Category: Daily Devotion

Author: Pastor Andrew Farland

The longer you live, the more weight you carry. I have a friend who is in grad school, just got married, is raising two young kids, and holding a full-time job. When I see him, I can sense that he is carrying the entire burden on his shoulders! He is constantly thinking about his future goals for the sake of his family. A lot of his anxiety is forced upon him by the world. The world’s expectations for success make him do everything on his own.

Have you ever felt that way? Maybe you’re in that kind of season right now. You’re in the middle of a season carrying the responsibility of school, work, relationships, and family. And you feel like you have to do it on your own.

That’s not the way of Jesus.

The beautiful thing about following Jesus is that He promises to lighten our load. He tells us that His yoke is easy: His burden is light, and we can put all our fears and anxieties on Him because He cares for us. Jesus desperately wants to take away our desperation. He is begging you and me to let Him help us carry the pressure and expectations of life.

I know that some of you reading this think you’re in an impossible season of your life. Don’t let the enemy or the world lie to you. Give your burden to God when you can’t do it.

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28)

Be encouraged today because God is with you.

Author: Pastor Andrew Farland

Let’s get serious today. Christianity is not a cruise ship. We’re in the middle of a spiritual war in which the enemy is looking to kill, steal and destroy. The Bible says that the devil is like a crouching lion waiting around every corner to attack its unsuspecting victim. We need to go into every day ready to fight off the enemy, and we can do it by not giving Him a foothold.

The places where the evil one strikes are fears, anxieties, insecurities, and self-condemnation. God tells us that our fears are legitimate, our worries originate in truth, and we should be condemned for our mistakes and faults. If he can make us believe these lies, he can slowly separate us from God.

We cannot give the enemy a foothold. You and I must contend. We must take on the fight!

The Bible says that there is no condemnation in Jesus. It’s never God’s will to feel fear or anxiety or to destroy His kids. So, I have to believe that God wants us to do everything in our power, with the help of the Holy Spirit, to contend with the enemy.

In the Old Testament, there is a story about a man named Joshua who fought against the people of a town called Jericho. With God’s help, he and his army secured a victory and moved closer to the land God had promised His people. Joshua’s victory wasn’t the kind you typically read about. You can go and read about Joshua chapter 6, but in the meantime, here’s the gist of the story: He and his army marched around the walls of Jericho seven times, blew some trumpets, and watched as the walls fell on the enemy.

This is what I do when I wake up in the morning. I pace in my room and make declarations about the day. I want you to do the same thing!

God is calling us to fight an unconventional war against the devil. He is calling us to march in circles: around the enemy until the walls cave in on him.

Make bold declarations out loud against evil. Spend time thanking God for the good in your life, reminding yourself that there is no condemnation in Jesus. Worship. When you connect with God, it crumbles the enemy. Find a church where you can plug in and worship God. Listen to worship music during your commute or while you work each day.
Figure out your way to contend against the enemy. If you don’t, he will take root inside of you and take you off course.

“Submit yourselves to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” (James 4:7)

Be encouraged today because God is with you.

Author: Pastor Andrew Farland

Our prayers are the place where God exchanges good gifts with us. I don’t know about you, but if prayer is where I can meet with the God of the universe, I don’t mind giving it a shot!

Yesterday, we spoke about how God exchanges His grace and presence for our willingness to spend time with Him. I personally love how easy God makes it for us. We spend time with Him; He rewards us with His grace. Count me in!

Today’s Scripture should entice you even more to figure out ways to connect with God through prayer.

Philippians 4:6-7 says this:

“Don’t fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God’s wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It’s wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the centre of your life.”

When we come to God with requests and thanksgiving, He returns the favour. It’s that simple. If you and I spend time asking God for what we need and praising Him for what He’s done, He promises to fill us with peace.

The Bible describes peace as “wholeness” or a “fullness of life.”

I don’t know about you, but I could use a little peace these days. My prayers are full of anxiety and worry about the future. They are full of petitions for God to show up in my relationships, job, and soul. Sometimes, I finish my prayers and wonder if God is looking down at me and says, “That guy sure does complain a lot!” God’s words in Philippians chapter 4 remind me that God wants me to fill my prayers with honest requests for my life. He wants me to be thankful for the good things that I have today! God totally accepts when I pour out my worries and doubts to Him. And when I talk to Him about my anxiety and fears, He sends me a peace that surpasses all understanding.

Today, remember that God promises to give you peace if you spend a little time thanking Him and honestly asking Him to show up in your life.

“Peace I leave with you, The peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” (John 14:27)

Author: Pastor Andrew Farland

Life is Full of exchanges. Think about it. Your morning coffee is handed to you after you give money to the cashier. You get feedback from your boss after giving a presentation at work. You get a speeding ticket because you were too busy listening to your favourite song. You get my point, don’t you?

God functions similarly at times when He makes exchanges with His people. Prayer is a place of exchange. Prayer is the place! God exchanges our worry and anxiety with His grace and peace!

Today and tomorrow, I want to share two key passages from the Bible that will revolutionize how you think about prayer. I hope that it spurs you to take steps toward becoming more like Jesus.

Matthew 6:6 is the first Scripture I want you to read. Here it is from the Message translation:

“Here’s what I want you to do: Find a quiet, secluded place so you won’t be tempted to role-play before God. Just be there as simply and honestly as you can manage. The focus will shift from you to God, and you will begin to sense his grace.”

This week, I challenge you to commit time, every day, to being with God away from the daily grind. Maybe it’s during your morning commute or in bed before you fall asleep at night. Whatever you choose to do, remember that God promises to exchange His grace for your time.

Test Him! What do you have to lose?

Grace and peace be yours in abundance through the knowledge of God and Jesus our Lord. (2 Peter 1:2)

Be encouraged today because God is with you.