Christian Devotionals and Scripture Applied to Everyday Life

How do you go about making decisions? Every day we are faced with choices. Sometimes the answer may be just a matter of preference, but other times the outcomes of our choices are crucial. Often we tend to think that the results of our decisions will only affect us, but this is far from the truth. The choices we make often create a ripple effect that spreads far beyond our personal borders. This is especially true for leaders.

In our world today there are many people who like to name drop. You know the kind - after getting an opportunity to meet someone famous or influential, they regularly insert that person's name into every conversation. This action causes the name dropper to feel bigger and more important than they really are.

Every once in a while people find out about a hidden resource that was right under their nose and yet they never knew about it. What a blessing to discover this treasure. Yet what a waste to have had access for so long without taking advantage of it.

There are many reasons that God allows trials into our lives. Sometimes we suffer because we or someone else has sinned, but that is not always the case. We know from the Bible that Christians will suffer painful trials on this earth as a result of being a child of God. When we identify ourselves with Christ, there will be times when we will be misunderstood and mistreated just as He was. Difficulties also sharpen us and help us to grow in our faith. But there is another reason that we may suffer.

The summer heat always makes me think of county fairs and 4-H animals. In the past we have spent many sultry evenings exercising pigs and walking goats, sheep, and even a steer. What a spectacle our family has made as we have strolled down our country road leading our goats and sheep on leashes like most people would walk a dog.

God never forgets His children. It is such a comfort to know that our all-sufficient God knows our name, sees us wherever we are, and has the desire and power to meet all our needs. He delights to comfort, protect, and provide for those who are His. We never need to feel afraid.