May 18 25
Don’t Hide Your Light!
“So don’t hide your light! Let it shine brightly before others, so that the commendable things you do will shine as light upon them, and then they will give their praise to your Father in heaven.” Matthew 5:16 TPT
The world is getting darker. What was wrong is now right. And what was right is now wrong. This world needs Christ more than ever before. Jesus said, “I am the light of the world.” (John 8:12) But as followers of His, sometimes we forget that He also said, “YOU are the light of the world.” (Matthew 5:14) He goes on to say: “A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” (Matthew 5:14-16 ESV) I especially like the way the Passion Translation above says, “Don’t hide your light!”
How do we hide our light? We live like everyone else does. We blend in, instead of standing out. We compromise. We talk like the world. We go to the same places that worldly people go to. We watch the same entertainment. When sinners are loud and demanding, we stay silent. We cower in the face of threats from lawless people. We remain inactive as evil marches on. As we watch in horror as Satan and his dark forces take more and more ground, we wonder why God isn’t intervening. Are we waiting on Him, or is He waiting on us?
During a very dark time centuries ago, Isaiah wrote: “Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord rises upon you. See, darkness covers the earth and thick darkness is over the peoples, but the Lord rises upon you and His glory appears over you.” (Isaiah 60:1-2 NIV) I believe this is a word for all of God’s people today, in the midst of the thick darkness that is covering this earth and its people. It’s our time to shine – to stand out, to stand up, to speak up, and to show ourselves to be the soldiers for Christ that we need to be – right here, right now. Scripture says: “You are to live clean, innocent lives as children of God in a dark world full of crooked and perverse people. Let your lives shine brightly before them.” (Philippians 2:15 NLT) In other words, “Don’t hide your light!”
Lord, remind me often that I am the light of the world, and that You have equipped me with Your Spirit to let my light shine in front of others wherever I go. Help me to feed on Your Word on a regular basis, so that I will become strong in spirit, and be more resistant to sin. Thank You that as I refuse to compromise with evil in all of its forms, others will praise You because of me!
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May 10 25
Call Upon God
“As I call upon You, let my shame and disgrace be replaced by Your favor once again.” Psalm 31:17 TPT
This is one of my new favorite Bible verses by King David. When the Lord showed it to me, He impressed upon me that I was to continually call upon Him, so that He could replace all shame and disgrace in my life with His divine favor. By the simple act of calling upon God, I was engaging in spiritual warfare, as the second half of this verse reveals: “But let shame and disgrace fall instead upon the wicked – those going to their own doom, drifting down in silence to the dust of death.” The last thing Satan wants is for God’s devoted ones to call upon the Lord, because he knows that our Heavenly Father’s ears are always open to our cries, and He will never fail to respond. The apostle Peter wrote, “For the eyes of the Lord are [looking favorably] upon the righteous (the upright), and His ears are attentive to their prayer (eager to answer).” (1 Peter 3:12 AMP) David was keenly aware that the simple act of calling upon God was spiritual warfare, and he wrote in Psalm 18:3 (NKJV), “I will call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised; so shall I be saved from my enemies.” Hallelujah!
The Amplified translation of Psalm 31:17 says, “Let me not be put to shame, O Lord, or disappointed, for I am calling upon You.” When we call upon the Lord for His help with our work at home, or on the job, or in our ministry, we will receive divine favor for our efforts, and we won’t be ashamed or disappointed by the results. On the contrary, God will bless our efforts and crown them with success. Why? Because when we live a lifestyle of calling upon the Lord, we show Him and others that we are not depending upon our own wisdom, skills, or talents. Instead, we are demonstrating a humble dependence upon God, which opens the door to divine favor and assistance. And at the same time, we are shutting the door on the devil and his evil intentions and interference.
Do you need healing in your body today? Call upon God. Do you need help for your finances? Call upon the Lord. Do your relationships or your marriage need to be transformed? Call upon God – and watch Him replace your shame and disappointment with His divine favor and victory!
