Day 27

DAILY DEVOT IONAL 27

Sandy Callahan

Therefore be imitators of God as dear children. And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering of sweet smelling aroma. - Ephesians 5:1&2

As we live to be more like Jesus, we occasionally forget that love is the highest law in the kingdom of God and that we are never more like Jesus that when we forgive others. In this Lenten season I'm reminded that as we remember the scene at the foot of the cross, the executioners were there gambling for the garment of the Lord. Right above them, His broken, bleeding body, nailed to MY cross, dying in MY place, He looked down and did NOT say, you bunch of criminals! you'll be sorry! No, He said, Father forgive them, they don't even know what they are doing, that's my paraphrase but you get the message. What do we do with the Lord's prayer? Jesus taught us to pray "Father forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us? I'm quite rusty on this business of being an imitator of the Lord in the area of forgiveness, although I don't usually forget that others need to keep the command of forgiving my "transgressions." So, here I am in this holy time of this new year considering what to lay aside to draw closer to Jesus. I've decided to lay aside the opportunities to hold onto hurts and in being more willing to forgive others. I'm hoping I can develop a new pattern that will strengthen my partnership with the Lord in the process of restoring the wounded believers and non-believers alike. 2 Corinthians 5:18 reminds us, "All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to Himself AND gave US the ministry of reconciliation." Think about that.

LET'S PRAY:

Dear Jesus, We thank you for being our example of God's love and forgiveness toward us. We appreciate the honor of our partnership with You. As Your beloved children, help us as we practice forgiveness and reconciliation so that those within the scope of our reach can come to know the great love you have for them too. Amen

Day 26

DAILY DEVOT IONAL 26

Pastor Megan Mead-Bracknell

Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. - Psalm 119:105 (ESV)

During my four years as a Domestic Violence Counselor, I saw a lot of scares and a lot of wounds. Women and children were hurt by people they though they could trust and came to us for assistance. They were disappointed by human sin. Each person had a story and needed to experiences healing.

I remember one woman who had to move across country with her two daughters for safety. They not only needed a safe place to move, but needed to change their identity. She knew that she would not be able to return home and that her life would never be the same. Her wounds were so deep. She arrived at the shelter scared, angry and uncertain of her next moves.

When this woman was giving a chance to pick out some items for her new room, she gravitated to a Bible. She was so pleased that she could add this second hand book to her few possessions. Through classes and support groups, she was able to find a school for her girls, a job, a church and a new place to live. Through the pages of the Bible, she was able to find hope and a Light to lead guide her down a new path. She was also able to find her identity not only in life, but in Christ. She found the healing that only God can offer. She was able to start fresh, move on and turn both physical and emotional wounds into scars.

QUESTIONS:

1. How are you using your Bible to help turn wounds into scars?

2. How do the promises in the pages move you and change you? 3. Who can you share Scripture with today?

PRAYER:

Dear Healing and Redeeming God, Thank you for your presence in our hardest situations in life. You are the Great Physician and know how to heal our deepest wounds. Thank you for guiding us an lifting us up on wings like eagles. Thank you for the pages of Scripture that sustain us and help to heal our wounds. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Day 25

DAILY DEVOT IONAL 25

Vernon House

You whom I took from the ends of the earth, and called from its farthest corners, saying to you, “you are my servant, I have chosen you and not cast you off”; fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your god; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. - Isaiah 41:9-10

As a young man I struggled with the demons of addiction, before long I was faced with the challenge of continuing this path of destruction and certain death or stopping and changing my life for the better? The choice was clear but the problem was that I didn’t know how to stop. I was tired and afraid and completely unable to find my way! I prayed to God to help me, I knew that without him I would surely die. That was over 30 years ago and I have been clean and sober ever since.

QUESTIONS

1. Have you ever felt lost and didn’t know which way to go or who to turn to?

2. Has fear and confusion ever overwhelmed your ability to make important “life” decisions?

PRAYER:

Thank you god for your forgiveness, your strength and your healing. Thank you for never abandoning us and for allowing us to always have a chance at redemption and everlasting life. Your love is beyond our comprehension and we are blessed and grateful to be your children. Amen.

Day 24

DAILY DEVOT IONAL 24

Ms. Virgil Anne Williams

Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. - Psalm 23:6 (NLT)

ANGELS IN THE OPERATING ROOM WRITTEN

My doctor had felt a lump in my breast and had ordered a biopsy as my mom and younger sister had had breast cancer. The results came in and my doctor said, I too had breast cancer. He wanted me to have further testing to ensure my lymph nodes were unaffected. The 23rd Psalm states, that when we are uncertain or anxious the Good Shepherd provides all, we need.

The evening before my second procedure, I prayed for angels, something I had never done before. I prayed that the team responsible for cleaning and sanitizing the operating room would be covered by angels. I prayed that the anesthesiologist, the nurses, and my surgeon, would be covered by angels. I prayed that everybody in the operating room would be covered by angels. When we think we are walking alone, the Good Shepherd is always walking beside us.

