Join Pastor Bill Payne For his Weekly Video Devotionals

 A veteran is not a name. It is a person who has been shaped by his or her service in the military. In the same way that the military changes veterans, God changes those who follow Jesus.  

 When you are super thirsty, you don't want coffee, hot chocolate, or Coke. You want a glass of cold water. In the same way, you can't satiate your spiritual thirst with things that do not satisfy. Turn to Jesus. 

 Jesus did not die on the cross to save you. He died to redeem you so you could have a relationship with the Father. Salvation is the relationship you have with God. It is not the words you speak when you say you "accepted him." 

 Do you have a shipwrecked faith? When I was a Navy chaplain for an Amphibious Assault Vehicle Battalion, I always prayed that we would make it to shore without sinking when we dropped off the gator ship. Sadly, some people have shipwrecked their faith and died to God. These people are lost at sea. 

 A sacrament is a material element commanded by God through which the divine presence enters into our lives. Baptism, communion, anointing with oil, and foot washing are biblical examples. You can also talk about the sacrament of Bible reading or preaching. In this short devotional, I want to encourage my hearers to practice the sacrament of praise. 

 
Jesus tells us that he wants to yoke himself to us so we don't have to pull our load by ourselves. Like a mother who holds the hand of a child, he will lead us through this life. We can trust him. 

 
Everyone has a moment in their life when they have to make an enormously difficult decision. In those moments, we may feel like we are up against a closed door. Yet, when we say, "Thy will not mine be done," we find the way to open the door and go through it. 

 Human nature wants to minimize the difficult times in life. However, God allows us to go through suffering so he can reveal himself to us and teach us to trust him. 

 The story between Elijah and Ahab shows divine conflict. In the end, God beats Ba'al and shows the Israelites that he is superior. Thus, he calls them back to himself. This is a spiritual warfare theme. 

 Everyone wants blessings. Sometimes we need suffering to disentangle us from the love of this world.  

 Why do bad things happen to innocent people? 

 When we love our enemies, pray for those who hurt us, and bless those who curse us, we will experience the grace of Jesus in powerful ways.