Lord, teach me how to call on You continually, so that You can replace all shame and disgrace in my life with Your divine favor. Remind me often that when I call upon You with praise on my lips, I am engaging in spiritual warfare. Thank You that as I look to You for help in all of my endeavors, You will crown my efforts with success!
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“[The Lord] satisfies your desires with GOOD things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.” Psalm 103:5 NIV
This is one of the promises of God that I declare almost every day. The Lord showed me years ago that if I would look to Him to satisfy my desires, He would fill my life with an abundance of “good things.” He taught me that the things He wants to satisfy me with lead to life, peace, and wholeness – things that literally renew my youth. On the other hand, Satan wants me to look to him to satisfy my needs, but all that he has to offer leads to bondage, defeat, and death.
For instance, when we want to satisfy our desires for entertainment, and we look to God for His wisdom and guidance, we will only watch and listen to things that minister LIFE to us. Things that bring us joy. Things that edify us and build us up. But if we, instead, don’t use good judgment, and we allow Satan to make our choices for us, we will gravitate to forms of entertainment that are dark, depressing, and depraved. And we will suffer the consequences.
Another scriptural promise that I declare daily is Isaiah 58:11 (TLB): “The Lord will guide you continually, and satisfy you with all good things, and keep you healthy too; and you will be like a well-watered garden, like an ever-flowing spring.” God’s will for us is that we maintain a lifestyle of looking to Him for satisfaction in every area of our lives. When we do, He promises to “guide [us] continually” into the “good things” that will enhance our health and well-being, and that will minister life to us. There are too many destructive forces in this world for us to let our guard down, even for a moment. If we do, by default, we will expose ourselves and our loved ones to things that have the power and potential to harm us physically, mentally, and spiritually.
We cannot satisfy our desires apart from God’s goodness and think that we are going to walk in peace, wholeness, and victory. Let’s look to the Lord to fulfill our needs, and to satisfy our desires, so we can declare as David the warrior-king did – “You satisfy my every desire with good things. You’ve supercharged my life so that I soar again like a flying eagle in the sky!” (Psalm 103:5 TPT)
Lord, teach me to always look to You to satisfy my desires with good things – things that bring me joy and peace, that edify and build me up, and that minister life to me. Help me not to let my guard down at any time, and show me how to shun things that are dark, depressing, or depraved. Thank You that as I follow Your Spirit’s leading in these areas, I will continually walk in peace, wholeness, and victory!
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Apr 27 25
Our Desire to Do God’s Will
“I desire to do Your will, my God; Your law is within my heart.” Psalm 40:8 NIV
The verse above gives us insight into a powerful biblical principle: Keeping God’s Word (law) within our hearts fills us with a DESIRE to do the will of God. It also makes us ABLE to do His will. Psalm 119:11 (ESV) bears this out when it says: “I have stored up Your Word in my heart, that I might not sin against You.” Perhaps you have heard it said that the Bible is not just for our information, but for our transformation. The more attention we give to God’s truths and principles, the more we will be empowered to obey Him in every area of our lives.
So how do we go about “storing up” God’s Word in our hearts? We read some of it every day. We say, “Lord, show me where to go in Your Word today. Speak to me, and help me to hear and to heed Your voice.” We also have periods of studying the Bible in-depth, saying, “Lord, grant me revelation from heaven, and help me to apply it to my own life, and to share it with others in life-changing ways.” And we memorize Scriptures that the Lord leads us to, in order to meditate on them “day and night,” so that we can carry out God’s will for us. (Joshua 1:8)
The apostle Paul wrote: “For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases Him.” (Philippians 2:13 NLT) One way we can cooperate with the work that God is doing in us, is to devote ourselves to His Word. When we do, the world, the flesh, and the devil will have a hard time keeping us down and defeated.
