Month: August 2025

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Then the word of the LORD came to him: “This man will not be your heir, but a son who is your own flesh and blood will be your heir.” He took him outside and said, “Look up at the sky and count the stars—if indeed you can count them.” Then he said to him, “So shall your offspring be.” Abram believed the LORD, and he credited it to him as righteousness.
Genesis 15:4-6

When God’s Promises Feel Impossible

The Lord made great promises to Abram. He promised to give him the land of Canaan, that Abram’s name would be great, and that all people who blessed him would also be blessed. Abram was starting to see those promises come true, but there were other promises from God that Abram was having a hard time seeing.

God promised that all nations would be blessed through his offspring and that his descendants would be numerous. There was just one problem, Abram didn’t have any offspring yet. According to the custom of the time, Abram’s descendent would be his personal attendant.

But God assured Abram that he didn’t need to take matters into his own hands. God was in control, and God would give Abram a son from his own flesh and blood even though Abram and his wife were past the age of having children. That would be further proof that this was an act of God, not of man and that the Lord provides.

God’s promises are not always immediately visible, but they are always trustworthy. God promises peace, but you feel anxiety. God promises to take care of you, but you face financial crisis. God promises forgiveness, but you’re weighed down by guilt. God calls us to trust him, not our outward circumstances or feelings. Those things change, but God is constant. Even if it seems like God is slow in keeping a promise like to Abram to provide a son, God is faithful.

When we believe and trust God’s promises, God does the same thing for us that he did for Abram. He credits that trust as righteousness. God does that not because of how strong our faith is but because his promise is sure.

Prayer:

Lord, help me to trust your promises, even when I can’t see how they’ll come true. Strengthen my faith like Abram’s and remind me that your Word never fails. Amen.

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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License.

All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. ™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.

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After this, the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision: “Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your very great reward.”
Genesis 15:1

God Is Your Shield and Reward

In ancient times, it was common for conquering kings to exact a tribute from the people they conquered. For twelve years, kings from the east forced a tribute from the kings of Canaan, the promised land where Abram lived. Tributes were expensive and humiliating, so in the thirteenth year, they rebelled.

As you can imagine, the kings from the east were not happy. They wanted their tribute and came with their armies to get it. Again, they defeated the kings of Canaan. This time, they took hostages with them. One of those hostages was Abram’s nephew, Lot.

Abram took 318 of his soldiers and went after his nephew. Dividing his men, Abram attacked in the middle of the night, using darkness to confuse his enemies. The battle was an easy victory for Abram. He rescued Lot and returned home with the other hostages and the captured goods.

One king of Canaan offered all the goods as a reward to Abram. But Abram refused. God had promised to bless Abram, and Abram didn’t want any earthly king to say he was the one who made Abram rich.

After all this, the Lord came to Abram in a vision. God reminded Abram that he was his shield, the one who protected him in battle. Abram didn’t have to fear a revenge attack. God would protect him. God told Abram that he was his reward, not the goods and spoils of war. Abram didn’t make a mistake refusing that treasure. God was all the reward he needed.

We all have battles. It could be fear of the future. It could be pressure to compromise. It could be temptation to cling to things that look like rewards but don’t last. God’s message to Abram is his message to you. He is your shield. He is your reward. Don’t be afraid. The God of the universe calls himself your protector. You don’t have to chase earthly rewards when God offers himself to you. Through Jesus, God offers the ultimate rescue and reward—eternal life with him.

Prayer:

Lord, you are my shield and my reward. Help me to trust you more than my fears and to seek you above all else. Amen.

Daily Devotions is brought to you by WELS.

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License.

All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. ™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.

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All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance, admitting that they were foreigners and strangers on earth. People who say such things show that they are looking for a country of their own. If they had been thinking of the country they had left, they would have had opportunity to return. Instead, they were longing for a better country—a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them.
Hebrews 11:13-16

No Turning Back

In 1519, the explorer Hernán Cortés arrived off the shore of modern-day Mexico. One of the first things he did was scuttle his ships. The message was clear. There was no going back. It ensured total commitment. The only path was forward.

That type of commitment is described in these verses. The people of faith lived as strangers and exiles on earth. They refused to settle or go back, trusting that God had something better. They looked forward to a promised city, a heavenly home. Letting go of earthly attachments, their hearts were anchored in the world to come.

What things do you need to scuttle in this world? It’s tempting to hold onto the idols of comfort, security, and pride. It’s easy to become attached to the pleasures and joys of this world. It’s hard to let go of sins that have become habits. You see these things right in front of you. You’re confronted with them every day, but the promises of God seem so far off.

But God promises a better country. The joys of God’s country far outweigh even the best this world has to offer. God calls you to trust something better: a perfect home, a forever kingdom, a place where sin, pain, and death are no more.

So don’t look back and don’t settle in. Trust in God’s promises and scuttle whatever it is that makes you attached to this world. The cross of Jesus has secured your citizenship in God’s heavenly kingdom. You can live with your eyes fixed on what’s ahead.