My daughter, Stephanie took me to the hospital. We had been told that the procedure would take about 45 minutes. Three hours later she still had no news of what was happening. I was unconscious so I had no idea what was happening to me in the OR. My surgery was scheduled for 6:00 am and that was a blessing because all the doctors that I would need were in the hospital doing their morning rounds before they went to their private practices. I was injected with a blue dye, which was iodine-based, and I am allergic to iodine. My doctor told me my reaction was immediate. I went into a severe anaphylactic shock; all my organs were shutting down. In the presence of my enemy the Good Shepherd was preparing a feast for me, and He honored me with a blessing of oil. A heart specialist was there, a pulmonologist was there, a kidney specialist and a liver specialist were there. Every doctor that I needed was there. When I awakened three days later, I was on life support, my sisters were standing around my hospital bed reassuring me that I was fine, and they had come to be supportive of Stephanie. The same-day procedure stretched into nine days and doctor after doctor came to my bedside to see the miracle woman. My surgeon came and said, “I do not know why you are still alive; it is nothing that I did that saved you, there was a presence in the operating room,” and I smiled and told him I had prayed for angels. He said, “They were there.”

Dear Lord, I praise you and thank you that in May 2025 it will be 20 years since that happened; surely your goodness and mercy had me covered, even until this day. Amen.

Day 23

DAILY DEVOT IONAL 23

Sam Jo, Cross Keys Church

But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed. - Isaiah 53:5 (NIV)

DEVOTIONAL REFLECTION

As I reflect on my own journey of healing, I realize that healing is rarely instant. It’s a journey— sometimes long, sometimes painful, but always guided by grace. Often, we long for wounds to disappear, for scars to be erased, and for brokenness to be undone. Yet, in Scripture, we see a different picture. The wounds of Christ did not vanish after His resurrection. He showed His scars to His disciples, not as a sign of defeat, but as proof of victory.

Our healing may not always look like what we expect. Sometimes, God does not remove our struggles but redeems them, using our pain to bring peace, just as Jesus' suffering brought salvation. Perhaps the greatest healing is not the absence of wounds but the transformation of our wounds into a testimony of God’s faithfulness.

During this Lenten season, as we walk toward the cross, may we remember that healing is not just about restoration but about redemption. Just as Christ’s wounds brought life to the world, God can use even our deepest wounds to reveal His grace and bring healing to others.

REFLECTION QUESTIONS:

1. How have you seen God work through a painful or difficult season in your life?

2. What wounds in your life might God be transforming into a testimony of healing?

3. How can you extend Christ’s healing love to someone who is struggling today?

CLOSING PRAYER

Loving God, thank You for the healing that comes through Christ. Help me to trust You in the midst of my wounds, knowing that You are working all things for good. Teach me to see my scars not as signs of brokenness, but as reminders of Your faithfulness. Use my journey of healing to bring comfort and hope to others. In Jesus' name, Amen.

HYMNS, SONGS, OR ADDITIONAL RESOURCES:

• "There Is a Balm in Gilead"

Day 22

DAILY DEVOT IONAL 22

Ben Lee

Don’t you know? Haven’t you heard?

The Lord is the everlasting God,

the creator of the ends of the earth.

He doesn’t grow tired or weary.

His understanding is beyond human reach,

giving power to the tired

and reviving the exhausted.

Youths will become tired and weary,

young men will certainly stumble;

but those who hope in the Lord

will renew their strength;

they will fly up on wings like eagles;

they will run and not be tired;

they will walk and not be weary. -

Isaiah 40:28-31 (CEB)

IN TOO DEEP

In the coldest, dreariest days of each Winter, my wife and I like to plan Summer trips to scorchingly hot places, the hotter the better. Last year, that meant mapping out a trip to Arizona for some hiking in and around Flagstaff and at Grand Canyon National Park. It was a trip we’ve dreamed of making for many years. Tickets were booked, reservations made, and earnest efforts to prepare and get in better shape were half-heartedly gestured toward.

Now, I love to climb up the mountains we have here on the East Coast, up through the Adirondacks and New England. One great thing about climbing a mountain is that the hardest part comes first. Hiking a canyon is the opposite experience. Down feels like nothing, but then you turn around and see how far you’ve come, and how far up you have left to go.

*Gulp*

Recovery from an illness or injury always takes too long. We are prone to impatience, overdoing it, and reinjuring ourselves, starting the cycle again. When we have an emotional setback, like a break-up or a falling-out with friends or family, the path to restoration can also feel like an impossible, uphill climb.

The morning my wife and I set out on the Bright Angel Trail was cool and breezy for late June, yet traveling thousands of feet downhill toward the Colorado River meant it got hotter the deeper we went. 2 By the time we got to our planned turnaround at the Three-Mile Resthouse, I knew I had made a mistake. It was 100 degrees. I was tired. Squirrels were stealing snacks from my backpack if I stopped for a second. It was all too much.

It took a little over an hour to get down. It took four to climb out. We needed to stop every few minutes to find what shade we could, drink, and catch our breath. It wasn’t easy, but we made it up and out.

In life, when we recognize we have made mistakes or gotten off the path we want to be on even by no fault of our own, the road back can be difficult. It seems impossible. Yet we trust in a God who never grows tired or weary, whose understanding is beyond ours. Whatever your healing needs may be, trust that the God we follow together will carry you through.

