Who Is Jesus?

TODAY’S VERSE
When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?” They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?” Simon Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
Matthew 16:13-16 (NIV)

TODAY’S THOUGHT
What do you believe about Jesus? That is the real question. You can have all sorts of “head knowledge”; you can quote the creeds and catechisms, but if you don’t have the “I’m going to trust You because I know You love me” kind of knowledge, you really don’t know who Christ is. There were all kinds of speculation about the nature of Jesus. Some thought He was a prophet, others thought He was John the Baptist or Elijah, but Peter knew who Jesus was. Peter answered without hesitation and said that Jesus was indeed the Christ, the son of the living God. Peter had a complete view of who Christ was. Do you? Julian of Norwich wrote, “Some of us believe that God is almighty and can do everything; and that he is all wise and may do everything; but that He is all love and will do everything – there we draw back.” You see, it is one thing to believe God can do everything, another to think He may, but it is a whole other level of knowledge to say that God loves me and will do everything. Today, make your knowledge complete. He is the Christ, the son of the living God! Trust in Him with your whole heart. Believe in His deep love for you with faith, trusting Him in all things.

TODAY’S PRAYER
Father, I thank You for being almighty and being able to do everything. I praise You for the fact that You are all wise and may do all things. But most of all, Father, I worship You today, believing that You love me unconditionally and will do everything according to that love.
AMEN

_____________________________________________

NOW YOU CAN HEAR A DIFFERENT MOMENT IN THE WORD ON YOUTUBE! Go to http://www.youtube.com/@ronovitt and You will find my channel. Click on playlists and go to Moment In The Word. Make sure to SUBSCRIBE so you will get them every day!

CLICK HERE to send this to a friend

You can get this Daily Devotional sent to your e-mail as “Moment In the Word”. CLICK HERE to have this Daily E-votional sent to your e-mail

Unconditional Love

TODAY’S VERSE
As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love.
John 15:9 (NIV)

TODAY’S THOUGHT
I have had Christians chide me for my passion over the unconditional love of God. What about the Holiness of God, the part of God that hates sin? Yes, I understand that God is Holy and that we are sinners and He doesn’t have to love us at all – but He does. He chooses to. He sees my sin, and then He sees the sacrifice of His son. Jesus Himself said, “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you.” How much does the Holy Father love His only begotten? Can we fathom it? And Jesus makes only one request. That we understand it? That we rationalize it? That we argue over it? No, He asks us to remain in His love. Like myself, Brennan Manning taught for years about the love of God without personally understanding its depths. Manning speaks of his own awakening in his book, Abba’s Child. He writes, “I finally felt all the words I have written and spoken about stubborn, unrelenting love. That morning I understood that the words are but straw compared to the reality. I leaped from simply being the teacher of God’s love to becoming Abba’s delight.” What do you need to understand? Do you need to earn His love or do you realize you already have it? Today, make it a reality in your life. Accept the unconditional love God has for you.

TODAY’S PRAYER
Father, dear Father. How long have I felt unworthy of your affection? How long have I strived to try to win Your approval?  But today I quit. Today, I quit trying to earn Your love. Today, I surrender. I surrender to Your word and accept the love that You freely have for me. Thank you, Father, for Your unconditional love.
AMEN

_________________________________________________

NOW YOU CAN HEAR A DIFFERENT MOMENT IN THE WORD ON YOUTUBE! Go to http://www.youtube.com/@ronovitt and You will find my channel. Click on playlists and go to Moment In The Word. Make sure to SUBSCRIBE so you will get them every day!

CLICK HERE to send this to a friend

You can get this Daily Devotional sent to your e-mail as “Moment In the Word”. CLICK HERE to have this Daily E-votional sent to your e-mail

Enlighten My Heart

TODAY’S VERSE
I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe.
Ephesians 1:18-19 (NIV)
                              
TODAY’S THOUGHT
I have always loved poetry. I love words put together on a page with hidden meanings, a puzzle waiting to be solved, pregnant with truth and wisdom. My father has always loved “The Road Less Taken” by Robert Frost. Growing up, he would quote the ending. I have it memorized. “Two roads diverged in a wood, and I – I took the one less traveled by, and that has made all the difference.” How true that phrase is. We have choices. And there is no greater choice than the one you make regarding your heart. God desires us to follow Him, yet He will not force us to do so. We have a choice. Which road will we take? The Psalmist warns against a hard heart. He writes, “Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts.” Will we listen to bitterness, jealousy, self-pity and other negative emotions? Will we turn our back on God’s love or open our hearts to hear what He has to say? Paul knew how serious our hearts were, so he prayed for the Ephesians. He prayed that their hearts would be enlightened toward the things of God. Do you seek God’s enlightenment? Do you ask Him for wisdom to understand the depths of His love for you? Do you ask Him to show you His purpose for your life? Do you ask Him to teach you about His great power He has for you to live by? You have a choice with your heart. Will you let God enlighten it with His love and power, or will you let it harden?