Prayer:

Lord, fix my eyes on the better country you’ve prepared. Help me let go of what holds me back and live each day by faith in your promises. Thank you for calling me your own. Amen.

Daily Devotions is brought to you by WELS.

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License.

All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. ™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.

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[Jesus said] “Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom. Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will never fail, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
Luke 12:32-34

Free to Be Generous

There’s a lot of uncertainty in the economy. The summer of 2025 has turned into the summer of tariff wars. And not just tariffs but geopolitical strife and warfare play a part in the uncertainty, too. Will prices increase even more on everyday essentials? How will you make it work with a budget that already feels stretched to the max?

In these times, our natural reaction is to take and to preserve. My food. My gas. My supplies. We grab more than we give. We want to hoard rather than be generous. We let our fear of the unknown economy justify our stinginess.

But Jesus tells us to have a different mindset. “Do not be afraid.” God gives his followers the riches of heaven. He gives them the kingdom. He is not stingy. God doesn’t hold anything back.

God’s generosity frees us to be generous to others. Since God takes care of us, we can use our possessions to care for others. Instead of hoarding, Jesus invites us to live with a generous mindset. Since God has already given us the riches of heaven, we don’t have to cling so tightly to temporary treasures.

When we are generous, we are displaying trust and faith in God. We declare that our true treasure is in heaven. We know we have something that inflation, wars, and tariffs cannot touch or destroy. Because of Jesus, our treasure is secure.

We have that certainty because God treasures us. He sent his Son, his heart, to rescue us from death and damnation.

In uncertain times, don’t be afraid. We have God’s love, his kingdom, and the promise of eternal life. The proof? That’s in the cross of Christ and the empty tomb. God gave everything for you. You are his treasure.

Prayer:

Father, thank you for calling me your treasure and giving everything to make me yours. Free my heart from fear and teach me to trust your care. Help me live generously, knowing my true treasure is in you. Amen.

Daily Devotions is brought to you by WELS.

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License.

All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. ™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.

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Then Jesus said to his disciples: “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear. For life is more than food, and the body more than clothes. Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds! Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to your life? Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest?”
Luke 12:22-26

Do Not Worry

Love has a way of reordering how you think about things. Consider a recently married couple. Out of love, they think about each other’s wants and desires ahead of their own. Or how about welcoming a new child? The spare room is transformed into a carefully crafted nursery with a crib, diaper changing station, rocker, mobile, and video baby monitor. It is all designed out of love.

Jesus invites you to consider your place in God’s kingdom. Just as you would care for a spouse, an aging parent, a child, or a dear friend, God cares for you.

God created this world with you in mind. You don’t have to worry or be anxious. God knows your needs and will supply them. Jesus uses the example of a raven. They don’t have a storeroom for their food, and yet God feeds them. God oversees everything. He overlooks nothing.

God doesn’t just look after your physical needs but also your spiritual needs. He didn’t spare his only Son but gave Jesus for you. If God’s great love for you motivated him to send Jesus to rescue you from your sins, you can trust that God will take care of all your needs.

When worry starts to rise about money, health, the future, or the unknown, remember who is holding your life. If God feeds the ravens, how much more will he care for you, his beloved child? He has already provided for your greatest need in Jesus. You are not forgotten. Live each day with peace, knowing your Father in heaven sees you, knows you, and will provide.

Prayer:

Lord, help me to trust you, especially when worries weigh on my heart. Thank you for loving me enough to send Jesus. Teach me to rest in your peace. Amen.

Daily Devotions is brought to you by WELS.

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License.

All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. ™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.

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All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance, admitting that they were foreigners and strangers on earth. . . Instead, they were longing for a better country—a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them.
Hebrews 11:13,16

Do You Believe Promises?

“This year, we will win the Super Bowl.” “In the next five years, the economy will…” “Your weekend weather will look like this.”

Do you believe promises? It depends, doesn’t it? Who’s making the promise? An honest parent? An over-confident and under-talented athlete? A trusted friend? A classmate who lies frequently? And what are they promising? Does it seem possible?

Do you believe God’s promises? Your sinful nature doesn’t. God promises something—forgiveness, peace, eternal life. Your sinful nature nudges you and says that God would not forgive you (how could he if he knew all the bad stuff you’ve done!) Would God give you an eternal, peaceful, and joyful life with him in heaven (does that even seem possible?) We could go through a long list of God’s promises about prayer, his hand in our lives, and on and on. There are so many “logical” reasons why God must be wrong about his promises.

In today’s Bible reading, God tells us about people who believed, even though they had not yet received what they had been promised. By faith, they believed God would do just as he had promised. By faith, they knew their true and eternal home was heaven. Like them, you are “a stranger and alien on earth.” This life is important, but your eternal life is far more important. Your true and eternal home is heaven—just like God promises!

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, maintain and strengthen my faith in you and your promises. When doubts and fears come my way, send your Holy Spirit to drive them away with your powerful promises. Keep me living by faith until my death. Then, bring me to what you have promised me, a better country, a heavenly one. Amen.