QUESTIONS:

1. Can you think of a time when you found yourself at the bottom of a canyon – whether literally or metaphorically?

2. What sort of pauses or breaks can you take along your own journey of healing to safeguard the progress you’ve made?

3. Who can you turn to for help when the path ahead feels steeper and harder than you are able to climb alone?

PRAYER:

God of hills and valleys, of high places and low, of mountains and canyons – we trust you even when the way is challenging. Help us to remember the all the challenges you have carried us through already, and remind us of your unfailing grace to carry us through whatever comes next. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Day 21

DAILY DEVOT IONAL 21

Tim Conaway

27 “Peace I leave with you. My peace I give you. I give to you not as the world gives. Don’t be troubled or afraid. - John 14:27 (CEB)

This past Christmas was the year of LEGO in our household—not just for our children, but for me as well! I didn’t grow up playing LEGO (or is it “playing with LEGOs”?), but that changed this past summer. While on vacation, our two sons received LEGO sets and asked me to help build them. I quickly discovered how cathartic and peaceful the process was. It gave me a chance to connect with my children, to be fully present, and to slow down.

The word LEGO is "an abbreviation of the two Danish words “leg godt”, meaning “play well”". That’s something our world could use more of, isn’t it? Too often, we struggle to play well with others. How do we do that? I believe it starts with making peace; peace in ourselves, and with others.

In Hebrew, the word for peace is shalom—meaning not just the absence of conflict, but a state of wholeness and completion. Think of a LEGO set: when every piece is in place, it is whole, complete—it is in a state of shalom. It is bringing together and mending that which has been broken.

The kind of peace that makes us complete and whole only comes from God. Jesus says he gives us peace, not as the world gives, to which we say “Thank God”. For us to play well with one another we need to allow God to do a work in us, to transform us and make us whole. The One who mends the brokenness of this world and makes us whole gives us a charge, to be peacemakers, to love one another. So may we LEGO, play well with others, by being peacemakers, who live in, through, and by God's grace.

May the peace of God that exceeds all understanding keep our hearts and minds safe in Christ Jesus. To make us complete and made whole in love.

God of Peace, continue to do a work in us–in our World, mending what is broken, bringing hope, restoration, recovery, renewal, and to send us out as people of Your Shalom. We ask this in the name of the One who gives us not as the World does, Jesus the Christ. Amen.

HYMNS, SONGS, OR ADDITIONAL RESOURCES:

• • It Is Well (UMH #377)

Day 20

DAILY DEVOT IONAL 20

Deanna Geiter

Deep calls to deep at the thunder of your cataracts; all your waves and your billows have gone over me. By day the LORD commands his steadfast love, and at night his song is with me, a prayer to the God of my life. - Psalm 42:7-8

What songs are you singing today? Is there a melody in your heart? How is that melody speaking to your soul? Recently, I was working with a large group of students as they learned about how Joshua led the Israelites to march around the walls of Jericho seven times before the walls tumbled and collapsed. For the lesson, the students marched around a wall blowing horns which sounded like a dreadful drone. Perhaps, that is your song today. There is power in music. There is power in the sighs, the groans and even the dreadful drones. Through this story, we learn that God’s promises are steadfast and true, so we should follow God, listen to God and obey God, even when life here on earth isn’t fair and doesn’t make sense. Still, we are called to share a faithful witness to the goodness of God.

One afternoon I went to the hospital to visit a friend but as I walked down the hallway a woman stopped me. She knew me from living in the community. As soon as she saw me, her face brightened up, she began waving to me and calling my name. Her son was in critical condition following an accident. The prognosis for healing wasn’t known at this time as the situation was tenuous. She greeted me and asked, “Will come in and pray with us?” I agreed and felt honored to be asked to pray with her and her son, but to my surprise as we opened the door to enter his room, the room was full with family members who circled the bed. They all greeted me but then continued to pray. This moment was life transformative for me. They were holding hands, taking turns praying and leaving some space for silence. One of the children who was part of the circle began to sing the song, “Jesus Loves Me” followed by “I’ve Got the Joy, Joy, Joy Down in My Heart.” Despite the groans and the sighs, despite the uncertainty and the unknown, there was joy and there was peace. In those moments I learned the power of music and how the melodies that are on hearts brings us hope and joy. The songs we sing speak to the depths of our longings, grief, and pain. I also learned the importance of community and how healing occurs when we can come together seeking God and seeking the good and grace in all things, despite the circumstances.

Storms come and go. Droughts and famines are often present. However, through it all, we can trust that God is with and God is for us. Landscapes will change. The things of this world will come and go, but our God is faithful, steadfast, and always present. Our God will work through our challenges, chaos and “stuff” to bring about goodness. God has covered each of us with grace. Our God is our Rock and Redeemer. It is our God who restores. During the chaos and disruptions in our life, the melodies in our hearts will sustain us. Sing the songs of faith and praise. What is songs are you singing? What is your theme song? How are you giving God the glory through the songs you sing?

