Carter Conlon | Daily Devotionals

Matthew 26:35: Though I should die with thee, yet will I not deny thee. Peter spoke these words sincerely to Jesus. He meant them, but sincerity did not prepare him for the fire and the trial ahead of him. Jesus told him plainly that he would not get through the night, but Peter argued because he believed in his own strength. In the garden, that belief collapsed. God allows these moments to reveal...

In Psalm 23:5, David said, You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You know, he didn't say in the absence of my enemies. He actually said in the presence of my enemies. Your enemies can be all around you with their swords drawn, but all they can do is butter your bread for you. That's all they can do. There's nothing to be afraid of. When you're in the hand of God, goodness an...

Hebrews 4:10: For he that has entered into his rest, he also has ceased from his own works. Entering God's rest means stopping the struggle to prove yourself. It means ceasing from trusting your own strength. Peter learned this when his confidence failed him. God was not rejecting him, He was redirecting him. Human strength can only take you and I so far. Divine strength alone can carry us to the...

This Memorial Day, we pause to remember those who gave their lives in service to our country. Their sacrifice reflects the words of Jesus in John 15:13. Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one's life for his friends. As we honor today these heroes, we also find comfort in God's promises. Psalm 34:18 reminds us, The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed...

In the scriptures, Peter the Apostle sat at the table with Jesus and made a sincere boast of loyalty. He meant it when he said it though. "I'll be offended yet will not I." He was sincere to the core of his being. But sincerity is not strength. Jesus warned him that the night ahead would demand something he did not have. When Peter entered the garden, his confidence disappeared and silence took it...

Once we get back to the cross and yield our lives to the purposes of God, we can then say with the Apostle Paul, "I am crucified with Christ." That means my will, my plans, and my ambitions are laid down, yet I live not by my own strength, but by faith in what Christ did for me on Calvary. Paul understood that life flows from trusting what was purchased there. The old life is surrendered so that t...

John 11:44. Jesus said, loose him and let him go. Don't make it complicated. "Lazarus, come forth." That is your part. He could have just yelled from the tomb, "I can't, I'm all wrapped up." He could have, but he didn't. He just got up and he came forth and his life became a miracle. Let Jesus Christ do what He needs to do today in your life. Let Him unwrap you. Let Him say, "loose him and let him...

Elijah told the prophets of Baal to go first because their work was quick. False religion moves fast. It surveys what people want, secures resources, and builds something that never challenges the heart. It offers comfort without conviction and prosperity without surrender. What God builds is different. It takes time. It requires digging, rebuilding, and order. God is not offended by slowness when...

Did you know that you are a part of God's end-time army? He's going to raise men, women, and young people in this generation. According to the prophet Daniel, you will be strong and you will do exploits in the name of God. You will do things in the power of God that could only be done through Him by surrendered vessels. You don't have to be strong in yourself. You can actually be weak. You don't h...

Saul prophesied while an evil spirit was upon him. He had once known the anointing of God, had been touched by the Spirit, and had been turned into another man. Yet there was a stubbornness in his heart. He would not yield his life to the word of God. Over time, what once came from God became corrupted. He still spoke, still led, still occupied a position of authority, but something else was drivi...

In scripture, Elijah rebuilt the altar with 12 stones, even though the nation was divided. God was declaring that his altar does not recognize division. At his altar, there's no righteous side and unrighteous side, no historical grievance that justifies separation. God was restoring his covenant identity to the people. He was saying Israel is still Israel. God does not send His fire to divided alt...

When Lazarus died, people said it was over. Four days in the grave, a stone sealing the tomb. Every voice around that place was declaring the situation final. That same mindset can settle over a life. Too late, too far gone, no future. When that unbelief sets in, prayer fades, expectation fades, hope fades. But Jesus does not call when there's still a chance to rise on your own. He calls when ther...

