A bible devotional, or bible devo, is basically reading a scripture or two and discussing them together as a group and asking questions and discussing those like, what God is trying to tell us here, or how it affects you, what it means, breaking down the context and asking how does this apply to me in my life/circumstance, etc...
Real life example: (These are notes. You don't have to read this if you don't want to, but if your curious, go for it. I typed out the scriptures thinking someone might not have a bible on hand to read these from.)
Jeremiah 29:11 -> "(11)"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.""
John 13:7 -> "(7)Jesus replied, "You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand.""
(we discuss what we think God is trying to tell us and what these mean)
?- Have you ever been consumed by worry, or doubt for the situation you're in? Wondering 'Why is this happening?' or 'What is the purpose of this in my life?
(then we discuss with on another about the questions)
!- God has plans to prosper you, to help you grow and florish, not to harm you! Yes, this world is painful at times and hurts us. You may not understand why certain things are happening in your life right now, but God says that you will... you will see later. Some of us may think, "I've been hurting for so long!" - "I've been dealing with this for too long, when will it get better?" - "God has forgotten about me..." - "Maybe He just doesn't see me..."
Psalms 139:1-16 -> "(1)You have searched me, Lord, and you know me. (2)You know when I sit and when I rise; you preceive my thoughts from afar. (3)You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways. (4)Before a word is on my tongue you, Lord, know it completely. (5)You hem me in behind and before, and you lay your hand apon me. (6)Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain. (7)Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? (8)If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. (9)If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, (10)even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast. (11)If I say, "Surely the darkness will hide me and the light become night around me," (12)even the darkness will not be dark to you; the night will shine like the day, for darkness is a light to you. (13)For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. (14)I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; I know that full well. (15) My frame is not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place, when I was woven together in the depths of the earth. (16)Your eyes saw my informed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be."
!/?- God sees you. He does. He has watched you since before you were born. He knows every hair on your head and each one is more valuable than the stars in the sky to him. He has not forgotten you. He sees what you are going through and he is right there! He hasn't gone anywhere. After reading that scripture, how does that make you feel? Know his plans for you are good, despite whatever your going through, and that he sees you, and he knows you, and he is there for you... How does that make you feel?
(then we'd discuss that and I'd probably be crying at the point)
**Just a personal note from me-> Remember, no matter what you are going through, God sees you, and if God woke you up this morning He's not finished with you. There is a purpose to your pain.💖**
Jacob expects enmity and hostility from Esau. After all, he stole Esau’s birthright and inheritance. Yet, Esau greets Jacob as a brother with no hostility toward him whatsoever. We often expect trouble as we go, so we, like Jacob, fret and prepare. We spend our rime worrying about the future, and the problems we perceive never materialize.
In my life, I have learned that God is good in His…
Don’t forget God sees you. He sees the good times and the bad. He sees you when you are on fire for him and when you are doubting yourself. He sees you working for him and when you have given in to temptation and sin. He sees everything. He is always there. Just because you have stumbled doesn’t mean God has left you. He repeats 365 times in the Bible the word love. This is to remind you every single day that he loves us. When you stumble God will be there to pick you back up. He will never leave you. There are 14 verses that say this. Deuteronomy 31:8 - And the LORD, he [it is] that doth go before thee; he will be with thee, he will not fail thee, neither forsake thee: fear not, neither be dismayed. Deuteronomy 31:6 - Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the LORD thy God, he [it is] that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee. Hebrews 13:5 - [Let your] conversation [be] without covetousness; [and be] content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. Isaiah 41:10-13 - Fear thou not; for I [am] with thee: be not dismayed; for I [am] thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness. (Read More...) 1 Peter 5:7 - Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you. Hebrews 13:5-6 - [Let your] conversation [be] without covetousness; [and be] content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. (Read More...) Matthew 28:20 - Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, [even] unto the end of the world. Amen. Philippians 4:6-7 - Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. (Read More...) Hebrews 13:6 - So that we may boldly say, The Lord [is] my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me. Psalms 55:22 - Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved. Romans 8:28 - And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to [his] purpose. 2 Timothy 1:7 - For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. Hebrews 4:16 - Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.
