Daily Devotion: A Loving Purpose by John MacDuff

Bible Reading: Psalm 35:21-28 KJV 

Key Verse:  "Let them shout for joy, and be glad, that favour my righteous cause: yea, let them say continually, Let the Lord be magnified, which hath pleasure in the prosperity of his servant."
- Psalm 35:27 KJV

What is "prosperity?" Is it threads of life weaved into a bright outcome? a full cup? ample riches? worldly applause? an unbroken circle? No! these are often a snare; received without gratitude; dimming the soul to its nobler destinies. Often spiritually, it rather means God taking us by the hand into the lowly Valleys of Humiliation; leading us as He did His servant Job of old; out of his sheep, oxen, camels, health, wealth, children; in order that we may be brought before Him in the dust, and say, "Blessed be His holy name!"

Daily Devotion: The Soul's Growth by James Meikle

Bible Reading: 1 Corinthians 13:11 KJV 

Key Verse:  "When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things."
- 1 Corinthians 13:11 KJV

When I look back a few years, I recollect, that my thoughts about common things were much contracted to what they are now. "When I was a child, I thought as a child;" for though I heard surrounding sounds, and the speeches of all about me, yet they were too vast for me to comprehend; nor could I convey my ideas to them in articulate words. Yes, when I rose a little from this infantile state, I could not shake myself free of my ignorance, nor from any proper notion of the embelting oceans, opposite poles, and the earth hung upon nothing. Still I knew nothing of the heavenly bodies, of the glorious sun, splendid moon, or sparkling stars; of the beauteous rainbow, falling showers, and flashing thunders. These things, then too sublime for me to think on, are now, in some sense, both intelligible and familiar; and this arises, not from any addition of new powers—but from an increase of the faculties of my soul.

Daily Devotion: Dying Daily and Our Life in Christ by Wil Pounds

Bible Reading: 1 Corinthians 15:31 KJV 

Key Verse:  "I protest by your rejoicing which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily." - 1 Corinthians 15:31 KJV

Spiritual growth is making real in our daily experience what is already true for us in Christ. Our progressive sanctification is an ever putting off all that belongs to the old man, and putting on all that belongs to the new man in Christ.

Daily Devotion: Sleep In Christ by Octavius Winslow

Bible Reading: 1 Thessalonians 4:11-18 KJV 

Key Verse:  "For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him."
- 1 Thessalonians 4:14 KJV

Will it add nothing to the glory of that event, and to the happiness of that moment, when the Son of God descends, and, dissolving the soft slumbers of the holy dead, will reanimate each with its former occupant, that then we shall perfectly recognize those we once knew and loved, and renew the sweet communion, before imperfect and limited, but now complete and eternal? Dry, then, your tears, and cease to mourn, you saints of God. They are "not lost, but gone before." Their spirits live with Jesus. And when He comes, He will bring them with Him, and you shall see and know them with a cloudless sight and a perfect knowledge. The very eyes which once smiled upon you so kindly- the very tongue which spoke to you so comfortingly- the very hands which administered to you so skillfully- the very feet which traveled by your side so faithfully- the very bosom which pillowed you so tenderly- you shall meet again. "The coming of the Lord draws near," and those who "sleep in Jesus will God bring with Him." Let us "comfort one another with these words."

Daily Devotion: Take Up The Cross And Follow Me by Charles Spurgeon

Bible Reading: Mark 10:19-26 KJV

Key Verse:  "Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me."
- Mark 10:21 KJV

You have not the liberty of making of your own cross; although unbelief is a master carpenter at cross-making. Neither are you permitted to choose your own cross; although self-will would gladly be lord and master. Your cross is prepared and appointed for you by divine love—and you are cheerfully to accept it. You are to take up the cross as your chosen portion, and not to stand caviling at it.

Daily Devotion: The Many Names of God the Father (2 of 2) by J.E. Smith

Bible Reading: Psalm 8:1-8 KJV 

Key Verse:  "O Lord, our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth! who hast set thy glory above the heavens."
- Psalm 8:1 KJV

In the Bible names are far more than labels. They often reveal character, purpose, authority, covenant, and destiny. God uses names to teach spiritual truths and to show His intimate involvement in human lives. The same is true about God's names.

Daily Devotion: The Secret Place by J.C. Philpot

Bible Reading: Psalm 91:1-8 KJV 

Key Verse:  "He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty."
- Psalm 91:1 KJV

What is "the secret place of the most High?" It is the same spot, of which Asaph speaks in the seventy-third Psalm--"Until I went into the sanctuary of God, then understood I their end." It is the spot, of which the Lord speaks in Ezekiel--"I will be to them as a little sanctuary in the countries where they shall come." Then this "secret place" is the secret bosom of God. It is an entrance by faith into Jehovah, by a spiritual manifestation of him, leading us into a spiritual acquaintance with him. "The secret place of the most High" is that solemn spot, where Jehovah meets with the sinner in Christ, and where he opens up to him the riches of his mercy, and leads him into his bosom, so as to read the secrets of his loving heart.