PRAYER:

You, O Lord, are our Rock and Redeemer. It is You who sustains us and comforts us. Thank you for the gift of song that you have placed in our hearts. Speak to us and give a bold, faithful witness to your steadfast love, even in the midst of the storms. Amen.

QUESTIONS:

1. Read Joshua 6. What are some walls in your life that need to come down?

2. Read Romans 8:28. How have you witnessed God at work in your life to make things good, right, just and holy? Please note that Scripture does not say that we will never have trials.

3. Read Psalm 42. What is your song that you are singing to the Lord? How have you witnessed restoration following the storm?

HYMNS, SONGS, OR ADDITIONAL RESOURCES:

• Rock of Ages

• It Is Well with My Soul

• Take My Life

• Praise You in this Storm

• Eye of the Storm

• Goodness of God

• Peace Be Still

• Blessed Be the Name

Day 19

DAILY DEVOT IONAL 19

Jisun Yang

43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 so that you may be children of your Father in heaven; for he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the righteous and on the unrighteous. - Matthew 5:42-45

“FROM SURVIVAL TO HEALING--THE JOURNEY OF FORGIVENESS”

A couple of weeks ago, our staff team had the opportunity to receive CPR/AED training from one of our church families, who run a health education company. After witnessing a church member suffer a heart attack several months ago, we were eager and motivated to learn about how we could help others in unexpected emergencies. Though the class lasted three hours, it didn’t feel that long – it was engaging, with hands-on activities, instructional videos, CPR/AED practice with manikins, and a Q&A session. We learned many things, but my biggest takeaway was this: the primary purpose of CPR is to increase the likelihood of survival by providing oxygen to the brain when the heart stops beating. CPR doesn’t heal victims, but it can be the first step in their healing journey, giving them a chance to receive advanced care to continue on the path to recovery.

Life is full of twists and turns. Divisiveness in our community and country raises collective anxiety. The grief of losing loved ones or missed opportunities cuts deep. When we’re hurt or harmed, our human response is to seek payback – to hit back when struck, to retort when insulted. It is easy to react out of anger, resentment, and bitterness, but these emotions consume us, holding us back. Like a downward spiral, they pull us deeper into hurt, harm, and loss. Only forgiveness frees us, and the journey begins with our choice.

Just as CPR sustains life, our willingness to begin the journey of forgiveness creates space for healing. Forgiveness doesn’t mean forgetting the hurt. Instead, it starts with acknowledging the pain and sharing the story in a safe place where we can listen to one another with open hearts and minds and without judgment. Forgiveness is not weakness—it is a bold act of faith that disrupts cycles of pain and allows us to move forward, creating room for God to work—for restoration, peace, and renewal.

Jesus calls us to respond differently than our natural instincts would lead us. In Matthew 5:44, He says, “Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.” Forgiveness keeps the heart open, prevents bitterness from taking over, and invites the Holy Spirit to do what only God can - bring true healing to our lives and communities.

Who in your life needs a breath of grace today? Where is God calling you to step away from retaliation and toward a posture of forgiveness? May we trust that healing begins with grace and be people who extend it freely, just as we have received it from Christ.

PRAYER:

Gracious and merciful God, Thank You for the gift of forgiveness and the healing You bring into our lives. When we are hurt, help us not to be consumed by anger or resentment. Instead, teach us to extend grace, give us the courage to seek peace, and trust in Your justice. May Your love be the oxygen that revives our weary hearts and enables true healing to begin today. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

REFLECTION:

What would it look like to surrender your pain over to God and invite Him into your healing process?

Day 18

DAILY DEVOT IONAL 18

Sue Grimm McCoy Mattox

Lord my God, I called to you and to help, and you healed me. - Psalms 30:2

The definition of heal is 'cause [ a wound, injury, or person] to become sound or healthy again. Ask any child if something is healed what does it mean, they say it gets better or is fixed. Usually a child that is fixed the incident is over.

Unfortunately as the child grows into adolescence 'to get better' is not so simple. Young adults and children for that matter can be very cruel to one another. As an educator I have witnessed this far too many times. The healing after nasty words or actions between students is very slow to be fixed or healed. And sometimes the healing takes much work and is long coming.

As we mature we know healing takes many forms. Physically our body heals at a slow rate, but add prayer and healing happens. But if words or actions need to heal that takes much more prayer and more help.

Most people have suffered a hurt but not a physical hurt. They have suffered from ill words or actions. This hurt takes does not heal as easily. It takes time, prayer and often help from a mental health professional.

This type of healing takes much more time. When we call upon God to help he helps. Our prayers to God heal and in His time we are healed.

QUESTIONS:

1. What was a time God came to your aid?

2. What was the outcome?

PRAYER:

Father I ask you to touch us with your healing touch. Fill us with Your healing power of your spirit. Make us better. Amen.

Day 17

DAILY DEVOT IONAL 17

Seoyul Kwon

And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up. If they have sinned, they will be forgiven. - James 5:15

When I was in school, around 2017, I had a friend who was always ill. I’ll call her Mary. She’d miss weeks of school, and still be a little ill when she returned. She would always complain, telling everyone that being sick was exhausting. One day, Mary came up to me and asked me, very softly, “Hey, you’re Christian, right? Can you pray for me to stop being sick?”

