Watch and See!

Posted on September 9, 2026 by Arrow

Many times, throughout our weekly activities, we wonder if God is watching … or aware of what’s happening in our life.

The Bible, however, is full of examples demonstrating that God is working behind the scenes. We see evidence that He protects, provides for, raises up, and helps His people.

In the Old Testament, we find a destitute widow who suddenly had plenty to sustain the needs of her family because of one special jar of oil (2 Kings 4). In the book of Esther, a simple Jewish girl was chosen as queen in a foreign land and prevented the annihilation of the Jews.

In the New Testament, to hear about the apostle Paul miraculously escaping numerous murder plots (Acts). We can also read how God used churches to meet the needs of persecuted believers in Jerusalem. These are just a sprinkling of God’s handiwork.

As in the past, God continues to work in the lives of His people today. Isaiah 64:4 encourages us with these words, “Since ancient times no one has heard, no ear has perceived, no eye has seen any God besides you, who acts on behalf of those who wait for him.” (NIV)

Know that God loves you more than you can imagine and is even now working on your behalf. Wait and experience His goodness. In the smallest of details, perhaps where you least expect Him, the One and Only Almighty God is doing something amazing for you!

Watch and see!

A version of this devotion ran in 2019. It has been edited.

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Release and Peace

Posted on September 2, 2026 by Arrow

Perhaps, we just got that text, or call, or test result, and the news is not good. Or there is a possibility that it may not be good. Or there is an inkling of a hint of a chance of a possibility that it may not be good. Our stomach drops and our mind begins the “What if . . .” attack. STOP!

The apostle Paul gave us a strategy for these moments.

  1. Stop and talk to the Lord.
  2. Give thanks for this opportunity to see God at work. Or for God’s faithfulness in the past. Or for God being with us and helping us through this situation. Or all the above!
  3. Ask for His protection, guidance, intervention, healing, help, whatever we need.

When we surrender our worries and stresses, God sends His promised peace. Release the situation—perhaps multiple times throughout the day—into His capable hands and receive His peace. It’s a choice.

Jesus said, “I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid (John 14:27 NLT).

The apostle Paul wrote, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:6-7 NIV).

As a follower of Jesus, we don’t go through trials alone. He is always walking with us. And we can live in His promised peace.

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Your Work Rewarded

Posted on August 26, 2026 by Arrow

From the beginning, work was part of God’s plan. Adam was blessed to work in the garden and name the animals. Together, Adam and Eve were assigned the task of raising the first family and governing the earth and its animals.

We all have work to do. In good times, we experience steady progress. Other times, we may feel like a hamster on an exercise wheel, exhausted, yet seemingly making no gains. Still some seasons resemble a roller coaster ride with sluggish climbs, plummeting descents, and sharp, unexpected turns—all to find ourselves back where we started!

Whatever work the Lord has given us to do, there is a purpose. There is something to accomplish and there will be blessings. We can find encouragement in Old and New Testament verses that still speak to us today.

“My dear, dear friends, stand your ground. And don’t hold back. Throw yourselves into the work of the Master, confident that nothing you do for him is a waste of time or effort” (1 Corinthians 15:58 MSG).

“But as for you, be strong and do not give up, for your work will be rewarded” (2 Chronicles 15:7 NIV). Try inserting your name in this verse after the word “you.”

King Solomon—Israel’s wisest king—wrote, “Even so, I have noticed one thing, at least, that is good. It is good for people to eat, drink, and enjoy their work under the sun during the short life God has given them, and to accept their lot in life…. To enjoy your work and accept your lot in life—this is indeed a gift from God” (Ecclesiastes 5:18-19 NLT).

May we find delight and satisfaction in the work God has given us to do.

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Power of Prayer

Posted on August 19, 2026 by Arrow

“But it is good for me to draw near to God;
I have put my trust in the Lord GOD,
That I may declare all Your works” (Psalm 73:28 NKJV).

Today, I must share one of God’s recent works! A teacher friend texted requesting prayer for healing for a student’s younger sister. The little girl was in ICU. A blood vessel had burst in her brain, causing two bleeds. She had no mobility, was unable to hold a conversation, and barely recognized her family.

Fervent prayers went up for this precious child. Nine days later, we received very different news. The youngster had made a miraculous recovery and was to start school that day!

Incredible! Let’s never underestimate the power of prayer. Praise God! He hears, heals, and helps. He’s just waiting for us to come to Him in faith and ask.

“Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more that all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us” (Ephesians 3:20 NIV).

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Go to the Source

Posted on August 12, 2026 by Arrow

In the early morning hours after sending last week’s “Wednesday Whisper,” I found myself asking, “So, Lord, do You have any ideas for next wee…?” I couldn’t even finish my thought. The absurdity of wondering if the Creator of all had one little idea for me made me smile.

God made us to be like Him, having the ability to reason and create, but we also have our limitations. When stuck, we can always go to the Source!

Jeremiah, the prophet, wrote, “This is what the LORD says, he who made the earth … ‘Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know’” (Jeremiah 33:2-3 NIV).

All we have to do is call. And listen. Talk to the Lord in prayer. And listen. Read His Word—the Bible. And listen. There we will find strength, direction, peace, hope, encouragement, and much more.

May we go to the Source for the unsearchable and go forward with the help of the Creator.

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HOLD ON!

Posted on August 5, 2026 by Arrow

School begins with youngsters nervously squeezing their parent’s hand and sometimes being tearfully transferred to their teacher’s hand. Classrooms are filled again with students taught or reminded to raise their hands. And all school staff members need a helping hand.

As we reach out to new hands this week or perhaps face a new challenge, whose hand will we hold on to? Or better yet, who is holding our hand?

Here are a pair of verses to hang on to this week:

“Fear not, for I am with you;
Be not dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you,
Yes, I will help you,
I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.”

