Bible

by

Thank You For 2022!

I want to thank all of the many readers that have subscribed to my daily devotional blog and to those who have chosen to stop by and read some of the many posts during 2022. It was the greatest year yet.

Throughout the year of 2022, there were over 162,000 views by over 112,000 visitors from all over the entire world. This had more than doubled the number of views and visitors from 2021. These numbers only occurred because of people like you who sign up for the daily emails of the devotional and choose to read it.

When I started this blog in 2014, it was only a daily devotional and I never dreamed of it becoming as large as it is. Over the years I have added in the daily verse, a weekly Give Thanks verse, a weekly Promise of God verse, a weekly Memory verse, several articles of testimony of what God has done in my life, several movie reviews, book reviews, a study on faith, guest posts, a series of articles on marriage, and a series of articles on the fruits of the Spirit.

My desire and prayer during the year of 2023 is to bring this devotional to a new level with a devotional book being made available and that the devotional blog can be done with no ads, or customized ads directly relatable to God, the Bible, Christianity and the church. This takes time, effort and money to make this happen.

The purpose of this devotional blog is to point you towards Jesus and give you a desire to read and know His word from Genesis to Revelation, and to encourage you to grow in the Lord, giving thanks and standing upon His promises .

I will always keep this daily devotional blog free from any costs for anyone to view and read. If this devotional blog has blessed you in any way and you feel led by the Lord to help towards bringing this blog towards an ad free site, please feel free to donate towards it through my PayPal account: insightsfromtom@gmail.com. Sad to say this is not a tax deductible donation but is one that can help me out in building this site better. You are not required to send any money, but only if you feel the Lord leading you to do so.

Whether you send anything or not, I pray that God will bless you in this new year; that you will draw closer to God in this new year; that you will be more like Jesus in this new year; and that you will walk in the ways of God in every area of your life.

Again, thank you for the most wonderful year! Have a blessed day in our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ!

by

Ezra 7:10 Devoted To God’s Word

For Ezra had devoted himself to the study and observance of the Law of the Lord, and to teaching its decrees and laws in Israel. Ezra 7:10

It is common for people to be dedicated to something. Usually it is a job, a sports position or some talent that they enjoy doing on a regular basis. Whatever they are dedicated to, they will spend their focused time on learning it, and doing it to the best of their abilities, always trying to perfect it even better. Some of the things people are dedicated to have a lasting value, while most are of only a temporary value.

Ezra had God’s grace upon his life because he had devoted himself to study and obeying God’s Law and to teaching it to the people.

Being dedicated to something means one is willing to give up other things to focus upon that one thing. It causes one to keep from being distracted and going astray. In the end it brings about more perfection in the area being dedicated to.

The world is quick to be dedicated to things that have only a very short-term temporary value, if any good value at all. Often it is focused on self-pleasure and self-glory or promotion.

God has given believers His word, beginning with His law and ending with His mercy and grace. Through His word, one can learn everything there is needed to know about living on this earth and preparing to live in eternity in heaven. His word, the Bible, has a immediate and eternal value to it.

Every believer needs to be dedicated to knowing and obeying God’s word. No matter how many times one has read the bible and studied it, there are new things always to be learned and taught to others. It is living and active and one needs to be dedicated to it.

God has given the perfect manual to answer how you are to live life on this planet. It is His word. Throughout your life you will have many things to learn and do, but the most important thing to learn and do is found in God’s word. Jesus has forgiven you and saved you so that you will be able to live the holy life God has commanded you to live in His word.

Take time daily to devote yourself to studying God’s word and applying it to your life. It will bring you eternal life.

Today I pray that you will know Jesus as your Lord and Savior; that you will be devoted to knowing and obeying God’s word; that you will teach others God’s word; and that you will know the eternal value in knowing God’s word.

by

Joshua 3:3 Led By God’s Word And Worship

giving orders to the people: “When you see the ark of the covenant of the Lord your God, and the Levitical priests carrying it, you are to move out from your positions and follow it.” Joshua 3:3

Very few people will blaze a new trail into a completely unknown territory. When traveling to a new place, most people will follow someone else’s path or directions.

Depending upon whose directions one is following, will depend upon how well the travel will go and whether one will actually get to the desired destination or not. There are many who will lead a person incorrectly down the wrong path.

Joshua had the people told that when they see the ark of the covenant and the priests carrying it set out, they are to follow it across the river.

There are many different types of map programs that a person can use to be given directions on how to get from one location to another. Some are very detailed and reliable, while others are less detailed and not as reliable.

Every person is on a journey throughout their life. Each person has to choose how he will be led through this journey. The world tries to say that there are many different ways to get to heaven, however God says that there is only one way.

In His infinite wisdom, God has given believers His word in the Bible to guide them on their journey just as the Israelites had the ark of the covenant to lead them. The Bible gives all the needed details as to how to live for God and complete the journey.

As believers are traveling along that path, they are also to worship God, as the Israelites did with being led by the Levites. Worship gives God praise for what He is doing.

Being led by God’s word and worship will open doors for God to open the pathway through the river of life.

In your journey through this life, you will be following a path of some sort that someone has blazed. Do not allow yourself to be caught up in following the path of the world but follow the path God has for you.

Search through His word how you are to live your life. Then as you are traveling give God praise and worship Him for what He has done and is doing. Allow His word and worship to lead you through the river.

Today I pray that you will know Jesus as your Lord and Savior; that you will allow God’s word to guide your every action and move; that you will worship God with every step and breath you take; and that you will see the path God has for you to take.