I’ll never forget the day when we sat on the school stairs together outside and she asked me to pray for her. It was such a special moment for both of us. And I believe that God heard us and our prayers. Within the next year, Mary’s chronic illness died down, finally allowing Mary to live a normal life in school and outside as well. She thanked me, saying I had healed her. I told her that I did not, but the Lord heard her voice and saw her faith in him.

I learned a lot from this experience. God hears all of our prayers. He hears them, and he answered them. Every time Jesus would heal someone, do you remember what he’d say? He said that “your faith has healed you” instead of something like “God has healed you”. God listens. God will always bless you and heal you, so long as you have faith that he will.

James 5:15 tells us about God‘s willingness to heal those with faith. He is willing to help, to heal, to touch. God has already healed so many people, whether those people are only in the Bible or around us. His healing doesn’t discriminate against whether you are rich or poor, He just wants us to have faith in him, to have faith that he will help us and heal us during our journey to His kingdom.

Have faith in our God, since he will heal the broken and forgive the sinner.

LET US PRAY:

Dear God, please help us to continue to have faith in your ability so that you may heal us and those around us who may be in pain or suffering. May you touch them with your healing hand and heal their souls, their hearts. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.

Day 16

DAILY DEVOT IONAL 16

Rev. Cameron Overbey

Praise the Lord. God heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds. - Psalm 147:1,3

(Please read the entirety of the Psalm)

Scattered…like the seeds of Spring filled with the potential of new life and harvest. Scattered…like the stars of a Summer night sky that twinkle and share cosmic beauty overhead. Scattered…like the leaves of Autumn caught up in the stiff, cold breezes of changing seasons. Scattered…like the flakes of Winter that cover everything below as they swirl to the ground.

Sometimes we feel scattered. Scattered physically as we were during the height of the pandemic. Scattered spiritually as we navigate denominational separation. Scattered mentally as we try to keep pace with the torrent of information that we receive each day.

Where can we find respite and restoration from all of this scattering? The Psalmist reflects on the Israelites’ long journey out of exile, a time when the people of God were literally scattered far apart from one another. The reflection begins and ends with the same action, praise. “Hallelu Yah, praise God.” The Psalmist reminds us that praise is a mode of our participation in the creative and redemptive love of God that restores us and is building a kingdom on Earth. It is not a kingdom that is built on displays of raw and violent power, but of humbly confident love.

We can offer praise even when we feel scattered. The God of our healing and wholeness is also the one who scattered the stars to make the heavens, a reminder of the magnificence of creative love that is high above even our most daunting challenges and heartbreaks. So we sing praise under the night sky. When we are being tossed about, perhaps we are seeds of love that are being sewn to be gathered in a new season’s harvest. So we sing praise when we fall into the dirt. When we are aloft and afloat as individuals in a blizzard of humanity, perhaps we are on our way to being regathered into a magnificent snowscape with beauty beyond our individual selves. So we sing praise during the descent. When we are swept away like the leaves of Autumn, perhaps something old is passing away and preparing for new life and birth in Spring. So we sing praise in the midst of death before resurrection.

Like any journey, our shared endeavor towards healing and hope will not be linear. No matter where we find ourselves in the scattering and gathering, may we be found in praise, for praise is always fitting.

QUESTIONS:

1. What are some times in your life that you have felt scattered?

2. Have you ever felt praise or worship to be healing in a time of difficulty?

3. How might God be working among United Methodists to build something new?

PRAYER:

God of our every step, open our eyes so that we may see your creative and redemptive love even when we feel scattered. Open our lips so that we may respond with praise. Open our hearts so that we may be strengthened on our way with resurrection hope. We pray in the name of Jesus, Amen.

Day 15

DAILY DEVOT IONAL 15

Carol Gibson

Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. - Jas. 1:2-4

These were the first words I heard during my first bible study outing after suffering a devastating loss, the loss of a baby. It was difficult to grasp the meaning of this verse with a broken heart. Turmoil and bewilderment were the only emotions I could feel. Why Lord? I sat quietly while others in this bible study gave meaning to these verses.

As the days progressed, I became aware of how God in His omniscience provided the Holy Spirit to minister to me through unexpected phone calls, cards/notes, family and friends, and those in the body of Christ. I began to expect his love and mercy. My bewilderment eventually became a different perspective of my situation. I began to look to God and His faithfulness. As I looked upward, I could see God’s hand in almost every circumstance. He surrounded me with those who embodied a spirit of compassion and understanding. In addition, the word of God became a balm to my spirit. Studying His word allowed me to internalize His faithfulness and love. Eventually, God showed me how I could minister to those who suffered similar losses.

God uses everything. He wants us to understand the sacrifice He made for us through his Son for the remission of our sins. As we begin to understand this sacrifice, hopefully, we will accept His call to love and allow His light to shine through us to others.

How have you responded to disappointments? Did your faith enable you to see God’s hand amid your circumstances.

PRAYER:

Thank you, Lord, for your faithfulness in all things. Help me to look up and understand how you care for me in all situations I may encounter. You are my light Father, so allow you light to shine through me so that I may be a beacon that draws others to you. You are my strength in the time of trouble, and I will forever give you thanks and praise. Hallelujah and Amen.