“For I, the LORD your God, will hold your right hand,
Saying to you, ‘Fear not, I will help you’” (Isaiah 41:10, 13 NKJV).

May you experience help from the Lord as you hang on to Him.

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God Makes a Way

Posted on July 29, 2026 by Arrow

Imagine a gameboard. You move your character along the path and suddenly, you are sent back to “Start.” In real life, detours and construction zones block the way we want to go.

Life has similar setbacks, surprises, and delayed dreams.

Think about Israel. They were set free from Pharaoh and were following Moses out of Egypt. Then their road dead ended into the Red Sea! What?! They started to turn around but saw Pharoah’s army coming to return them to Egypt. Oh no!

We know that feeling … a least a little. This is when we hopefully turn to God—the God who makes a way.

A psalmist records Israel’s situation:
 “Your road led through the sea,
    your pathway through the mighty waters—
    a pathway no one knew was there!
You led your people along that road like a flock of sheep,
    with Moses and Aaron as their shepherds” (Psalm 77:19-20 NLT).

Don’t you love that God put a pathway “no one knew was there”? It reminds me of an old song, “God Will Make a Way,” by Don Moen that says:
“God will make a way where there seems to be no way.
He works in ways we cannot see, He will make a way for me.
He will be my guide, hold me closely to His side.
With love and strength for each new day, He will make a way.”

God did it for Israel and He will do it for His children still. It may not happen on our timetable or the direction we thought. But He will make a way. Remember, He is also the Good Shepherd who leads His flock to the best places. The question is, will we follow?

Check out Patrick Mayberry’s song, “Lead On Good Shepherd,” and be encouraged: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7jt_m86E8gE.

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God Waits for Us

Posted on July 22, 2026 by Arrow

You and a friend talk about getting together . . . and then you wait for their text. Nothing. You wonder what’s wrong. Did you offend them? Did they really not want to get together? Finally, you brave a text and ask about meeting up. Funny thing is, they were thinking the same thing! Two people waiting for the other to take action.

I was reminded recently that we do the same thing with God. I hadn’t really thought about it before—that the waiting can happen both ways. Typically, I focus on myself. I ruminate and list and pray about all the things I am waiting for God to do or provide.

Then I heard the song “Wait For Me” by Zach Williams. He sings about how God waits for us even if we take the long way home.

Perhaps my extra “wait time” is because God is waiting for me to do something. Thank the Lord, He is gracious and patient. Isaiah 30:18 says,

“So the Lord must wait for you to come to him
    so he can show you his love and compassion.
For the Lord is a faithful God.
    Blessed are those who wait for his help” (NLT).

Actually, this verse demonstrates that both God and His people wait and both take action. Nice!

Another verse portrays God’s loving patience in waiting for people to turn to Him for salvation. “The Lord isn’t really being slow about his promise, as some people think. No, he is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent” (2 Peter 3:9 NLT). What love!

The next time we find ourselves waiting on God, let’s remember, perhaps He is waiting on us.

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Aligning Heart and Actions

Posted on July 15, 2026 by Arrow

The teenager made their bed. At least it looked like it from the doorway. The comforter was spread out and pillows were posed. But a lift of the top layer exposed chaos—a sheet and blanket left in tangles.

Oddly enough, that’s what I thought of as I recalled the story of Jesus’ encounter with a rich, young man. The guy asked Jesus what He needed to do to receive eternal life. Jesus answered that he should obey the commandments and then listed commands about how to relate with others, like don’t commit adultery or steal, and love your neighbor as yourself.

Well, this man was quite pleased with himself. He told Jesus he had kept all those commands. But Jesus knew the man’s heart. His performance looked good on the outside, but inside, the rich man loved money.

When the man asked Jesus what else he should do, Jesus told him to give away his riches and follow Him. The story ends with, “But when the young man heard this, he went away sad, for he had many possessions” (Matthew 19:22 NLT).

Sometimes, a person hears and knows God’s Word but doesn’t follow through with doing it. Other times, as in this story, a person demonstrates acts of obedience without having a right attitude of the heart or sincere motives.

It reminds me of the religious leaders in Jesus’ day. Jesus called them hypocrites because they demonstrated religious behavior like long prayers and fasting but their motives were to impress others rather than out of love for God.

In one of Jesus’ sermons, He taught “A good person produces good things from the treasury of a good heart” (Luke 6:45 NLT).

Let’s aim to have a good heart with right attitudes and motives and follow through with God-pleasing actions.

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The Rapture or Alien Abduction?

Posted on July 8, 2026 by Arrow

What is happening? Where is common sense? Deception is rampant. Online lurkers look to lure and lead you to line up with their latest illusion. Besides attempting to rewrite history, some are taking a stab at staging future events as science fiction!

The topic: the Rapture. The Apostle Paul described the event this way. “For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever” (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 NIV). In a blink, all true believers will be gone from this earth and in the presence of Jesus.

What will those left on earth think happened? How will it be spun in the media? What could be a possible explanation?

Some people left behind will be familiar enough with Scripture to identify the global mass exodus of Christians as the Rapture. Others will believe the ridiculous, perhaps a hint of the tale I heard spun—that those missing Christians were abducted by aliens in order to reset their misguided brains.

Wow! Some people will believe anything! And we shouldn’t be surprised. Hear Paul’s warnings:

  • “Evil people and impostors will go on from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived” (2 Timothy 3:13 ESV).
  • “Don’t let anyone capture you with empty philosophies and high-sounding nonsense that come from human thinking and from the spiritual powers of this world, rather than from Christ” (Colossians 2:8 NLT). 

Instead, “Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth” (Ephesians 6:14 NLT).

Let’s be seekers and speakers of truth … and ready to rise!

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