Today in the Word Devotional

For those of us discouraged over our lack of spiritual progress, Andrew Murray offers words of consolation: “Regeneration is a birth: the center and root of the personality, the spirit, has been renew …

Researchers at Duke University who study human behavior have concluded that more than 40 percent of our actions are not a result of conscious decisions; instead, they are the product of our habits. In …

In the sport of swimming, coaches help guide their athletes several weeks before a major competition to “taper” effectively. In essence, a taper is a period of time when the swimmer reduces the intens …

Before his conversion to Christ, Charles Wesley looked like a believer. He studied the Bible, participated in prison ministry, and even traveled to America to preach the gospel to Native Americans. On …

In Dostoyevsky’s novel The Brothers Karamazov the Grand Inquisitor states, “Man is tormented by no greater anxiety than to find someone quickly to whom he can hand over that gift of freedom.” Sometime …

Tucked in the Bible just before the dramatic apocalypse of Revelation, the 25 verses that comprise the entire book of Jude are easy to miss. But this short letter contains great passion. In vivid, poe …

At 26, Janet didn’t think she was an alcoholic, but she could be on her way to becoming one. She wanted to change and started ordering lemonade instead of beer at restaurants and avoiding the bar wher …

“The best defense is a good offense.” This adage is often used to justify aggressive behavior when threatened. But while the adage has some common sense, it doesn’t reflect kingdom sense. As we see in …

Dietrich Bonhoeffer wrote about an experience he had while attending a service in the historic Sacre Coeur cathedral in France. “The people in the church were almost exclusively from Montmartre; prost …

Today’s parable of the widow and the judge is often read as an argument for the power of persistent prayer. But we’ll see that paying close attention to the text will give us a truer picture of our gr …

Even the most nurturing parents would be excused for feeling exhausted by the seemingly constant needs of their children. Who hasn’t wilted at the sound of another loud “Mom!” echoing through the hous …

The number of Americans who claim a religious affiliation has declined in the last several years, but the number of those who say they believe in miracles has increased at the same time. Four in five …

A man suffering from multiple sclerosis believed he would receive healing as a result of his faithful prayer. As the years went by and his body continued to fail, he struggled with the seeming inadequ …

The story of Christ’s time in the Garden of Gethsemane is deeply unsettling. Up until then, Jesus had been the perfectly obedient servant of God’s will. But here Jesus wrestled with His own willingnes …

“As Christ our Savior has commanded us, we are bold to say: ‘Our Father . . .’” Many pastors use words like these to lead their congregations in reciting the Lord’s Prayer together. And indeed, it’s a …