Description

Bring some Spirit-filled peace into your hectic schedule every weekday morning with this new Daily Devotional.
Épisodes
  • February 23rd - 2 Timothy 1:5-6

    February 23rd - 2 Timothy 1:5-6
    Feb 23 2026
    2 Timothy 1:5-6 “I remember your genuine faith, for you share the faith that first filled your grandmother Lois and your mother, Eunice. And I know that same faith continues strong in you. This is why I remind you to fan into flames the spiritual gift God gave you when I laid my hands on you.” When I was a boy, one of the great pleasures of Saturday afternoons was that I would light a bonfire with my dad. I came to love the smell of bonfires, probably because it reminded me of those happy moments. The greatest pleasure of all was the process of getting the fire going. Sometimes we struggled, but then by fanning the flames carefully we would have the joy of seeing the fire take hold. Paul used this image to speak of his longing for Timothy’s faith to grow. It wasn’t enough that he had a godly grandmother and mother. He needed to have a strong faith himself, so the flames needed to be carefully fanned. Through the centuries, many people seem to have looked at Christianity as a club, as if all that matters is being a member because then you will have your ticket for heaven. However, the New Testament presents Christian faith as something very different. It depends upon a personal relationship with God. Because it’s a relationship, and no relationship can stand still, it is either getting stronger or weaker. That was very much the apostle Paul’s thinking. He was determined that his young friend Timothy should grow in faith, and that wasn’t going to happen without determination and careful planning. I wonder what you are doing to fan the flames of your faith. We all have a different relationship with God, so I can’t suggest only one way of achieving this, but here are some great ways of fanning the flames: spending time with God has to be number one. Setting aside time to read the Bible, to pray and to reflect is incredibly valuable. Give yourself enough space and time to listen to God. It is also important to spend time with other Christians. Worshipping with them is great, but so too is talking with them. When we go it alone, we can easily assume that we are the only ones with temptations and problems to face, but when we have an honest relationship with Christian brothers and sisters, we soon discover that we are all in it together. Question What are you going to do to fan the flames of your faith over the next month? Prayer Loving God, thank you that love me so much that you want my relationship with you to become stronger. Help me to take steps to make that happen. Amen
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    4 min
  • February 22nd - 2 Timothy 1:3

    February 22nd - 2 Timothy 1:3
    Feb 22 2026
    2 Timothy 1:3 [The apostle Paul wrote:] “Timothy, I thank God for you – the God I serve with a clear conscience, just as my ancestors did. Night and day I constantly remember you in my prayers.” Paul’s second letter to his young friend Timothy is deeply moving. Paul knew that he was close to death and was keen to do everything he could to encourage, strengthen and direct Timothy in his ministry. He knew it was absolutely vital that Timothy had a clear conscience. When we trudge through life with a guilty conscience, it is an oppressive burden to bear. I’m sure Paul’s colourful early life had left him with many sins and failures which weighed heavily on him, and it was out of relief that he could now declare, as a Christian, that he lived with a clear conscience. There is a delightful German proverb which runs: “A good conscience is a soft pillow.” We can sleep soundly when our conscience is clear. No wonder Paul was so keen that Timothy should share his experience of a clear conscience – he could then get on with his ministry without being dragged down by guilt and regret. George Washington, the first president of the USA, got to the heart of the matter when he wrote: “Labour to keep alive in your breast that little spark of celestial fire, conscience.” The strength of Paul’s relationship with Timothy comes out in these opening sentences of the letter. He is longing to meet up again, recalling Timothy’s tears when they last said goodbye. Paul said that he would be full of joy when they could meet again, and he expressed his depth of relationship with Timothy in prayer. He said that he prayed for Timothy night and day. Prayer was not a formal and occasional activity but a continual stream of loving care and concern. He longed for the best for Timothy, and his prayers revealed his deep commitment to his young friend. Question What are the most effective ways to maintain a clear conscience? Prayer Lord God, help me to walk so closely to you that I will be able to serve you with a clear conscience. Amen
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    3 min
  • February 21st - Psalm 98:7-9

    February 21st - Psalm 98:7-9
    Feb 21 2026
    Psalm 98:7-9 Let the sea and everything in it shout his praise! Let the earth and all living things join in. Let the rivers clap their hands in glee! Let the hills sing out their songs of joy before the LORD, for he is coming to judge the earth. He will judge the world with justice, and the nations with fairness. When we think about praising God, we naturally think of people joining together in chapels, churches and cathedrals around the world every Sunday. It’s inspiring to think of millions of people every week sharing in acts of worship. However, the psalmist doesn’t want us to think that this is the sum total of worship, because he sees the whole of creation involved in praising God. Nothing is left out! Even the sea joins in praising God. The rivers clap their hands in glee! It is beautiful poetic language because he is straining to remind us that absolutely everything is bound to be part of the chorus of praise because God is so great. He wants to blast open every attempt that we make to limit the scale and importance of worship. In our praise, we often think about his greatness as creator and saviour. Here, the psalmist instead declares that this great outburst of praise to God happens because he is coming to be the world’s judge, and we can be certain that he will do his judging work with justice and fairness. There is a very deep craving in all of us for justice. It is always painful to see unfairness in the world. You don’t have to spend long reflecting on the life chances of children brought up in poverty, those who have been forced to flee their homeland or those who have been born in a war zone, to realise that we live in a world where justice and fairness are a distant dream for many people. When we join with creation in praising God we are worshipping a God who loves justice, so it is with excitement that we sing our hymns and songs. We acknowledge that he alone is the one who can set our world free. As we worship him, we are being actively recruited by the living God to work for the justice and fairness that he loves so much. Question In what ways is God calling you to work for justice in your community? Prayer Lord God, I am happy that I join with all creation in singing your praises. I thank you that you are a God of justice and ask you to show me how I can live justly today. Amen
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    4 min
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