Day 14

DAILY DEVOT IONAL 14

Greg Impink

What do you think? If a shepherd has a hundred sheep and one of them has gone astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine on the mountains and go in search of the one that went astray? - Matthew 18:12, NRSVUE

In 2023, Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy named loneliness an epidemic, citing its adverse effects on our physical health. The necessitated isolation of the Covid-19 pandemic has only increased these feelings. In addition factors that are beyond our control, we have self-segregated into our own camps by splitting into Republican versus Democrat, Liberal versus Conservative, Traditional versus Contemporary, etc.

One of the greatest hurts in this world is when we feel alone. When we become isolated, it’s easy to feel as if no one is thinking of us. No one cares about us. No one would notice if we weren’t here.

Some of the times whenever church members feel the most hurt is whenever they stop showing up, and no one seems to notice. This phenomenon is not unique to church members though. Our partners, our kids, our parents — everyone wants to feel pursued. Even clergy want to feel pursued by denominational leaders. To know that we’re not alone, to know that someone is out there, noticing us, and going to come after us when we go missing.

In this broken world, it can feel like no one is looking out for us. No one is pursuing us. The pastor didn’t visit. Our partner didn’t plan the date. Our kids didn’t call. Our parents didn’t show up. We’re struggling without any support.

As Christ’s representatives, we are supposed to pursue people. But sometimes, the only bit of redemptive healing is knowing that God pursues us, even when others don’t. Jesus notices, and he doesn’t neglect us. Jesus still leaves the 99 in search of the one who has gone missing

QUESTIONS:

1. How can you pursue people to help heal the wound of loneliness?

2. What comfort do you take in knowing that God pursues us, even when others don’t?

PRAYER:

Triune God, We have failed to live into the ideals of community. We have not checked in on our neighbors, especially those with whom we disagree. Forgive us, and heal us. Comfort us in our loneliness. In the name of the One who leave the 99 to seek the one, Amen.

HYMNS, SONGS, OR ADDITIONAL RESOURCES:

Listen to this song to meditate on how God “chases [us] down, fights ’til [we’re] found, leaves the ninety-nine.” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sc6SSHuZvQE

Day 13

DAILY DEVOT IONAL 13

Pastor Bob Strauss, Tabernacle UMC – Erma

SCRIPTURE –

Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” And with that he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit…” - John 20:21-22 (NIV)

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT –

There is so much brokenness and division in our world today. From ongoing wars, natural disasters, division within our nation, division within our denomination, sometimes it is difficult to know which way to turn.

My family’s personal journey of healing is a physical and emotional one. In 2016, my wife, Laurie, was diagnosed with breast cancer. It was a long journey that included surgery, chemotherapy, radiation…our family was broken and sometimes we did not know which way to turn. Laurie was so anxious at times that she needed to be reminded to breathe. She would take a deep breath and begin to relax.

One of the songs that was meaningful to her was Danny Gokey’s “Tell Your Heart to Beat Again,” which was written at time when his wife had passed away from complications during her third surgery to treat her congenital heart disease:

Tell your heart to beat again

Close your eyes and breathe it in

Let the shadows fall away

Step into the light of grace

Yesterday’s a closing door

You don’t live there anymore

Say goodbye to where you’ve been

And tell your heart to beat again

And just to let you know, Laurie’s journey of healing has been successful – she is a cancer survivor. But she sees life differently since cancer. She is now even more alive!

REFLECTION QUESTIONS –

1. Have you ever been in a situation where you needed to be reminded to breathe?

2. Can you allow God’s breath to guide you on a journey of healing?

CLOSING PRAYER –

Breathe on me, Breath of God,

Fill me with life anew,

That I may love what thou dost love,

And do what thou wouldst do. Amen

(Words by Edwin Hatch, 1835-1889)

Day 12

DAILY DEVOT IONAL 12

Lela Hartranft

Psalm 37:1-10

Delight thyself also in the Lord: and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart. - Psalm 37:4 (KJV)

My fraternal grandmother, Lelah Jewell passed away in her early forties. My twin sister and I were born prematurely and were critically ill. My parents had decided that the first twin born, my sister, would be named after our grandmother. However, the doctors did not think she would survive. My daddy did not want to lose another “Lelah” and so I was named Lela Jewel. We survived. A few times after that my daddy had to face the possibility of losing another “Lelah,” when we were ill with diphtheria, when I had to have major surgery, and when I was ill with Covid19.

My daddy delighted in the Lord, daily reading his Bible and praying, In Exodus 15:26 we read, “I am the Lord, who heals you.” Every time I was critically ill, prayers were offered and I was healed. Knowing intercessory prayers on my behalf had been answered, my faith increased as I began praying for family members and others for their journey of healing. I prayed with people in parking lots, stores, etc. desiring that God would heal everyone I prayed for.

When I became a Lay Supply Pastor, another of Daddy’s desire was fulfilled, that one of his children would become a preacher. Because of the healings in my life, God granted the desire of my daddy that aligned with God’s plan and purpose for my life.

