Kerusso Daily Devotional

It’s interesting watching the outcomes of people who refuse to give in to fear.  Many years ago, while America was going through a severe economic depression and a world war, President Roosevelt told Americans that the only thing we have to fear is fear itself. Those listening over the radio said later that they felt a great sense of relief just from his words! Psalm 23:4 tells us, “Yea, though I...

When Hurricane Katrina rolled through, the spinning white satellite image on TV screens actually looked evil. For residents of New Orleans waiting for that hurricane, that’s exactly what it felt like. Thousands of people were affected by the brutal storm that poured in from the Gulf. In many ways, the city still hasn’t recovered. But in the chaos, God was there.   For more than 20 years, water pum...

The worst of times brings out the best in some people. As we think about sacrificing for others this week, we find some extraordinary stories. One such story from 70 years ago spotlights a very brave woman. John 15:13 says, “Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” During World War 2, Romanian Princess, Catherine Caradja, defied her government’s alliance with t...

Debbie McDaniel is a writer, pastor’s wife, and mom. She knows something of how fear can derail a person’s entire life. You see, Debbie wrestled with fear and anxiety for years. And her recovery didn’t happen overnight, but she did come to think about it all in a different way.  She turned to the Lord, and He showed her practical things she could do to alleviate her fear.  Now, for one thing, she...

Would it surprise you to know that God has always been interested in you? Did you know He knew you before you were born? He has a vested interest in how your life turns out. Romans 8:31 tells us, “If God is for us, who can be against us?” He isn’t some remote deity. God doesn’t pay attention only most of the time. He doesn’t form His plans here and there. He is there for us all the time. The quest...

From the time he was a young shepherd in the wilderness, David had deep relationship with God. He escaped enough dangerous situations to know that God was always with Him and was his deliverer. Psalm 91:1–2 says, “Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, ‘He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.’”   This psalm...

Are you angry at God today? Has something happened that has damaged your faith? If we live in the world long enough, it can happen to any of us. How you respond is really important. If you’ve listened previously, you know we are talking about how to live by faith. Having perseverance when we’re miserable is really, really hard. Don’t make the mistake of thinking you’re the only one. 2 Corinthians...

Do you remember the last time you laughed? Do you remember the last time you laughed from sheer joy?  Many of us don’t. The weight of life presses down on us…it weakens us. Proverbs 31:25 says this of a godly woman: “She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come.” Did you know that God means for you to be strong? He wants you to have dignity. You are a child of the Ki...

We learn early on that life sometimes throws weird things our way. Coping with them in the right way is really key.  Willie Myrick learned this lesson really, really young. In 2014, the 9-year-old was kidnapped in his own driveway. What followed is really remarkable.  For three hours, the two drove around Atlanta, and for the entire three hours, Willie sang the gospel song, “Every Praise.” The kid...

The prophet Isaiah lived during a difficult period for the ancient Israelites. Turning away from faith in God and under the control of corrupt kings, the nation entered a period of darkness. They needed hope more than anything.  In our discussion this week, we will talk about this human condition. Today, we are really no different from people in ancient times: we all need a relationship with our C...

Where are you headed, friend? Psalm 25:4 says, “Show me your ways, Lord, teach me your paths.” Whether you’ve lived in the same place your entire life, or you’ve been blessed to travel the world, each and every life is a journey. An opportunity to learn, grow, and impact others as we follow the path God has planned for us.  Moses and the Israelites must have been expert travelers by the time they...

It seems that a positive in our culture today is that we can admit our shortcomings.    In the past, it was sort of taboo to tell the world you were not exactly all put together. Back in the day, a ‘hot mess’ usually referred to an overturned pot on the stove. But today, we know the phrase ‘hot mess’ has a whole new meaning—and our lives are often exactly that. Thank goodness the outcome is not de...

When someone asks how you’re doing, what is your typical response? Many of us give a quick, “I’m fine, thank you,” or, “Doing great!” Even if we’re actually struggling. It’s easier not to dive into a verbal rundown of our discontent if we aren’t really fine, and things aren’t so great, after all.  As followers of Jesus, we are called to curate contentment in our lives. That doesn’t mean we have to...

