As we continually tweak (or renovate) the trajectory of our lives, we need reminders that God is in charge and that he knows what he’s doing. If we forget, we tend to panic, over-function, stress out (or fizzle out) and try to play God. And that never turns out very well. Here’s a corrective. After … Continue reading When we cannot trace his hand
Author: MatthewRuttan
The Queen’s words
Yesterday Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II passed away. She served on the throne for more than seventy years. In your daily prayers, I invite you to join in with many others as we pray God’s peace upon her family, and for her eldest son Charles as he takes the throne as the new King. I … Continue reading The Queen’s words
Truth matters
We moderns can sometimes shy away from the idea that there is such a thing as objective truth—at least in the realm of spirituality or ethics. Perhaps we hear people having heated discussions and think they just want to win arguments and look superior; so we throw up our hands since it all seems so … Continue reading Truth matters
When you turn a blind eye to reality
Kyle Idleman was watching a documentary about a woman who was thirty-four years old. She developed a tumor that grew to twice her initial body weight. How big did it grow, you might ask? Three hundred pounds. That’s right. A three hundred pound tumor. As they prepared to remove it, people wondered why she waited … Continue reading When you turn a blind eye to reality
Be alert
Something that comes up in the Bible on several different occasions is the importance of being alert. One of the reasons for that alertness is spelled out quite clearly by the apostle Peter: “Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour” (1 … Continue reading Be alert
Careless words
While rebuking his opponents in Matthew 12:36 (ESV) Jesus said: “I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak…” Wow. Everyone will have to give an account. Who? Some people? No. Everyone. What will they have to give an account of? A few of the careless … Continue reading Careless words
What is uprightness?
In my devotional reading I keep coming across the word “upright” or “uprightness.” It’s a good thing. Here are a few examples: -“May integrity and uprightness preserve me, for I wait for you” (Psalm 25:21, ESV).-“Whoever walks in uprightness fears the LORD…” (Proverbs 14:2, ESV).-“My shield is with God, who saves the upright in heart” … Continue reading What is uprightness?
Praying for steadfastness
One of my favourite words in the Bible is steadfastness. Here is one of Paul’s prayers where he uses it. “May the Lord direct your hearts to the love of God and to the steadfastness of Christ” (2 Thessalonians 3:5). Isn’t that awesome? I think it’s one of the most neglected prayer verses in the … Continue reading Praying for steadfastness
What if fitting in wasn’t the goal
Malam Ibrahim was a teacher of the Qu’ran in northern Nigeria. That’s the holy book for Muslims. Through his reading and study he became convinced that a unique function and role is given to the person of Isa Mahis—Jesus the Messiah—as the mediator “through whom the prayers of the faithful are offered up to” God. … Continue reading What if fitting in wasn’t the goal
Shopping for lightning bolts
Hello everyone, I’m back from three weeks of vacation—and so is The Up Daily Devotional! I caught some Z’s, a sunburn and a fish. Business and marketing expert Seth Godin has written: “We need to stop shopping for lightning bolts.”* When it comes to faith, many people seem to be seeking cheap thrills—flashy and electrifying, … Continue reading Shopping for lightning bolts
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