Carter Conlon | Daily Devotionals

In this world, we teach that God is omnipresent. That means He is everywhere all the time. His Holy Spirit whispers to us, always calling us back to Him whether we’re walking down the street or in places we shouldn’t be.  In a bar, a club, or even in a quiet moment, God’s Spirit is still there, reaching out. The evidence of God literally surrounds us. Every bird in flight, every sunrise and sunset...

“For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind” ( 2 Timothy 1:7 ). We are not ashamed of the testimony of Christ, for it is the only testimony that will endure.  Everything else, the city of New York, Wall Street, the towers of wealth and pride will vanish one day like a sandcastle in the tide. But what is built on Christ will remain. The shaking has begun...

Let’s avoid ending our lives bitter and disillusioned. This can happen to anyone, even the wisest among us. If we think it can’t happen to us, then we’re being naïve. We may not fully understand what actually lies in our hearts, and if we become complacent in studying God’s Word or begin to neglect our prayer life, we risk missing vital insights—even in the church we attend.  Instead of thinking o...

Even the most vile of sinners lives in a world where God is still present where His mercy is still trying to reach, and His Spirit is still calling. But can you imagine waking up one day in a place where God is not?  A place where the cry of your voice carries no sound, where the darkness is so heavy it can be touched, where there is weeping, gnashing of teeth, and no end in sight. The conscience...

I want to remind you today that God doesn’t choose mighty or noble people. He chooses the nobodies, the weak, the foolish people of this world. He puts His Spirit upon us and enables us to do exploits that we could never have done in our own strength.  And when the work is done through us, all the glory goes to Him. All that God requires of us is to have an open heart that’s willing to hear His vo...

I remember years ago walking the beat as a young police officer. One day, I stepped into a church and sat quietly in the back row. I took off my hat, and out loud I said, “God, if You are real, I wouldn’t mind knowing who You are.”   Now, it wasn’t much of a prayer, but it was sincere. It wasn’t just a question, it was a cry from my heart. And thank God, He answered me. Not long after that, someon...

There is power released when the Holy Spirit moves, a power that’s not rooted in strength or talent, but in the mercy of God. Mercy is what holds us when judgment should have crushed us.  As David once wrote, “If You, Lord, should mark iniquities, O Lord, who could stand? But there is forgiveness with You, that You may be feared” ( Psalm 130:3-4 ).  Mercy is not passive. It breaks chains, kicks do...

Ask God to plant his song deep within you. The song that says, God is for me. Who can be against me? The journey may be hard, but he will provide. He will heal. He will guide your steps.  Just like David, cry out, “God, put this song in me.” A song of trust that stands firm in trial. A song that won’t fade with time but will last until our final breath. This is the song of confidence in God.  A so...

I was speaking with a young man just last week. He had run out of gas. Oh, hallelujah. He’d run out of options, out of strength, out of money, out of work. He sat across from me, eyes weary and brokenhearted, telling me how miserable his life had become.  And when he looked at me for advice, I looked him in the eye and said, Welcome home. Thank God you’ve finally come to the end of yourself, becau...

You know, today we live in a generation of liars, incivility, and moral confusion. We have entire towns now in America that have been declared emergency zones because of drug addiction.  It’s unbelievable what’s going on in this society. We are quickly degenerating into absolute decadence and confusion. However, God has called us to be a light in the middle of all this darkness and chaos.  God wil...

I’m grateful to God that everything we place into the hands of Christ is safe, including our children, our marriages, our families, andevery part of our lives. He is faithful to keep what we entrust to Him.  And yes, I believe that He can bring discomfort, even misery, into the lives of those who are far from Him. It’s not to destroy them, but to awaken them. So I say, hasten the misery, Lord, of...

I want to remind you today that every breath we have is a gift, it’s not a guarantee. As the old hymn says, “Oh for a thousand tongues to sing my great Redeemer’s praise,” but even ten thousand tongues wouldn’t be enough.  God has shown mercy, He’s forgiven our sin, and He’s given us strength even in our darkest hours. I urge you today, press on, press through, hold tightly to the hand of God, bec...