Citizens of the United States of America have always acknowledged God. Sometimes though, our devotion to faith comes and goes. Sometimes we get too comfortable and forget who keeps us upright every day. Psalm 115:1 tells us, “Not to us, LORD, not to us, but to your name be the glory, because of your love and faithfulness.” Whenever a person questions God’s goodness, or the path He has set for us,...

Science. It’s pretty cool.  Did you know what we think of as a day—how long it takes the Earth to rotate—isn’t actually 24 hours? According to NASA, it’s 23 hours, 56 minutes, and 4.2 seconds. A day on the planet Mercury—it’s a whopping 58 Earth days, 15 hours and 30 minutes.  Can you imagine a Monday that lasts over 1400 hours? Our Creator God, in His infinite wisdom, gave us the perfect amount o...

One of the things that mark a healthy society is the consistency between generations. In other words, adults who care about the future for their children will invest the time to make sure tomorrow is bright. God the Father is the ultimate parent, and we would do well to model His love for us. Luke 18:1 says, “One day Jesus told his disciples a story to show that they should always pray and never g...

Have you ever watched a war movie and realized that the actors didn’t know how the conflict would turn out? World War 2 movies are like that. When they filmed “Casablanca,” Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman weren’t sure whether the Germans would win or lose. Life can be like that. Matthew 28:20 says, “And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” In your own life, you might be fac...

Living life as though your cup is brimming over isn’t a matter of circumstance. It’s a matter of choice.  Psalm 23:5 says, “You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil. My cup overflows.” God promises bountiful blessings when we follow Him, but what about when times are tough? Nowhere does the Bible suggest we should wallow in misery when things don’t g...

Today, we’re talking about grit and determination, which go a long way in helping find success in life. And they’re contagious. Winston Churchill was almost 70 when his country needed him most, when he stared down Hitler’s war machine. The British Prime Minister’s signature line was, “We shall fight on the beaches,” but the essence of his message came with these words, “We shall go on to the end.”...

Games and sports aren’t real life, but they often give a pretty accurate picture of how we can choose to face life.  Imagine that your profession is on a national stage. You have the ball with less than two minutes to go, and your team is behind. Standing behind center and looking out at the defense, how many of us could even think? Then, imagine throwing the ball with any kind of accuracy, knowin...

We’ve all known kindness in our life. Think about someone who’s been kind to you; it might’ve been a Sunday school teacher, or maybe it was mom listening to our bad day. But how often do you actually think about the importance of kindness? Is it an active part of your day? If not, I think you’re missing the point.  1 Corinthians 13:4–5 says, “Love is patient. Love is kind. It does not envy. It doe...

Forgiveness is mentioned dozens of times in the Bible.  In Genesis 33, Esau forgives his brother’s treachery in stealing his birthright. And the most famous example is the forgiveness Jesus chooses on the cross as His accusers and executioners mock Him. Think about how hard that was! It gives some perspective on our own situations in life. When you think about it, the entire theme of the Bible fro...

When we walk with God, we want to see that our relationships are healthy. It’s part of the command to love one another. And few things are more heartbreaking than damaged relationships. When those linger, the Body of Christ is weakened. Churches split because of it. Families suffer for it. Joshua 22:5 says, “Love the Lord your God, walk in all his ways, obey his commands, hold firmly to him, and s...

Have you ever wondered why the Samaritan from the book of Luke was called “good?”  In the parable of the Good Samaritan in Luke 10, he stops and helps a man lying on the road who had been beaten and robbed. Jesus told his disciples this story to illustrate how they are to treat one another—how we are to treat one another.  Micah 6:8 says, “What does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to lo...

The Bible is famous for speaking in parables and metaphor. One of the most famous is found in one of Paul’s letters, in which he tells us the benefits of a life in Christ. The “Fruit of the Spirit” is a list of nine attributes that a person filled with the Holy Spirit will model for the world. It’s probably no coincidence that Paul starts with…Love. Galatians 5:22–23 says, “By contrast, the fruit...