Rev. Luke Powell Daily Devotions

Perhaps the most touching part of I'll Push You is the joy Patrick finds in serving Justin... and the joy Justin find in letting Patrick serve. What joy might you missing out on, living for yourself? True joy is found in serving.

More inspiration from I'll Push You this week (do yourself a favour and buy the book!) Justin and Patrick faced much criticism and discouragement on their journey. But they didn't let those negative voices dissuade them. How about you?

Justin and Patrick finally begin their Camino, and immediately face all kinds of challenges. But at the end of the first day, they're on top of a mountain! The easy road is never the rewarding one - take the long and hard road and find more joy on the top of the mountain!

I'll Push You is a story of deep friendship. Do you have a friend you trust with your life? Are you a friend that someone trusts with their life? Be inspired today by the wonderful friendship between Justin and Patrick.

As the I'll Push You guys began to prep for their journey, people came forward and gave money, time and more to help them out. This is the Jesus way - giving of ourselves to help others. Are we valuing people above our money and stability?

Inspiration from a great book called I'll Push You - which you MUST buy. Today we learn that if your WHY is strong enough, then the HOW will follow. What dreams are you not pursuing because the HOW scares you?

This week we are getting inspiration from I'll Push You (go buy the book!!). Today we learn from Justin Skeesuck in his wheelchair, who decided to rather dwell on the things he could do rather than become bitter about what he couldn't.

If there was ever a moment where the devil thought he's outsmarted God, and humanity thought there was no more hope, it was when Jesus hung on a cross. But God had a plan! He can never be stumped or surprised, since his wisdom is unlimited. We can praise Him today for this reason, even in this storm!

The Psalmist reminds us that God sustains his people - like a sustain pedal on a piano, which keeps a note going even when it should have already stopped. We can praise God even in our storms for being our sustaining strength! Listen here:

The Psalmist tells us that God is a compassionate, caring God, healing the brokenhearted and binding up wounds. Why could Paul and Silas praise God in a prison cell? Because they knew he was caring for them even in their difficult time.  Praise Him today, and know that nobody cares for you like He does!

We only praise what we delight in. Could it be that praising God would give us greater joy in this difficult time?

The early Methodists sang praise in the midst of their storms... Paul and Silas sang  praise in their jail cell... Let's be people who praise our way through the COVID-19 crisis.

Paul's lament in Romans 9 shows his deep concern for those who do not know Jesus. He would have willingly traded his place in God's kingdom if it meant his Jewish friends could come to Jesus.  Let's remember to do all we can to share Christ with those who don't know him!

Many of the laments in the Bible were written when the writer became aware of their sinfulness. Do we still feel the same grief at our sin today? Let's learn a lesson from Hansie Cronje - who began to heal when he lamented his sin.

Christians don't simply lament their own suffering, they lament when anyone suffers... and then they do all they can to help alleviate the suffering they see.

The writer of Lamentations 5 cries out in horror at the things going on in his world. Today, 2500-odd years later, the world looks quite similar. Perhaps today we can lament along with him, as we see the state of things.

The Bible contains many songs of lament. In Western culture today, we often try to bury our feelings, but the Bible writers certainly let their feelings out! Today, know that it's OK to lament the state of things - but direct your lament to God.

Those who delight in God have great assurance: that he delights in them, and watches over them with care and compassion. Do you need this reminder today?

The Psalmist paints a sad picture of those who don't learn to delight in God. Their ways lead to destruction, but the way of Jesus leads to life in all fullness. Which will you choose?

The Psalmist says that when we delight in God, we become like strong trees beside streams of water. What does this mean? Some thoughts.

We need to see the Bible as not just a textbook of answers, but as a delightful way of getting to know God! What are you delighting in today?

The Psalmist tells us to watch who we associate with... but then Jesus was known as a "friend of sinners". Let's be friends of all, but avoid partnering with those who leads us in the wrong ways.

Even while he was alive, people who knew Bill Wilson spoke of him with the same respect and kindness you usually only hear at funerals. Such was his character of Christ-like love and deep faith. Be inspired by him today.

Bill Wilson died on an adventure gone wrong. When he realised he would never make it home, he wrote some moving letters to those he loved, ensuring them that "all is well". His faith in Christ gave him great peace, even in the face of death.

When times were tough on the adventures that Bill Wilson went on, his faith enabled him to still find joy.  Much like Paul, who said "rejoice always!" Are we able to show the joy of Christ to others, even when things aren't going our way?