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Tests of Faith

“Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.” James 1:12

We live in a world full of tests.

The Purpose of Testing

Tests of faith show up everywhere—school exams, doctor visits, car diagnostics, and life certifications. But life’s deepest tests are spiritual.

“For you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.” James 1:3–4

Tests of faith are not for God’s benefit, but ours. The Lord wants to refine us—to make us steadfast and complete. Every test of faith is an opportunity to trust Him deeper.

Faith Under Fire

Consider Abraham, whose faith faced the ultimate test when God asked him to sacrifice Isaac. He obeyed, trusting God would provide and that test revealed the depth of his belief.

“For what does the Scripture say? ‘Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness.'” Romans 4:3

Today, God still gives tests of faith to His children. He isn’t punishing us—He’s proving and growing our faith. When we endure the testing with love for God, we receive a reward: the crown of life. That’s a promise!

Let Us Pray

Lord, thank You for testing our faith—not to break us but to build us. Help us remain steadfast in trials. Strengthen our faith like Abraham’s. Amen.

Let Us Worship In Song

Dig Deeper

Overcoming Worry and Anxiety Through Faith in God

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Conformed or Transformed

The Scripture says

Romans 12:2 (ESV) – “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind.”

Conformed or transformed? That’s the choice Paul laid out plainly in his letter to the Romans.

Conformed or transformed? Choose spiritual transformation through the Holy Spirit’s power. Renew your mind daily!

To be conformed to this world means we’re shaped by its values. We adopt culture’s standards, often relying on willpower, self-help, or image crafting to fit in. Although some of these efforts seem harmless, they typically lack lasting spiritual fruit, because they’re rooted in human effort.

However, to be transformed is entirely different. Transformation comes through the Holy Spirit’s power, not our own striving. It is deep, spiritual, and lasting. When we surrender to Christ, He begins a process of renewal in us that changes everything—from our thoughts to our actions.

Spiritual Transformation Is a Lifelong Journey

This process begins the moment of justification—when we first receive Jesus Christ—and continues through sanctification until glorification. It’s not a one-time event. Rather, it’s a continual shaping of our character to reflect Christ more and more.

Paul affirms this hope: “And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.” (Philippians 1:6)

Indeed, we are all a work in progress. So today, instead of conforming to the world’s fleeting trends, invite the Holy Spirit to guide your mind and heart. Let Him reshape you into the likeness of Christ—because that, my friends, is true transformation.

Let Us Pray

Father, renew our minds daily. Help us reject conformity and instead embrace the life-changing power of Your Spirit. Transform us into the image of Your Son. Amen.

Let Us Worship In Song

Jim Reeves – Have Thine Own Way, Lord

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Because He Lives – Worship Song With Lyrics

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NEW HEART AND NEW SPIRIT

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The First Gardener

Genesis 2:8 (ESV) — “And the LORD God planted a garden in Eden, in the east, and there he put the man whom he had formed.”

Mark 4:8 (ESV) — “And other seeds fell into good soil and produced grain, growing up and increasing and yielding thirtyfold and sixtyfold and a hundredfold.”

The first gardener was God Himself, planting Eden and placing man there with purpose.

Men Are Made to Garden

A faithful man mirrors the role of the first gardener. He plants, protects, and nurtures and he tills the soil of his home. One cultivates love in his marriage and he waters the faith of his children while sowing peace and truth into his community. Like Adam, we are called to steward a garden — not of Eden, but of the people and places God entrusts to us. We are challenged to do spiritual gardening, sowing seeds of love.

Sowing Seeds of Love

Jesus taught that when we sow seeds of love in good soil, the yield can be overwhelming — thirtyfold, sixtyfold, even a hundredfold! That means our words, our care, and our consistency matter. Though today’s soil includes thorns and thistles, faithful discipleship is still fruitful work. Through Christ, even broken ground can bloom again when we do spiritual gardening and sow seeds of love..

Discipleship Is Gardening

Your home, your neighborhood, your church — these are gardens. And every act of love is a seed. Discipleship is spiritual gardening: daily work, patient care, consistent prayer. Let your heart be the shovel, your love be the seed, and His Spirit be the rain.

Good morning as you sow your seeds of love in the fertile soil of Jesus Christ!

