels to protect you wherever you go. They will hold you with their hands to keep you from striking your foot on a stone. . .
” …MY PRESENCE WILL GO WITH YOU, AND I WILL GIVE YOU REST.’ EXODUS 33:14
God’s presence can give you peace in any situation
Moses was a man of prayer. He spent a great deal of time in fellowship and talking with God. He knew that without God’s presence he was not worth two cents. Can you imagine being responsible for the daily care of two million people; for getting them out of one country and into another – on foot! It is a mind-boggling task! And, if that was not bad enough, most of them spent their time complaining about their lot in life and finding fault with Moses. This was an ideal situation for losing your peace; yet God told Moses: ‘My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.’
Did you get that? God’s presence can give you peace in any situation, including a difficult workplace or a home that is in constant upheaval. It can enable you to show love in the face of abuse and patience in the midst of stress; to bring positive change without a lot of words, and to end up feeling good about the way you handle things. So today, spend some time in God’s presence.
”LIKE THE BLIND WE GROPE…FEELING OUR WAY LIKE MEN WITHOUT EYES.’ ISAIAH 59:10
…give yourself permission to go a different way
1) Refuse to become self-centered! God wants you to enjoy success, but anytime the profit margin becomes more important than the service principle, you will forfeit God’s blessing.
2) Do not get lost in the mundane! One successful leader writes, ‘In preparation for the day, I focus on the main event and ask, ‘In order to make the main event a good event, what must I know? Do? Eliminate?’ Some things will be fun, some will not, but with preparation the most important things will get done well.’
‘…THEY THAT WAIT UPON THE LORD SHALL RENEW THEIR STRENGTH…’ ISAIAH 40:31
‘Wait on the Lord…And He shall strengthen your heart…’
1) Strength. Listen: ‘Those who [spend time with] God get fresh strength. They…soar like eagles, they run and don’t get tired; they walk and don’t lag behind’ (Isaiah 40:31 TM). Do you feel drained today? ‘Wait on the Lord…And He shall strengthen your heart…’ (Psalm 27: 14 NKJV).
2) Vindication. Are you upset because you have been misunderstood? Or because your critics seem to be prospering? Listen: ‘Do not fret…evildoers shall be cut off; But those who wait on the Lord…shall inherit the earth’ (Psalm 37:8-9 NKJV). Cheer up, the last chapter has not been written. When it is, we win!
‘A SPIRITUAL GIFT IS GIVEN TO EACH OF US…’ 1 CORINTHIANS 12:7
Your talents were not just given for your benefit, but for the benefit of others
Before an architect designs a building, he asks, ‘What is its purpose?’ The answer to that determines everything. Before God created you, He decided the role He wanted you to play, then prepared you for it. He also planned each day of your life accordingly. Listen: ‘…All the days planned for me were written in your book before I was one day old’ (Psalm 139:16 NCV).
God would not give you talents and life experiences unless He intended you to use them. You have certain abilities given to you by God. You do not get to earn or choose them; they are gifts. Paul writes, …He alone decides which gift each person should have’ (1Corinthians 12:11 NLT). Because God loves variety, no single gift is given to everyone. If you had them all you would not need anybody else. That would defeat God’s purpose of teaching us to love one another, serve one another, walk with one another, and depend on one another.
‘IT IS IN CHRIST THAT WE FIND OUT WHO WE ARE…’ EPHESIANS 1:11
Spend time with Him today
Fred Smith, author of Learning to Lead, once sent his friends a letter with three questions:
a) am I enjoying what I am doing?
b) am I happy with where I am going?
c) am I satisfied with what I am becoming?
One of his friends, a top Wall Street broker, called him back and said, ‘When I read the question, ‘Am I satisfied with what I am becoming?’ I said, ‘absolutely not!’ I am tired of grabbing the Wall Street Journal first thing every morning like it is my Bible. My life has no real meaning outside of my investments, so today I liquidated them all; I am quitting! Tomorrow I am beginning a new life and I want to thank you for giving me the courage to do it.’ Do not end your life feeling empty, having your insides eaten away by a quest for things that cannot satisfy. God has a wonderful plan for you. (See Jeremiah 29:11). Spend time with Him today and let Him tell you about it.
‘…TO BE CARNALLY MINDED IS DEATH; BUT TO BE SPIRITUALLY MINDED IS LIFE… ‘ ROMANS 8:6 God considered him righteous on account of his faith
Our hardest struggles usually come from wanting explanations and proof. That is why Paul says, ‘To be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life.’ God is looking for people who simply take Him at His Word. When He finds them, He uses them greatly and rewards them richly.
In the Old Testament He found a man named Abraham and called him His friend (2 Chronicles 20:7). Was that because Abraham was perfect? Hardly; not once, but twice he lied, saying his wife was his sister. And when God told him to leave his relatives behind, he decided to bring along his nephew and father-in-law! But one thing Abraham had going for him was, ‘…God considered him righteous on account of his faith’ (Genesis 15:6 TLB). Faith gives you a credit line with God!
‘FREELY YE HAVE RECEIVED, FREELY GIVE.’ MATTHEW 10:8
Receiving is an art. It allows others to become part of our lives
For some of us, receiving is harder than giving. We’ve no trouble giving insight, giving hope, giving courage, giving advice, giving support, giving money, even giving ourselves. No, our greatest challenge is to become gracious receivers. By receiving, we acknowledge our need of others and that’s hard on our ego.
We also reveal to the giver that they have something worth giving; we add value to their lives. Often it’s only in the eyes of the receiver that the giver discovers his worth. When somebody gives us a watch but we never wear it, is that watch really received? When they offer us an idea and we don’t at least consider it, is that idea even appreciated? When they introduce us to a friend, but we ignore them, is that friend truly accepted? Receiving is an art. It allows others to become part of our lives; even to become dependent on them in certain areas. It requires the grace to say “I need you; without you, I wouldn’t be who I am.”

Paul Baloche
Desperation Band
Brian Doerksen
Don Moen
Desiring God
The Practice of the Presence of God 



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