There have been movements that call themselves revival marked by constant prophesying yet filled with threats against anyone who would test them by Scripture. Those who questioned were once told they would die. This spirit is not new. There was a javelin in Saul's hand while he prophesied. False spirituality resents scrutiny. It reacts with intimidation rather than humility. Truth never fears the...

My prayer has always been for God to send a spiritual awakening before Christ returns. Especially in this hour that we're living in now, in this time when there's so much crisis in homes and families. There are so many dealing with mental issues. There are so many marriages falling apart, people battling with addictions, and the whole world seems to be mounting an offense against the truth of Jesu...

When Mary the mother of Jesus came to dedicate Him in the temple, things were spoken about His life. And the Scripture tells us that Mary pondered these things in her heart. I want to say thank you today to every mother that has taken time to ponder and believe for God's best for each of your children. Thank you for never giving up on us. Thank you for never turning your back on us. Thank you for...

In the book of Kings, Saul was prophesying and David was worshiping. Both actions look spiritual. One man was speaking, the other was playing before the Lord. But Saul had a javelin in his hand. What the undiscerning eye could not see was the spirit behind the activity. Saul's heart was full of rebellion, envy, and hatred towards the true anointing of God. He could speak religious language while c...

In a church of about 700 people, an invitation was given. Give your future into the hands of God. Everyone stood, no one moved. Sometimes God speaks and the room stays still. The call is clear, but hesitation wins the day. It wins because you see your weaknesses, you see your struggles. You think, God, you can't mean me, yet your heart begins to pound. Do not measure your obedience by what others...

In the Psalms, King David said that God had saved him out of a deep place of despair. God not only lifted him up but also placed him on solid ground. In response to this incredible deliverance, David declares that God put a new song of praise in his mouth. Now what's fascinating is that David says many will see this song and be transformed by it. See it before they hear it. It's a song that could...

Deuteronomy 6:6, 7, and 12. And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up. Then beware, lest you forget the Lord who brought you out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage. In other words, God says He wan...

In 2020, we had the privilege of visiting the first home in America, Lot 1, where 51 survivors from the Mayflower gathered to pray. There was an undeniable presence of God in that house. When I first walked into it, I could feel His lingering presence. In the front yard of that house, the first Thanksgiving in America was held. They had no go-forward strategy, but they prayed. I don't know what th...

Hebrews 4:1 says, *"Let us therefore fear, lest a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it."* There remains a rest for the people of God. This rest is not in activity. It's actually surrender. To enter his rest is to cease from your own works, as God once did from his. It's the end of trusting your own strength, your own thinking, your own ability...

A church leader once said to me, "Pastor, I'm ashamed of our denomination. We have over 50,000 churches in America, but I've only found 23 prayer meetings. The cry for Christ is gone. Many churches are still gathering, sermons are preached, songs are sung, but prayer has faded. People no longer believe that God answers." When prayer disappears, something inside has already died. People sit in chur...

Mark 14:34, Jesus said, "My soul is exceeding sorrowful unto death." Jesus spoke honestly about his suffering. He didn't pretend strength he didn't possess in his humanity. He asked for help. He asked his disciples to watch with him. This moment teaches us that acknowledging weakness is not failure. The battle was fierce, deeper than anything the disciples had known. They wanted to stand, but they...

Mark 14:41. *And He said unto them, Sleep on now, and take your rest.* Jesus spoke these words in the Garden of Gethsemane after returning from prayer. He had asked his disciples to watch with him as he faced the cross, but they couldn't stay awake. Their strength, their natural strength, was gone. When Jesus said, "Sleep on now," he wasn't dismissing them. He was revealing to them something deepe...

Many people are wondering if we are currently living in the last days. As you and I see this world continuing to push God out and we continue to see this antichrist spirit rise all around the world, we can't help but wonder if we are. But we know that the last days will come and we don't have to be afraid when they do, because God has given us the power of His Holy Spirit to cause us to stand. He'...