Daily Devotions is brought to you by WELS.

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License.

All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. ™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.

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Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.
Colossians 3:1,2

Keep Your Eyes Focused

One of the things that I look forward to in spring is being able to get my bike out and ride when the weather is nice enough. I enjoy the fresh air that rushes by and the opportunity to take in the beautiful sights of God’s creation.

When riding a bicycle, your head plays an important role. For whatever reason, your bike tends to go the way your head is pointed. If you are looking at some beautiful scenery off to your right, you find yourself drifting that way, and if you’re not careful, you can quickly find yourself off the path. Safe riding requires keeping your eyes focused on where you are going.

As believers in Jesus, safely navigating our way through life requires much the same thing—keeping our eyes focused on what is ahead. There are plenty of distractions and countless things that draw our attention and pull our focus toward them.

The distractions are very real. Financial difficulties, health problems, and relationship crises demand our attention, with the threat of even larger problems if not dealt with immediately. The pleasures available to us create good and satisfying feelings, but only for a little while.

What will truly last is where our focus belongs. The eternal life that Jesus has won by his death on the cross and his resurrection from the grave is a good and satisfying joy that will last forever. As we travel the path through this life that leads to heaven, our focus belongs on the eternal life that has been won for us.

Nothing in this world that seeks to draw your attention will last. The eternal prize that Jesus has won for you will last forever, and nothing that happens here in this world can change that fact. Live your life focused on the gift of eternal life that is yours through Jesus.

Prayer:

Jesus, my Savior, forgive me for the times I have allowed things to crowd you out of my mind and heart. Help me to focus on what is truly important and will last: the eternal life you have given me by your death on the cross and resurrection from the grave. Amen.

Daily Devotions is brought to you by WELS.

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License.

All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. ™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.

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[Jesus said] “Do not set your heart on what you will eat or drink; do not worry about it. For the pagan world runs after all such things, and your Father knows that you need them. But seek his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well.”
Luke 12:29-31

Setting Priorities

Faith, family, and football. God, country, and fishing. Sports, traveling, and work. Partying, sleeping, and eating. What are your priorities? There are so many things in life that demand our time and attention, and it is a challenge to prioritize them. The things in our lives seem to compete. More time at work means less time with the kids. More time with hobbies means less time with our spouses. More time with family means less time spent somewhere else.

Priorities are hard. We mix them up all the time. It is a difficult balancing act as we try to spend time between work and family and God. Then, of course, we all have hobbies, vacations, and kids’ schedules and before we know it, we don’t have sufficient time for the important things in life. Selfishly, we tend to prioritize the things that matter most to us, often at the expense of other people in our lives.

Jesus challenges us to reorder our priorities. He says to put God first. Everything else comes second. He knows what he’s talking about. Throughout his time on earth, Jesus had but one priority, and that was to keep God first in his life. In so doing, Jesus perfectly carried out God’s plan of saving you and me from eternal death. Rather than put himself first, Jesus kept God as his number one priority. As a result, you and I are forgiven and saved, and Jesus was raised back to his rightful place in heaven.

The God who did all this for us now wants us to keep him as our first priority. He commands this for our own good. He knows that our lives will be blessed when we keep him first, and he wants nothing more than for us to join him in heaven someday.

Prayer:

Dear Jesus, thank you for keeping your priorities straight in saving me from sin and death. Help me now to order my life around you and to keep God first in my life. Amen.

Daily Devotions is brought to you by WELS.

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License.

All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. ™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.

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[Jesus said] “Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to your life? Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest?”
Luke 12:25,26

The Problem with Worrying

How much time do we spend worrying? How many sleepless nights do we endure because of those worries? How much stress does worry put on our bodies? How many hours are wasted at work and home because of worry? I shudder to think how many hours of my life have been lost to the black hole of worry.

It’s really a shame, isn’t it? So much is lost to worry, when worrying can have no actual impact on the things that we worry about. What does worry actually do for us? I mean, aside from damaging our physical, mental, and spiritual well-being and causing others in our lives to be nervous along with us, what can worry actually do for us? I am hard-pressed to come up with a single, solitary benefit that worrying brings into our lives. The Bible agrees. It points out that worrying cannot add a single hour to our lives.

There is a better way. Rather than be anxious about anything, we can put our trust in someone who can impact the things that cause us to worry. He is none other than our God and Lord who created this world and us and everything in it. He has the power to move mountains and calm storms. He also has the power over life and death. This same all-powerful God has seen fit to save us from sin, death, and hell. Rather than worry and wring his hands over our fate, God sent Jesus to take action. Jesus lived a perfect life and died an innocent death on the cross. His great love for us has saved us and given us the gift of heaven. His love continues and he promises that he is always with us.

So instead of spending so much time worrying, turn to God in prayer and trust that just as he saved us from sin, he will also help with whatever is causing us to worry.

Prayer:

Dear Father, thank you for your great love and care. Help me to overcome my worries through trusting in you. Amen.

Daily Devotions is brought to you by WELS.

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License.

All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. ™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.