My prayer for you today is that you may always be able to declare with confidence and conviction – “I delight to fulfill Your will, my God, for Your living words are written upon the pages of my heart!” (Psalm 40:8 TPT)
Lord, teach me how to store up Your Word in my heart. Help me to spend unhurried, undistracted time in Your Word each day. Speak to me, and help me to hear and to heed Your voice. Thank You for granting me revelation from heaven, and helping me to apply it to my own life, and to share it with others in life-changing ways!
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Apr 24 25
Healed to Serve
“Now Simon’s mother-in-law was ill with a high fever, and they appealed to [Jesus] on her behalf. And He stood over her and rebuked the fever, and it left her, and immediately she rose and began to serve them.” Luke 4:38-39 ESV
This passage of Scripture is a beautiful picture of why it is important to seek the Lord for our healing. Here, when Jesus arrives at Simon Peter’s house, those present appeal to Him to help Peter’s mother-in-law, who is ill. The Master doesn’t waste any time. He rebukes the woman’s fever, driving it out of her body. “Immediately,” she rises and begins “to serve them.”
This is a powerful example of one reason why God wants us healthy and whole. It’s so that we can better serve others. When you take this principle seriously, and apply it to your own life, it will forever change the way you think about your health and well-being. Peter’s mother-in-law had it in her heart to serve those who came to her house. But with a high fever and illness in her body, she was helpless to do anything for herself or anyone else. Get a hold of this today: You’re not just asking to be healed for your own sake – you’re asking to be healed for the sake of others, too.
For most of my life, it never occurred to me that I could actively resist sickness and disease. I just passively accepted it, because I didn’t know that I had any choice in the matter. But since God has taught me through His Word that I have authority in Jesus’ name to resist illness – through prayer, and commanding it to leave my body – I seek the Lord’s help on the basis of His promises, and I trust Him to come to my rescue.
Today, I urge you to believe with all your heart that God wants you healthy and whole. If you don’t, Satan will do his best to make sure that you never get your healing. Use your faith to believe God for good things. For “impossible” things. For things that will bring Him glory – and that includes you not settling for less than His best in the area of your health and well-being. Dare to believe that God wants you well, and watch what He will do in you and through you so that you can joyfully serve others in His name!
Lord, give me a fresh revelation of how much You want me to be well and whole in my spirit, soul, and body all the rest of my days. Lead me along Your perfect pathway of healing and wholeness, and help me to follow You closely, and to cooperate with You fully all the way. Thank You for Your promise to satisfy me with a long life, and to show me Your salvation, even where my healing needs are concerned! (Psalm 91:16)
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Apr 13 25
Put God’s Interests First
“Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and He will give you everything you need.” Matthew 6:33 NLT
When our electric clothes dryer began making screeching noises every time we used it, my husband, Joe, and I prayed for God’s wisdom to find out if we should invest a considerable amount of money in it, or buy a new one. Once we decided to replace it, we kept praying as we shopped online and in local stores, but we always came up empty. At the time, we were in the midst of a global pandemic, which had caused a worldwide appliance shortage. We discovered that availability could be delayed until well into the following year. I was so frustrated and distracted that I was neglecting my ministry work. As I cried out to God, I heard Him speak to my heart, “You take care of My business, and I’ll take care of yours.” I forced myself to sit at my computer and begin writing a new devotional message, and that’s when my breakthrough came in a big way. The Lord provided us with the perfect new appliance at an extraordinary price, and we were able to bring it home with us the same day.
Years ago, I heard a godly man say, “Putting God’s interests first always results in our needs being met.” Scripture confirms this when it says: “Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and He will give you everything you need.” (Matthew 6:33 NLT) When I was focused on my own needs, I couldn’t hear from God. I was praying and searching constantly, but nothing was happening in my situation. And I was getting more and more frustrated all the time. As soon as I shifted gears and began focusing on God’s interests, and what He wanted me to do, things began falling into place.
