We often think of love in human terms—needing someone, depending on them, or gaining something from them. But divine love is different. In today’s devotional, we look at the self-existence of God—the truth that He depends on no one and no thing. He is the great I AM, eternally complete, lacking nothing.

E. Stanley Jones opens our eyes to a stunning truth: redemption doesn’t merely rescue us from evil—it transforms even our good. Before anything can be truly redeemed, it must be revealed for what it is—limited, fallible, and often subtly warped by ego. Righteousness, wisdom, sanctification—all these wonderful virtues, when driven by self, end up failing us. They become a performance rather than a person. But in Christ, they are not discarded—they are fulfilled.

Today’s reflection from Ray Stedman invites us to look beyond the reputation of a man and into the inner disposition shaped by Christ within him. When Gentile believers began coming to Christ in large numbers, the church at Jerusalem wasn’t quite sure what to make of it. The Holy Spirit had broken through their cultural expectations and was moving powerfully in Antioch, and someone needed to discern whether this was of God. So they sent Barnabas.

Today’s devotional by Bob Hoekstra invites us to see earthly afflictions not as obstacles but as instruments of grace, shaping us for eternal glory. Paul, writing from a life marked by suffering, calls them “light” and “momentary”—not because they’re easy, but because of what they produce: “a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory” (2 Corinthians 4:17).

Today’s reflection from A.B. Simpson draws from Isaiah’s majestic prophecy, centering on the divine gift of Jesus Christ—our Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, and Prince of Peace. But it presses deeper than a title. It unveils where true rest is found.

Oswald Chambers points us to a pivotal truth often overlooked: the Holy Spirit is not a distant hope or a delayed promise but the present reality of the ascended Christ dwelling within us now. Too often, we mistakenly separate the indwelling of the Spirit from the Person of Jesus. But Scripture unites them inseparably—the gift of the Holy Spirit is the very life of Christ manifesting in us.

Today’s reflection by Miles Stanford invites me to slow down—intentionally, prayerfully—and walk at the pace of grace. In a world that rushes, God never hurries. His movements are deliberate because His work is finished. He’s not racing to complete something—He’s unfolding it step by step in those who walk by His Spirit.

Today’s reflection from Witness Lee contrasts the knowing and the seeking. At the time of Jesus’ birth, the religious establishment had the Scriptures, the temple, and centuries of tradition. Yet when the promised Messiah came, they remained unmoved. Meanwhile, a group of Gentile magi—outsiders in every cultural and religious sense—set off on a long journey not because of a command, but because of a light.

Genesis 2 offers a more intimate portrait of creation than Genesis 1. While the first chapter speaks with grandeur about God's power and order in forming the cosmos, Genesis 2 brings us into a quieter, more personal space. Here, God is not merely commanding light and sky into being; He is shaping, breathing, planting, and forming with His hands. Creation is not only majestic but relational. The focus narrows to humankind: formed from the dust, animated by divine breath, and placed into a garden already prepared for them. Work is not punishment but sacred vocation. The first man is entrusted with care and protection, roles reminiscent of the duties given to priests.

Daniel 6 is a breathtaking picture of steadfastness under pressure. Darius, the new Medo-Persian ruler, recognized Daniel’s integrity and gave him authority, which stirred up envy among the other officials. They could find no fault in Daniel’s work, so they targeted his faith. With devious intent, they lured the king into signing an irrevocable decree that outlawed prayer to anyone but the king for 30 days—knowing full well Daniel would not comply.

E. Stanley Jones gently exposes the hidden disease within even our noblest efforts: the unsurrendered self. Wisdom, righteousness, and even sanctification—good things in themselves—can be corrupted when self sits at the center. A mind filled with knowledge but devoid of surrender is still ruled by ego. A pursuit of righteousness that depends on personal attainment becomes pride cloaked in piety. And sanctification that fixates on external separations can subtly whisper, “I am better,” rather than, “Christ is all.”

The heart of today’s devotional from Ray Stedman beats with the final and glorious truth of the gospel: we are forgiven—completely, unchangeably, and eternally—in Jesus Christ. Ray Stedman reminds us that every prophet pointed toward this reality, that through Christ alone, we receive the one thing our hearts need most: forgiveness.

Today’s devotional from A.B. Simpson draws from the gentle command in Philippians 4:6: “Be anxious for nothing.” At its heart is a loving invitation—an invitation not to suppress our worries, but to hand them over entirely. The word “commit” becomes the key to understanding this exchange. To commit is not merely to acknowledge our burdens but to hand them over, trusting them into the care of Someone far more capable.

Today’s reflection from Bob Hoekstra reminds us that there’s more happening in our lives than meets the eye. While the outward, physical body inevitably weakens and ages—something we all observe and experience—there’s an invisible, powerful work taking place within. For the believer who walks in the grace of God, that inner person—the spirit made alive in Christ—is being renewed day by day.

Oswald Chambers draws our attention to how Jesus reframed prayer—not as an activity to schedule but as a state of being. Just as breath and blood circulate without ceasing, prayer for the believer is meant to be constant, even unconscious—an unbroken communion with the Father through the Son.

Today’s reflection from Miles Stanford gently opens our eyes to the mystery of preparation—the often unseen cultivation God does in hearts long before the Word ever reaches them. We may be tempted to focus on the moment of visible transformation, but the Spirit reminds us that the deep work of God often begins in secret, far beneath the surface. Like rich soil that has been patiently tilled, the heart prepared beforehand receives the Word with joy and bears lasting fruit.

Today’s reflection by Witness Lee invites us into the experiential reality of Emmanuel—God with us. The name Emmanuel isn’t merely theological, it is relational. The devotional reminds us that whenever we experience Jesus—whether as peace, rest, patience, truth, or salvation—we’re not merely receiving a gift from God; we are encountering God Himself in real time. Jesus is not only from God; He is God. He is not just near; He is with us.

Today’s reflection from E. Stanley Jones opens our eyes to a surprising truth: what most of the world strives for—wisdom, righteousness, and sanctification—is still not enough without redemption. That one word, redemption, holds the power to free us not only from our failures but also from our finest virtues when they are fueled by pride. This is a shocking and freeing insight.

Today’s reflection from Ray Stedman invites us into the quiet, sacred moment when Peter, through the power of Christ, speaks life into a lifeless body—and Tabitha rises. Her story is more than a miracle of physical resurrection; it is a portrait of what Christ does to the heart that has grown cold, calloused, or numb through pain, betrayal, or disappointment.

There is something infinitely more precious than merely believing truths about Jesus—it is knowing Him personally. Paul didn’t cry out for knowledge of doctrine or divine mysteries; he longed for the intimate reality of Christ Himself. “That I may know Him,” he wrote, not in pursuit of theology but of relationship—one so deep it entered into the fellowship of Christ’s sufferings and conformity to His death.