QUESTIONS:

1. What does Psalm 37:4 teach us about the relationship between our desires and God’s will for us?

2. What role does trust play in healing, and how does Psalm 37:4 reassure us that God desires to bring us wholeness?

3. When facing illness or pain, how does Psalm 37:

4 remind us that God sees our struggles and wants to bring healing?

CLOSING PRAYER:

Heavenly Father, we come before You, thankful for Your promise to give us the desires of our hearts as we delight in You. Guide us on our journey of healing, and may we always find comfort in knowing that You are leading us toward wholeness. We surrender our desires to You and ask that Your will be done in our lives. Thank You for walking with us. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Day 11

DAILY DEVOT IONAL 11

Connor Felty

So then, putting away falsehood, let each of you speak the truth with your neighbor, for we are members of one another. - Ephesians 4:25, NRSVue

Someone near to me found himself where no person wants to be—beneath a heavy piece of equipment. (Un)luckily, he escaped the situation without needing immediate medical attention. Without the expert attention of a doctor, the prolonged swelling in his leg could not be properly diagnosed as blood clots that would creep toward his heart! He learned quickly that a problem in one part of his body still did harm to the entire system.

In today’s verse, the author of Ephesians says the Body of Christ is as interconnected as this person’s body. The entire system is regulated by our ability to tell one another the truth; each individual member is healed when we tell the truth. You are part of me, and I am part of you.

In our Journey of Healing, it will not do to carry forward the fear, or hiding, or silence that felt protective in our painful past. Neither will it do to think, “The pain of others is theirs.” Healing will require that we overcome fear to speak about historic imbalances; that we share our previously hidden emotions; that our voices break comfortable silences; and that we take ownership where our siblings’ pain flows from an imbalance in the Body that has privileged some.

To speak the truth, we must first discern the truth, and this is contemplative work. It begins with individuals laid bare before God and before themselves in the secret place; it continues in communities praying for Scripture’s illumination; it culminates in communities gathered to ask forgiveness, to change their ways, and to announce pardon. It is never only individual; it is never only communal; it is always in God’s loving, just, and truthful presence.

Truth-telling is not instant medicine, but when we commit to it as a spiritual practice that will define our communities, we just may be surprised at the healing God will work.

REFLECTION QUESTIONS:

1. What emotional, spiritual, or systemic experiences of pain do you need to share with others so that all might experience healing?

2. How can you express gratitude to those whose courageous truth-telling has helped you to heal?

PRAYER:

Healer God, Just as you have knit each of our individual bodies together as a beautiful and functional system, so you have stitched Christ’s Body together for the sake of flourishing and mission. Reveal anew the healing power of truth spoken in love, and embolden us to break comfortable silences that all might find life in one another and in you. Amen.

Day 10

DAILY DEVOT IONAL 10

Rev. Dr. John G. Smith

2 Samuel 18:30-33

Isaiah 53:3-5

John 11:32-35

REFLECTION

During my ministry, I have acquired a close affinity with grief. From comforting scores of members who lost loved ones, to my own personal experience as the sole living survivor of the four members of my family of origin, to facilitating bereavement support groups for others, and grieving the loss of a sizeable number of close friends and colleagues in the Covid pandemic. I was under the impression that I knew all that I could possibly know about grief. However, the brutal killing of my twelve-year-old granddaughter on February 10, 2023, plunged me into a heart wrenching time of grieving unlike anything I had ever experienced before. In those early days in what grief counselor, Dr. Alan Wolfelt has called “the wilderness of grief,” my cries often mirrored that of King David, who when he learned that his son, Absalom had been killed, cried out:

“O my son Absalom! My son, my son Absalom! If only I had died instead of you – O Absalom, my son, my son!”

The suffering and pain which the journey through the stages of grief brought me has been interwoven with the even slower process of healing. It takes time to experience healing, but it does come slowly as I can attest. In my situation, my unforgiving heart was an obstacle to my healing. It was not until by God’s grace, facilitated by much prayer, reading of the psalms, self-compassion, and a community of supporters, that I was able to relinquish the desire for revenge, and what I perceived as the justice I and my family deserved. Gradually, I became aware of a change, working its way from inside of me, which began to change my whole demeanor and outlook.

I am still on my journey in the wilderness of grief but reflecting on the journey thus far, I know that the healing I have experienced has only come as I have ‘let go and let God.’ For me and for all who must navigate the terrors of grief, our help and our hope are in Jesus Christ our Comforter, the One ‘acquainted with all our grief,’ meaning he has encountered more grief than we have, understands our need for comfort, and is capable and able to help us find our way through the wilderness.

PRAYER:

Christ, the Healer, draw near to all who currently, and even for a long time now have been journeying through the wilderness of grief. As you companioned Mary and Martha grieving the death of Lazarus, even weeping alongside them in their sorrow, walk with us, strengthen us, support and restore us. Heal us, Emmanuel, hear our prayer; we wait to feel your touch. Amen.

QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION:

1. Where might there be a need for healing in your life which you have been ignoring?

2. What would you ask Christ the Healer for (i) yourself, (ii) someone else, and (iii) our country and the world? 3. What word or action can you extend to someone you know who is hurting as a way of encouraging healing for that individual?