Perhaps today, the Lord has something specific that He wants YOU to do. He will show you the way when you stop, ask, and listen for His voice. It could be that He is trying to tell you right now – “You take care of My business, and I’ll take care of yours…”
Lord, teach me how to continually seek first Your Kingdom and Your righteousness – Your way of doing and being right – so that You can freely and abundantly supply all of my needs, and then some. (Matthew 6:33 AMPC) Thank You that when I take care of Your business, You will take care of mine!
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Apr 6 25
A Father’s Help
“Because of their faith in Him, their daily portion will be a Father’s help and deliverance from evil. This is true for all who turn to hide themselves in Him!” Psalm 37:40 TPT
If you have ever studied Psalm 37 in its entirety, then you know how many extraordinary promises of God it contains. Verse 39 (TPT) says, “The Lord will be the Savior of all who love Him. Even in their time of trouble, God will live in them as strength.” If you have committed your life to Christ, then He is committed to you. If you will look to Him for help when trouble strikes, He will be your strength. Jesus said, “I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Comforter (Counselor, Helper, Intercessor, Advocate, Strengthener, and Standby), that He may remain with you forever.” (John 14:16 AMP) As a follower of Christ, you have heavenly resources at your disposal that this world will never comprehend. Make the most of them. Say, “Lord, please reveal Yourself to me now as my divine Strengthener.”
The next line in Psalm 37 (verse 40 TPT) says: “Because of their faith in Him, their daily portion will be a Father’s help and deliverance from evil. This is true for all who turn to hide themselves in Him!” Because of our faith in Christ, we can go directly to our Heavenly Father for help and deliverance from every evil work. Jesus said, “Here is eternal truth: When that time comes you won’t need to ask Me for anything, but instead you will go directly to the Father and ask Him for anything you desire and He will give it to you, because of your relationship with Me.” (John 16:23 TPT) Hallelujah! The help of an earthly father can often be pretty powerful. But imagine the immeasurable power that is released upon this earth when we say, “Heavenly Father, I need Your help!”
The Bible says, “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.” (James 1:17 NIV) Your Heavenly Father has “good and perfect gifts” in store for you. Trust Him. Cling to Him. Call out to Him. And discover anew the incomparable value of “a Father’s help”!
Lord, remind me often that because of my faith in Christ, I can go directly to You for help and deliverance from every evil work. I ask that You reveal Yourself to me each day as my divine Strengthener. Thank You that as I cry out to You – “Heavenly Father, I need Your help!” – immeasurable power will be released on my behalf!
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Mar 29 25
Recounting the Promises of God
“Praise the Lord, O my soul; all my inmost being, praise His holy name. Praise the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits…” Psalm 103:1-2 NIV
I heard from a dear lady recently who was going through some difficult times, and who was beginning to question the validity of the promises of God. She began listing her many problems, recounting them one by one, and in the process, she began sounding more and more doubtful, fearful, and bitter. My heart went out to this dear woman, and I spent some time in earnest prayer for her and her family, and I did my best to encourage her.
A few days later, when I was feeling discouraged about my own problems, the Lord brought this lady to mind. He warned me not to recount my problems the way she had, but to begin recounting His blessings and promises, instead. He reminded me of a passage in Psalm 103, where David said: “Praise the Lord, O my soul; all my inmost being, praise His holy name. Praise the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits–who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion, who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.” (Psalm 103:1-5 NIV) What was David doing here? He was recounting the promises and blessings of God. Notice that David is talking to himself, and he’s telling himself not to forget any of the Lord’s many benefits. And he begins listing them and naming them one by one. That’s what “recount” means. It means to quote, recite, rehearse, or to take inventory of. We know that David had some serious problems, before and after he became Israel’s greatest king. But here, he’s not thinking or talking about them. Instead, he’s reminding himself of the Lord’s promises, and he’s rejoicing in God’s faithfulness to His Word.