Don’t be discouraged if you’re still learning to trust. The song of confidence in Christ will come. The journey to faith goes through valleys of sorrow and difficulty, but in time, God writes his song on your heart.  I’ve found that the greatest encouragement isn’t just words; it has come from those who’ve walked with God through their own trials. Their lives sing of his faithfulness without lyric...

John 10:10 I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.   I want to challenge you today. Many of you have come seeking just a word of encouragement. You’re feeling drained and that’s understandable. But remember, you are called to something greater than that.  God invites you to reach out and claim the abundant life that He has for you.  When I was a young believer, I often sat eager for...

There’s much wickedness in today’s society. It’s probably not far from where Lot had pitched his tent in a place called Sodom and Gomorrah. That place had become so vile that the report of its vileness had ascended into heaven itself.  The pre-incarnate Christ came down with two angels to see if it was so. And He let Abraham know that He was going to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah. It was to be sovere...

Ephesians 3:20 Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us…   God has a supernatural plan for your life, and He invites you to reach out and claim it. He offers gifts and callings ready for you to embrace. There’s more for you than what you’ve now settled for.  And this abundance not only fulfills your heart, but also que...

2 Kings 6:6-7 Then the man of God said, “Where did it fall?” When he showed him the place, he cut off a stick and threw it in there, and made the iron float. And he said, “Take it up.” So he reached out his hand and took it.   In our spiritual journey, there are moments when we feel as if we’ve lost touch with our calling or with the gifts that God has given us. Consider the story of Elisha and th...

Psalm 40:3 He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God. Many will see and fear, and put their trust in the Lord.   Life brings mountains and valleys, joys and sorrows. But through it all, we learn to trust in Jesus. We learn to depend on His Word. Every situation, every trial is an opportunity for God to show His faithfulness.  If you find yourself in a difficult season, know this:...

Luke 4:18 The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed.   Life’s journey often unveils profound truths. A wise minister friend once lamented how he spent years preaching, yet grasped only a fraction of God’s character...

God gave Abraham an incredible promise. He told him that if he could count the stars in the heavens, that would be the number of descendants he would have. Now, Abraham would have no natural way of understanding the greatness of God’s promise.  He told him that he would become a great nation and we know that would be the nation of Israel. God also said that through him, the world was going to be b...

Romans 11:29 For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable.   You don’t truly understand grace until you’ve faced failure. It can seem like just a word until you find yourself in need of it. When we encounter God’s amazing grace, everything changes.  It alters how you preach, teach, and relate to others including your own family. The gifts and callings of God are irrevocable. Even if you fe...

1 Corinthians 1:30 And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption.   The cross of Jesus Christ holds tremendous power to redeem, forgive, and restore our calling. It guides us step by step to a greater purpose, transforming our lives in ways only Jesus can achieve.  This power comes not from our efforts, but through the...

Luke 23:42-43 And he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” And he said to him, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise.”   We’ve all missed the mark. Every one of us has fallen short of God’s perfect standard, His glory. None of us can stand before Him based on our own goodness or effort. But that’s when grace steps in.  At some point, maybe in a quiet mom...

Genesis 19:22 Escape there quickly, for I can do nothing till you arrive there.   In Lot’s story, we see a crucial lesson about God’s calling. The angels urged him to flee from Sodom to the mountains, symbolizing victory and safety. But he settled for a little town called Zoar.  The question is: Are you settling for less than what God has for you?  The call to the Jordan represents leaving the fam...

One of my favorite prayers has always been, Jesus, help me. It’s a prayer I still pray today. I’m never too proud to pray it. And as a matter of fact, it’s a good prayer. You can pray it your entire life.  It’s an easy prayer to remember. It’s been the one prayer that God has answered all of my life. Our generation has become so dark, evil is now being portrayed as good, and good is now becoming e...