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Christian Devotional – July 20, 2025
The Encouragement Letter, Day 4 What is our motivation? Read 1 Thessalonians 3:6-12. Paul now shares with the people the results of Timothy’s visit to them. Paul was so encouraged by everything that he had learned. Paul was so thankful to them for their steadfast faith, and for how they were living for Christ. Paul praised them for the great report and he reminded them that their obedience was part of Paul’s motivation. Paul wanted the people to know and understand God, seek after him, and obey him. The reason Paul did what he did was to see people like the Thessalonians continue to stand fast for God. What motivates…
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Christian Devotional – July 18, 2025
The Encouragement Letter, Day 3 A need to know. Read 1 Thessalonians 3:1-5. Paul has been writing about this history of his interactions with this church. Paul reminisces that he was worried about them. He wanted to know what had happened to them and how they were doing. He needed to know. Sharing encouragement comes in many forms. Sometimes it is telling people that they are awesome. Sometimes it is reminding them to do the right things. And other times, it’s simply reaching out and saying “you were on my mind and I wanted to check in. Is everything ok?” God used Paul to be this for the Thessalonians. Who…
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Christian Devotional – July 17, 2025
The Encouragement Letter, Day 2 As a father. Read 1 Thessalonians chapter 2. Paul is retelling the story of his first encounter with the Thessalonians. Paul wants the people to understand exactly how things started from his perspective. He saw their need, but Paul was in a difficult situation himself. Now, the people were still going through difficulties and problems themselves and they didn’t know exactly how to deal with them. Paul wants the people to know that he sees them through everything, and he has been so impressed with the way which they had conducted themselves and how they continued to encourage him. Paul encourages the people just like…
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Christian Devotional – July 16, 2025
The Encouragement Letter, Day 1 Received the message with power. Read 1 Thessalonians chapter 1. Paul wrote this letter based on the report that he had heard back about how well the believers in Thessalonica were doing. He wanted to praise them for the report he had heard. He wanted to thank them for all that they were doing. And, he wanted to encourage them to keep it up. We all need a little encouragement every so often. It’s great to be reminded that people know who we are, they see what we’re doing, and they believe in us. We don’t do enough of that type of encouragement. As believers…
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Christian Devotional – July 15, 2025
At the Right Moment, Day 10 Lasting Impact. Read Esther chapter 10. As we read Esther chapter 10, we really start to understand the lasting impact that can be had when you are in the right place at the right time, doing the right thing for what God has led yoy to do. Mordecai was where he needed to be be. He had helped to train Esther to be where she needed to be. They were both obedient and following God in everything they did, and as a result, God used them to leave a lasting impression on a non-christian people on behalf of the Jews. It’s such a tremendous…
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Christian Devotional – July 14, 2025
At the Right Moment, Day 9 Turning mourning into joy. Read Esther chapter 9. One of God’s specialties is taking terrible, horrible situations and turning them into something that brings joy. The Jewish people were going to experience a terrible, horrible situation. But, God worked everything out so that situation itself brought tremendous amounts of joy. When we are looking at our world and the things that we’re going through. We can realize that there is sin that brings struggles and frustration and difficulty in the world. Sin is a horrible thing. Sin causes pain and misery. However, God brings joy. Joy isn’t necessarily free of the difficulties. Through God,…
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Christian Devotional – July 13, 2025
At the Right Moment, Day 8 Problem-solving. Read Esther chapter 8. Haman has been killed, but the threat still remains. We find out that the evil decree that Haman had giveth people cannot be changed. It cannot be done away with or deleted. The decree will stand, so now the question becomes, what can Esther and Mordecai do to provide the Jews salvation. They ended up writing a decree to state that the Jews have the right to defend themselves and to kill anyone who attacks them and take all of their belongings. They can’t take away the decree that gives people the right to attack them. But they can…
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Christian Devotional – July 12, 2025
At the Right Moment, Day 7 His fate was sealed. Read Esther chapter 7. We have been looking at all the different ways people are in the right places at the right time. Haman ends up being in the right place at the right time, but not for the right reason. Unfortunately, he is right there front and center, when Esther accuses him of the genocide that he is planning. God had orchestrated everything perfectly to have Esther, the king, and Haman all together. God had the king completely ready to grant anything Esther wanted. And Esther was able to share what Haman had done. Haman could not hide behind…
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Christian Devotional – July 11, 2025
At the Right Moment, Day 6 Purpose in sleepless nights. Read Esther chapter 6. Have you ever wondered why you can’t sleep? God uses any and all means he has to get our attention and put us in the right place at the right time. For the king, God used this sleepless night as a way to bring to mind everything that Mordecai had done for him. The king was reminded of all that happened at exactly the right time. The very moment that Haman showed up ready to condemn Mordecai, was the moment the king was ready to move forward with honoring him. God has a reason and purpose…
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Christian Devotional – July 10, 2025
At the Right Moment, Day 5 Managing the emotional swing. Read Esther chapter 5. Esther finally takes action. She goes to the presence of the king and fortunately, the king receives her and allows her to come into his presence. Instead of just blurting out her request, she invites the king and Haman to a banquet. Here we see Haman go through an incredible emotional rollercoaster. He goes to the banquet and is super excited to be requested by the Queen to come to the banquet. He goes he enjoys himself and then he comes out and he sees Mordecai not bowing before him. He is immediately flipped to rage…