Let Us Pray

Lord, help me be a faithful gardener. Teach me to sow seeds of love, cultivate peace, and bring beauty to the world around me. Amen.

Let Us Worship In Song

IN THE GARDEN by Tennessee Ernie Ford

Jim Reeves – Farmer and the Lord

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Ask God for Things to Serve People

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How Do You Know

Peaceful light symbolizing Jesus living in you through the Holy Spirit — Are You Saved

“By this we know that we abide in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit.” 1 John 4:13. The profound truth that Jesus lives in you brings comfort and strength to believers.

How do you know if Jesus lives in you? His Spirit confirms it from within.

How do you know? Jesus Living in You Is the Proof

Does Jesus live in you? Many people spend their lives wondering if they are truly saved. Sadly, churches can sometimes complicate this by attaching a process or list of requirements to salvation. But the truth is simple: salvation is not a process. It is an event—something that happens in a moment of decision and surrender.

Jesus made a powerful promise in Revelation 3:20: “Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him.” He doesn’t say “might” or “possibly.” He says, I will come in.

The Apostle Paul also echoed this certainty: “I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me.” (Galatians 2:20)

So how do you know that Jesus lives in you? According to 1 John 4:13, “By this we know that we abide in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit.” The Spirit of God within us is our evidence, our blessed assurance.

If the Holy Spirit lives in you—guiding, convicting, comforting, and transforming—you don’t have to wonder. You can know.

Let Us Pray

Lord Jesus, thank You for giving me Your Spirit. Help me to listen, trust, and walk daily in assurance of Your presence.

Let Us Worship In Song

Blessed Assurance – Tennessee Ernie Ford

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Jesus Is Living In Me – James Easter, Jeff & Sheri Easter

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LEARN TO LIVE AS FREE PEOPLE

Anointed by the Holy Spirit

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Are You Saved?

Cross silhouette at sunset with the person kneeling symbolizing salvation through Jesus — Cross silhouette at sunset

Are You Saved?

Are you saved? Many churchgoers aren’t. Learn how salvation comes only through Jesus. Don’t guess—be sure. Read now and be certain.

John 14:6 (NIV) – “Jesus answered, ‘I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.’”

Acts 4:12 (NIV) – “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.”

Romans 10:9-10 (NIV) – “If you declare with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.”

Are you saved? That’s the question we each must answer before God.

Many Churchgoers Are Not Saved

According to surveys, only 40% to 48% of regular church attendees are genuinely saved. This may seem shocking, yet it matches what Scripture tells us: not everyone who calls Jesus “Lord” will enter heaven.

Worse still, many who call themselves Christians believe there are *many ways* to heaven. But Jesus said clearly, “No one comes to the Father except through Me.” That leaves no room for alternatives. Salvation through Jesus, is the only way.

A False Gospel is Common

Barna research shows that over half of self-identified Christians believe salvation is earned by good works. But salvation is by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone. As Paul wrote in Romans 10, salvation results from believing in your heart and confessing with your mouth. It is not earned. It is received.

Even Churches Need the Gospel

Surprisingly, the church itself is now one of the greatest mission fields. Many churchgoers deny the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus. Yet these are the essential truths of the gospel. Without them, there is no salvation. Beware of false gospel.

Really, Are You Saved?

This devotion is not meant to cause fear but to prompt an honest reflection. Don’t rely on church attendance, good deeds, or vague beliefs. Look to Jesus Christ alone. Place your faith in His finished work. Trust in His resurrection. Confess Him as Lord. Then, and only then, are you truly saved.

Let Us Pray

Lord, open our eyes to the truth of salvation through Jesus Christ alone. Remove any false confidence we may hold. Draw our hearts to genuine faith, and help us share this truth with others—especially those sitting beside us in church. Amen.

Let Us Worship In Song

Watch on YouTube: Gaither Vocal Band – He Touched Me

Dig Deeper

Related Posts:

Are You “Earning It”?

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Sources

For additional scriptures and study, go to GotQuestions.org and search for: “How can I know if I am saved?”, “What does it mean that I am saved and being saved at the same time?”, and “Why is salvation by works the predominantly held viewpoint?”

Cheap Version or Real Deal

Post author By devotionsdonedaily
Post date June 9, 2025
Categories In Christian Living
2 Comments on Cheap Version or Real Deal

Are You the Cheap Version or Real Deal?