Day 9

DAILY DEVOT IONAL 9

Alison VanBuskirk Philip

I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. - Ezekiel 36:26

The apostle Paul describes flesh and spirit as opposites in his letters. But here in Ezekiel, the opposite of flesh is stone, not spirit. God wants to replace our heart of stone with a heart of flesh. God wants to soften and heal what fear and pain have turned to stone. Instead of being hard and impenetrable like stone, a heart of flesh is tender and accessible. Instead of being firm or frozen like stone, a heart of flesh is flowing and flexible.

These links and contrasts say something powerful about healing. Modern neuroscience is learning just how much the body and brain are interconnected via the nervous system. We store negative experiences and trauma in our bodies. That means healing happens not outside of our bodies, not by avoiding or overcoming them, and not just through intellectual understanding, but healing happens in and through our bodies, our flesh.

This emerging science is deeply synchronistic with Christian theology. The incarnation reveals that God cares about the body. Jesus put on flesh to show us who God is, which is not impenetrable and detached but accessible, tender, and engaged with the world. Jesus entered into all the joy and suffering of being human in a body. He cared for others, body and spirit. Post-resurrection, Jesus appeared again as a body that bore scars, walked alongside others, and shared bread and fish. God brings healing to humanity through God’s own embodiment.

And so we are free to inhabit our bodies as locations of God’s presence and healing. Body and spirit are connected. One element of embodied spiritual healing is our breathing. The word for breath in the biblical languages is the same as the word for spirit. Breath is flowing and flexible. It calms our nervous systems, slows our heart rates, and tells our brains that we are safe.

• Breathing in, we welcome God’s Spirit.

• Breathing out, we release what we are holding.

• Breathing in, we receive new life from God.

• Breathing out, God moves us into relationship, into action.

QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION:

• When is a time that you experienced God renewing your heart or spirit?

• How does or might the incarnation shape your relationship to your body?

• What is a connection for you between breath and prayer?

PRAYER:

Lord of Life, as we breathe in, fill our hearts with your loving presence. As we breathe out, help us release what blocks our healing. May we experience your Spirit in and through our embodied lives, in the name of Jesus who embodied you. Amen.

HYMNS, SONGS, OR ADDITIONAL RESOURCES:

Breathe on Me, Breath of God (United Methodist Hymnal #420)

Day 8

DAILY DEVOTIONAL 8

Brad Leight

Proverbs 3:1-6

I’ve often heard that “getting old isn’t for wimps,” and I can appreciate that sentiment. Yet I recently discovered the daily challenges faced by the “sandwich” generation – those tasked with guiding and caring for both children and adult family members, while maintaining a multitude of ongoing responsibilities – aren’t for the faint of heart either.

The demands, pressures, and stress of navigating parenting, caregiving and arranging care, professional responsibilities, household responsibilities, pet responsibilities (after all, dogs can’t walk themselves!) – oh, and don’t forget a little self-care… all that can feel overwhelming. Just as needs in one area appear to be addressed, a crisis arises in another. Anxiety spikes with each ding of a text message, as we wonder what fresh new disaster will be revealed. As pressures mount, it can become more and more difficult to hope. Each time our hopes rise, a new challenge inevitably seems to deflate them. It can seem much easier – and safer – not to get our hopes up in the first place.

The opening verses of Proverbs 3 speak to the wisdom of committing to lives of loyalty, love, and faithfulness. When a covenant commitment to love and remain faithful to God is written on the tablet of our heart, and our trust is centered in God, God will direct us through every difficulty and disaster life brings. The difficulties and defeats we face, though, have a way of chipping away at our commitment. Choosing to trust isn’t a one-time decision; it’s a lifelong endeavor.

Recent challenges I’ve faced in a “sandwich” season have reminded me how my choice to trust God must be made each day. Sometimes, each hour of each day. While I don’t need to sugarcoat the difficulty and hurt I’m experiencing in that moment, I do need to expressly choose to place the bruised and battered trust I have in God. Some paths take a long time to be made straight; still, I believe the choice to trust God is the foundational step to healing and renewed hope. I recently scribbled out the following prayer in a trying moment; I pray it will help you choose to trust when trusting is difficult.

PRAYER:

God, I come today trusting at least wanting to trust. You are good, Lord, that I do know. Yet my heart hurts, as a glimmer of hope has seemingly evaporated. Darkened to night. I wanted to dream, opened up, allowed myself to dream, and then my dream was crushed as quickly as it appeared. It hurts, God, deeply in my soul.

So God, I need to whine. I need to lament. I need to say a dream has been crushed; I need to grieve. I hear your wisdom: Trust in the Lord with all my heart, and I do. I will. I will choose to do so, even as I stumble in my hurt.

Help me to do that today: to choose to trust and not spiral in unhealthy thoughts. And as I trust, grant me the hope to slowly dream again.

QUESTIONS:

1. What challenge(s) do you face that is making it difficult to trust in God’s goodness and direction?

2. Can you use the prayer – or offer your own prayer – to seek God’s help in renewing your trust?