The Lord showed me that by employing this strategy, David was getting into agreement with God and His plans for David, instead of with the devil and his plans. The Bible tells us that the Lord has extraordinary plans for our lives, but these plans are not automatic. We have to get into agreement with them by putting our faith and trust in God and His Word, and believing that what He says is true, even when our circumstances say otherwise. That doesn’t mean that we should deny our situation, but that we should look beyond our problems to the promises of God–knowing that He is faithful, and He is committed to causing us to triumph every single time. When the circumstances of our lives paint a negative picture, and we’re tempted to grieve or complain, that’s precisely the time to put our faith in God and His promises. By doing this, we are looking with the eye of faith to the good outcome that God has for us. (Romans 8:28)
In Psalm 9, David declared: “I will praise You, O Lord, with my whole heart; I will show forth (recount and tell aloud) all Your marvelous works and wonderful deeds! I will rejoice in You and be in high spirits; I will sing praise to Your name, O Most High!” (Psalm 9:1-2 AMP) David is in the midst of intense affliction and persecution when he writes this psalm, yet instead of grieving or complaining, he vows to recount the Lord’s glorious ways and works. He recognizes that as he rejoices in God, instead of fretting about His problems, He will be in “high spirits”. And He knows that His praises will repel the enemy and his attacks, and will invite the presence and power of God on His behalf. (Psalm 8:2; 22:3) Each time you and I are in a trial, we must choose between rehearsing our problems, or the Lord’s promises. Ask yourself what you are recounting today, and decide to choose the better and more victorious way!
Lord, forgive me for the times that I thought about and spoke about my problems, more than Your promises. When difficulties come my way, help me to look with the eye of faith at the glorious outcome You have for me. Help me to fully cooperate with You, so that I won’t have to miss out on Your best. Thank You that as I recount Your promises and faithfulness, You will pour on the blessings!
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Mar 23 25
Don’t Settle for Your “Condition”
“Don’t forsake me now, Lord! Don’t leave me in this condition. God, hurry to help me, run to my rescue! For You’re my Savior and my only hope!” Psalm 38:21-22 TPT
The other morning, I woke up feeling anxious and depressed, and I instinctively got alone with the Lord, and sought Him with an open Bible. He led me to Psalm 38, where David the shepherd-king is pouring his heart out to the Lord, and petitioning God for His mighty intervention. I started out reading the NIV translation, and then the Holy Spirit led me to The Passion Translation. “Don’t forsake me now, Lord! Don’t leave me in this condition. God, hurry to help me, run to my rescue! For You’re my Savior and my only hope!” (Psalm 38:21-22 TPT)
As I read the verses aloud with great emotion, the phrase, “Don’t leave me in this condition,” resonated with my soul. I kept repeating the plea over and over throughout that day, until the anxiety and depression lifted. Since then, each time these dark feelings have tried to return, I have immediately turned to the Lord with the same plea, expecting Him to rescue me.
Sometimes, we settle for a “condition” that is not God’s best for us, and He is just waiting for us to aggressively resist it through prayer and petition. There are all kinds of “conditions” that may not be God’s will for us – including debt and lack, disease and pain, mental and emotional disorders, or addictive and compulsive behaviors. We have to remember that we have a formidable enemy, Satan, who has made it his personal mission to destroy our witness and harm us any way he can. The last thing he wants is for us to turn to our God in prayer, expecting Him to deliver us. He would much rather have us passively accept whatever misery he sends our way.
I don’t know what your “condition” is today, but I implore you not to spend another moment settling for something that is not God’s best for you. Do as I have been doing, and cry out to the Lord – expecting His rescue – saying, “Don’t leave me in this condition!”
Lord, please help me not to ever passively accept anything that is not from You. Remind me often that it’s Your will for me to live the abundant life, and it’s the devil’s will to harm me. (John 10:10) Teach me how to aggressively resist every evil work, and every evil attack. Thank You for making me an overcomer through Christ!
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*Join the J. M. Farro Devotionals group on Facebook, and connect with J. M. Farro — with mid-week devotionals in addition to the standard weekly devotionals. You can access this group by clicking here!
Mar 15 25