Cheap grace is the easy way—but God calls us to the real deal of discipleship. Cheap grace offers comfort without change. Real grace calls us to true discipleship. Discover the difference—and become the real deal. Many go through the motions but miss true discipleship. That’s what Bonhoeffer called cheap grace. Dietrich Bonhoeffer, a theologian who stood firm against Nazi Germany, described it this way:

“Cheap grace is the preaching of forgiveness without requiring repentance, baptism without church discipline, communion without confession, absolution without personal confession. Cheap grace is grace without discipleship, grace without the cross, grace without Jesus Christ.”

True grace transforms us—it does not just comfort us. Cheap grace lets us stay unchanged. Real grace calls us to follow Christ in every area of life. Only then do we become a real deal Christian.

Paul described what it looks like to live out real grace in Romans 12:9-12 (ESV):Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.

So when you look in the mirror this morning, ask yourself: Am I a “cheap imitation”… or the “real deal”?

Let Us Pray

Lord, help us reject shallow faith and follow You fully. Give us hearts that live out real grace through true discipleship. Amen.

Let Us Worship In Song

Watch on YouTube: Carrie Underwood – I Surrender All

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Are You “Earning It”?

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Take Time to Be Holy

Sunrise over peaceful lake symbolizing Christian transformation and taking time to be holy — **Take time to be holy**

The Bible Says

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!” — 2 Corinthians 5:17 (NIV) “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.” — Romans 12:2 (NIV)

Relationship Transforms the Heart

Take time to be holy and experience real transformation. Christianity is not a ritual—it’s a relationship with Christ. Jesus did not come to start a religion. He came to build a relationship with you. Relationships grow when we invest time, offer love, and stay present. As Stephen Covey wrote, “We must make regular ‘deposits’ into peoples emotional bank accounts. How much more important is that principle in our walk with God? Take time to be holy. My friend Tom Hamilton from Georgia shared that he and his wife Sharon, tune in to Christian radio when driving. I’ve started doing that myself—it’s far more enlightening than the news. He also introduced me to YouTube videos that display Scripture over peaceful music and scenic backdrops from around the world. Try it. It’s food for the soul instead of talking heads screaming “CRISIS ALERT” 24/7. Take time to be holy.

Additionally, I read my Dad’s old large-print Bible which sits constantly on the arm of my chair. The words written in red become more and more important to me with each reading. When I come across verses my Dad underlined, I feel his faith echoing across the generations. I listen to a playlist of over 1,000 spiritual songs that I’ve curated on Apple Music. That music, provides the foundation for the songs shared each day on DevotionsDoneDaily.com and helps me connect with God. All of these little activities shape my relationship with Him. The more I take time to be holy, the deeper and more meaningful our relationship. becomes.

Take time to be holy. Transformation Is Real

Take time to be holy, because holiness leads to transformation and transformation leads to sanctification. Jesus didn’t just teach good morals—He promised new life. And He delivers. People struggling with addiction, depression, and shame can find peace in Christ. Their stories are real. Their healing is real. And they’re everywhere. I have experienced His peace while dealing with my stroke. When we Christians say “May the Peace of Christ be with you.” We mean it! For if Christ is with us, who can be against us? You’ll never hear someone say, “I stopped believing in God and now I’m free of guilt, shame, and fear.” But thousands will say, “I met Jesus, and everything changed.” Transformation is not a myth. It’s the daily reality of those who walk with Jesus. He still heals. He still speaks. He still transforms. Walk with Him. Talk with Him. Take time to be holy—and He will meet you there.

Let Us Pray

Lord Jesus, I thank You that You are not a distant idea, but a living Savior. Thank You for offering forgiveness, peace, and a new life. I open my heart to You. Transform me from the inside out. Renew my mind, restore my soul, and help me to walk each day in Your grace. In Your holy name, Amen.

Let Us Worship In Song

Dig Deeper

JESUS LIVING IN ME

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The Lion Roars

A roaring lion symbolizing the devil’s threat to those not spiritually — The lion roars

Stay Spiritually Alert

The lion roars, be sober-minded and alert, be watchful, as we are called to stand firm in faith. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.” — 1 Peter 5:8 (ESV) Peter urges us to be spiritually alert. He wasn’t speaking hypothetically—he knew Satan’s cunning firsthand. He’d fallen prey to temptation himself. The lion that prowls seeks the weak, the tired, and the unaware.

