Carter Conlon | Daily Devotionals

In Nehemiah 8, a moment of realization dawned upon the people, who started to weep. They came to understand the consequences of neglecting the Word of God and the things about Him. However, Nehemiah does not join in their despair. Instead, he encourages them to go forward, enjoy life's blessings, and begin to share with those in need. Nehemiah reassures the people that it brings joy to the heart o...

In Acts 2:17, God declares, “In the last days, certain things will come to pass.” When God speaks, His voice carries the same authority as when He created light or calmed a storm; His power is that remarkable. The last days began with the resurrection and ascension of Jesus Christ, and will conclude with His return. Understanding the signs of the last days is crucial, as it helps us to be more awa...

2 Chronicles 1:1 tells us that Solomon the king was strengthened in his kingdom, and God was with him, exalting him greatly. We, too, can experience this strength and transformation power from our Lord.  You may not be where you want to be, but you are improving daily in Christ. Your struggles are diminishing, and there will be a day in your heart when fear will no longer govern your future. Your...

In Mark 10:35, two disciples asked Jesus to grant them seats on His right and left hand in His glory. Jesus explained that it was not His to give but the Father's choice.  James later wrote that we often ask for things beneath what God wants to give us, seeking temporary joy instead of what truly satisfies us forever. We tend to gravitate towards what we think will make us happy and successful.  A...

Ezekiel 36:23 says, “‘And I will sanctify My great name, which has been profaned among the nations, which you have profaned in their midst; and the nations shall know that I am the Lord,’ says the Lord God, ‘when I am hallowed in you before their eyes.’” God will do something in and through you to bring His name to reputation. It's not because of anything that you've done. It's despite your strugg...

We are going against the direction of this world and marching towards the Kingdom of God. In our hearts, we carry a song of victory, and in our steps, we have the strength that comes from God alone. We acknowledge that He will be there for us, providing the strength to keep our hearts, minds, and families secure.  As we reach the end of our days, as I'm about to do, let this be our prayer surround...

Pastor Teresa and I had a sheep farm for several years where we cared for 68 female sheep, a couple of rams, and countless lambs. The experience taught me valuable lessons about shepherding God's people.  The Lord has a special place in His heart for shepherds, but throughout history, some have misused their positions, leading to spiritual decline for many. Shepherds must align their motives with...

God finds joy in transforming what we sing about, like the song, I Shall Recover It All. It's not just what we sing on Sundays; He transforms our lives into that reality.  God takes delight in bringing us back to Him to restore us and filling our hearts with a new song that inspires others to also turn to Him. The joy of God extends to granting us the spoils of victory through the sacrifice of Jes...

In the year 2001, before the towers were attacked on 9/11, we received a warning from the Lord at Times Square Church in New York City about an impending crisis. We decided to cancel our events and start preparing ourselves—we met every night. I vividly remember standing in the pulpit and urging our congregation to gather strength and to align ourselves with God.  We knew that a day would come whe...

Psalm 46:2–4 says, “Therefore we will not fear, Even though the earth be removed, And though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; Though its waters roar and be troubled, Though the mountains shake with its swelling. There is a river whose streams shall make glad the city of God, The holy place of the tabernacle of the Most High.” The psalmist saw a calamity coming on the earth, but...

King Solomon's request for wisdom was reasonable, but he lacked the heart to obey. In Proverbs, he gave wise instructions to all but failed to follow them himself. He outlined his downfall with his hand.  Wisdom alone cannot sustain us; we need a heart willing to obey. We can act by asking God for wisdom and a heart to follow His guidance. Pray for a heart that loves and obeys God. Ask for your he...

In 2 Kings 4, a woman who had lost all hope was left with only a little oil. When a servant of God came to her, he instructed her to pour the oil into empty vessels. Despite her desperation, she took a step of faith and started pouring out the little she had, and something amazing happened. The scripture was fulfilled.  Take the little bit you have and start pouring it out into others. Pour into y...

As Jesus prepared His disciples for His going to the cross and things to come, He knew their hopes were about to be tested. They had various expectations, but Jesus instead urged them to trust God's plan alone.  Our ideas and aspirations can sometimes crumble in our lives. That’s when we need to take action by surrendering our plans and aligning ourselves with God's purpose. This choice requires a...

The beauty of God's Kingdom is that we start where we start, and every day, God's presence and changes start increasing in our lives. God promises that the glory of our latter end will be greater than the former.  There's an ever-increasing glory in the hearts and lives of those who belong to Jesus Christ. The Bible tells us that as we behold Him, the totality of the victory that He won for us, we...

Nehemiah 1:3–4 says, “‘The wall of Jerusalem is also broken down, and its gates are burned with fire.’ So it was, when I heard these words, that I sat down and wept, and mourned for many days; I was fasting and praying before the God of heaven.” God is calling us to be holy and set apart and believe Him for miracles again. The things that used to set apart the people of God from the ways of this f...

Many of us experience attacks on our thoughts and emotions in these challenging times. However, we can find strength and protection in Christ. We have been equipped with spiritual armor to shield us from darkness attacks. We must put on the helmet of salvation, understanding who we are in Christ.  When the enemy tries to remind us of our past, we can confidently remind him of his future, knowing t...

In 2 Kings, four lepers faced a desperate situation during a famine and enemy siege. They chose to confront their fears and ventured right into the enemy camp. God made their footsteps sound like a mighty army, causing the enemy to flee in fear and leaving behind abundant provision.  When we face our fears, God can turn our last hope into our best hope, bringing provision and blessing into our liv...

In Genesis 3, Satan's desire to be worshiped as God led him to tempt and deceive humanity. He sowed the seed of self-sufficiency and rebellion, convincing humans they could determine their future without God.  God pronounced a curse on Satan, promising that a Savior would come from the seed of a woman to defeat him. This promise marked the first preaching of the gospel in the Bible. Satan would no...

John 10:10 says, “The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.” Some of you know firsthand that the Devil is running unchecked, stealing, killing, and destroying. However, Jesus came to give us eternal life and an abundant life on Earth. Our Savior promises a full and inspired, divinely led, pu...

In Romans 8:18, Paul says, “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.” You might be suffering a little bit or maybe a whole lot, but a million years from now, as a believer in Christ, you will be thankful you didn't give up your song or give up on God. The Lord places a song inside of us that the world can't...

Ephesians 6:10–13 says, “Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Theref...

In Acts 27, the Apostle Paul stood on the sinking ship's deck with a group of people who had lost all hope. He brought them a message of encouragement, telling them to be of good cheer because he had heard from God about their future.  The Word of God can come to us even when everything around us seems to be failing. When everything else is gone, we can find comfort in knowing that Jesus Christ is...

I'm grateful to God for the assistance provided by His Holy Spirit as we walk with Him. I'm thankful to Jesus for the strength that only He can give us in these challenging times. I also appreciate the divine influence on His Word and the empowerment of the Holy Spirit.  As we pray today and in the coming days, we ask God to allow this divine intervention to touch us powerfully. We ask to be set f...

In these dark times, the Lord will strengthen His people and bless us with peace—it’s the essence of who He is and what He does. I'm not speaking merely from theory but from personal experience.  I have been through the wilderness, encountered obstacles, and wrestled with uncertainty about the future. I've known what despair and the weight of deep wounds feel like. I can testify that Christ has al...

1 Kings 18:30 says, “Then Elijah said to all the people, ‘Come near to me.’ So all the people came near to him. And he repaired the altar of the Lord that was broken down.” The prophet Elijah called the people back to true worship when he said, “Come near me.” Jesus Christ invites our generation to do the same—one more time. All we have to do is look around and see how far we have fallen from God....