Rev. Luke Powell Daily Devotions

Did Paul leave a fruit off of his list in Gal 5:22-23? Probably not - but this one could easily fit the list. It's a common theme throughout all of his preaching...

The last "R" word in our fight for self-control is "repeat". Instead of thinking we are standing strong, we repeatedly resist, rely and redirect as we seek to honour God.

Instead of simply resisting temptation, we need to redirect our thoughts to something good, something better, something outside of ourselves: God Almighty!

Even unbelievers can practise self-control through resisting.. but Christians rely on the Holy Spirit for their strength. The enemy will try to empty us of the Spirit, but we need to yield to the Spirit and be filled to find strength for resisting.

The first step in having self-control in the face of temptation is to RESIST. James says when we resist the devil, he will flee from us. When the stakes are high enough, we have remarkable ability to resist!

As the Proverb goes, "A person without self-control is like a city with broken down walls". What threats and dangers to your soul could you avoid if you had more self-control?

Does gentleness make us weak? Or does being gentle show a different kind of strength? Some words from David Mathis inspire us to true strength and gentleness today.

A lesson from the great preacher Charles Spurgeon on gentleness. As the Proverb goes, "a gentle answer deflects anger, but harsh words make tempers flare."

Jesus reached out gently to the people who were burdened and overwhelmed. Are we treating people with the same gentleness?

Today we are reminded to be still, because God's voice is usually a gentle whisper.

A beautiful song by Michael Card reminds us that Jesus the Gentle Healer is alive and well and living in Boksburg - and in whatever town you find yourself today.

Jesus' parable in Matthew 25:14-30 gives us hope of those words "Well done, good and faithful servant!" Are we faithfully using the gifts He has given us, or are we burying them in the ground?

God has given us each gifts and talents to use for his good purposes. Are we using them well, reflecting God's faithfulness in our own trustworthiness?

God can do more with someone who is present and willing than someone who is able and absent. Are there some areas of your life where you need to start showing up?

What does a faithful Christian look like? First, we are to give our worship to God and God alone.

Billy Joel, Cat Stevens and King David all wrote songs saying people can't be trusted. But there is ONE who we can always trust! Great is HIS faithfulness.

Moral goodness means little to God if we are not doing good deeds to help and love others. Today we are reminded to devote ourselves to doing good, because faith without good works is dead.

Jesus spoke of good people storing up good things in their hearts. Are filling our minds with good or bad things?

Paul tells us that bad company corrupts good character. Do the people you hang out with point you to God? Are there people you need to cut out of your life? There is no being GOOD in a godly sense without good people supporting you.

Any goodness of our own is only a reflection of the only One who is truly GOOD! Meet the Good God today.

Two hugely influential artists wanted the world to see them as bad! But Jesus taught us that GOOD people bear GOOD fruit. Who will you follow today?

The height of hypocrisy in the Bible is a religion without kindness. There are endless opportunities for words and deeds of kindness all around us. Are we being generous with our kindness?

A modern Good Samaritan reminds of of Jesus' teaching to be kind to our enemies. Can we really do this?

Do you need a Bicker Bucket in your house? Our loved ones are often the recipients of our cruelty rather than our kindness.

Christianity has often been associated with cruelty rather than kindness. It's time to change that!