The Spirit Is Willing

“And he came to the disciples and found them sleeping. And he said to Peter, ‘So, could you not watch with me one hour? Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.’” — Matthew 26:40–41 (ESV) Jesus brought Peter close during the most sacred and challenging moments: the Transfiguration, the garden of Gethsemane, and even the foretelling of Peter’s denial. Peter failed, but he was also restored. He went on to lead the early Church with boldness, becoming a pillar of faith. Despite weakness, Peter’s story was redeemed—yours can be too.

The Lion Still Roars Today

God is training each of us in discipleship. Like Peter, we may stumble, but we are also chosen and equipped. Today, remember Peter’s warning: stay sober-minded and alert. The lion still roars—but he is not victorious.

Let Us Pray

Lord, help me to stay alert and spiritually sober. Strengthen my spirit when my flesh is weak. Thank You for restoration and purpose. Amen.

Let Us Worship In Song

Click here to listen to “I Need Thee Every Hour” by Fernando Ortega

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Conceit and Humility – The Fine Line

Post author By devotionsdonedaily
Post date June 6, 2025
Categories In Christian Character, Friendship

Scripture

“Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.” Philippians 2:3-4

Learning from Paul’s Teaching

Conceit and humility help us walk the fine line between pride and Christ-like love. Paul gives us practical wisdom for how the church and individual relationships should work. He emphasizes that believers should not act out of selfish ambition or pride. Instead, humility must shape how we treat others. We should give others due value and not place ourselves above them. While we’re encouraged to be responsible for our own interests, we must also make time and space for the needs of others. Paul’s words in Philippians remind us that a healthy church body functions as a group—not a collection of disconnected individuals. When each of us serves with humility, the whole body of Christ grows stronger. This teaching directly challenges today’s culture of self-promotion. Instead of boasting or pushing our own agendas, God calls us to lift others up.

Be the Face of Jesus

Jesus said, “I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.” (John 10:10) As we interact with others today, may we become the face of Jesus to them—offering not just kindness, but the abundant life He brings. Living with humility does not make us weak; it reflects the strength and servant-heart of Christ Himself.

Let Us Pray

Lord, help me walk humbly today. Teach me to see others the way You see them. May I serve with love, not pride. Amen.

Let Us Worship In Song

Click here to worship with “The Servant Song.”

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The Indelible Imprint

Post author By devotionsdonedaily
Post date June 5, 2025
Categories In Salvation

As for you, see that what you have heard from the beginning remains in you. If it does, you also will remain in the Son and in the Father. And this is what he promised us—eternal life. 1 John 2:24-25 The indelible imprint of faith begins early and stays with us forever.

Indelible Imprinted Lessons That Last

At our duck camp, we’ve observed a fascinating phenomenon: imprinting. When we feed ducks one season, they return the next. People are much the same. The truths we hear early in life shape us deeply:

Tell the truth
Don’t take what isn’t yours
Say “I’m sorry” when you’re wrong
Eat food that’s good for you (even if you don’t like it)
Take a bath (especially boys!)
Sing the old church hymns by heart

Among the most lasting imprints are the songs we learned as children. They stay with us and surface in moments of reflection, joy, or trial.

Let Us Worship WITH Indelible Imprint Songs

🎵 “Jesus loves me, this I know; for the Bible tells me so” 🎶

🎵 Jesus Loves Me – Watch on YouTube

Watch on YouTube And who can forget this classic?

🎵 “Jesus loves the little children; all the children of the world” 🎶

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Sealed Forever in Christ – indelible imprints

These simple truths remind us that no matter our age, Jesus loves us. When we accepted Him, our names were imprinted in the Lamb’s Book of Life. His love is etched on our hearts—unchanging and eternal. “Jesus, I belong to You.” That is the imprint that lasts forever. “As a man thinketh in his heart, so is he.” — Proverbs 23:7

Let Us Pray

Father, thank You for writing Your truth on our hearts. Let our lives reflect the eternal imprint of Your love and grace. Amen.

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Sources

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