TODAY’S PRAYER
Father, take my heart and breathe Your life into it. I don’t want a hard heart. I want a heart that is enlightened by Your Holy Spirit. One that is led day by day, living by faith, trusting in Your love and power.
AMEN

______________________________________________

NOW YOU CAN HEAR A DIFFERENT MOMENT IN THE WORD ON YOUTUBE! Go to http://www.youtube.com/@ronovitt and You will find my channel. Click on playlists and go to Moment In The Word. Make sure to SUBSCRIBE so you will get them every day!

CLICK HERE to send this to a friend

You can get this Daily Devotional sent to your e-mail as “Moment In the Word”. CLICK HERE to have this Daily E-votional sent to your e-mail

Denial

TODAY’S VERSE
Peter swore, “A curse on me if I’m lying—I don’t know the man!” And immediately the rooster crowed. Suddenly, Jesus’ words flashed through Peter’s mind: “Before the rooster crows, you will deny three times that you even know me.” And he went away, weeping bitterly.
Matthew 26:74-75 (NLT)

TODAY’S THOUGHT
How hard it must have been for Peter to face the fact that he had denied Christ. It was obvious that he did not want to. Peter was sincere when he assured Jesus that he would not desert Him in His time of need. He loved Christ, but like so many of us, good intentions were not good enough. He ended up denying he knew Christ. But I must be honest, I too have denied. I have denied Christ in my selfishness. I have denied Him in my lack of faith. I have denied Him in my lack of witness. I have denied Him in my lack of giving. This is why Paul encourages us to grow in Christ. We need to participate in a growth process so we learn from the past. This is what Christ allowed Peter to do. Jesus did not chide Peter for his denial. He did not excommunicate him or shun him. Rather, Christ made it a goal to see Peter after His resurrection and specifically re-engage him in ministry. He cooked breakfast and took Peter aside. He did not say, “Why not tell us all, Peter, how you claimed you would never deny me, and then three times in one night you told people you did not even know me.” Instead, Jesus asked Peter three times, perhaps once, for each time he denied, “Peter, do you love me?” When Peter answered and lovingly re-engaged with the Lord, Jesus sent him to “feed my sheep.” Today, don’t let the guilt of past denials stop you from re-engaging with Jesus. Confess your sin and accept His forgiveness. He loves you and is waiting for you to serve Him again.

TODAY’S PRAYER
Father, I confess that I often deny You. I deny You in my talk, behavior, and thought life. I ask Your forgiveness. Cleanse me and help me to live for You in a way that is pleasing to You.
AMEN

______________________________________________

NOW YOU CAN HEAR A DIFFERENT MOMENT IN THE WORD ON YOUTUBE! Go to http://www.youtube.com/@ronovitt and You will find my channel. Click on playlists and go to Moment In The Word. Make sure to SUBSCRIBE so you will get them every day!

CLICK HERE to send this to a friend

You can get this Daily Devotional sent to your e-mail as “Moment In the Word”. CLICK HERE to have this Daily E-votional sent to your e-mail

Quench My Thirst

TODAY’S VERSE
As the deer longs for streams of water, so I long for you, O God.
I thirst for God, the living God.
Psalms 42:1-2 (NLT)

TODAY’S THOUGHT
There is a deep thirst in our hearts for God. David used the analogy of a deer walking in rough terrain, foraging for food only to build an incredible need for water. Driven by thirst, the deer longs to drink from a stream. In the same way, David says he thirsted for God. Brennan Manning writes in his book, “Abba’s Child,” “The deepest desire of our hearts is for union with God. From the first moment of our existence, our most powerful yearning is to fulfill the original purpose of our lives – We are made for God, and nothing less will really satisfy us.” Though lush with grass, the meadows could not give the deer what it needed. The deer longed for water. Likewise, we can try everything imaginable to satisfy our needs, but only God can fill the void in our hearts. Have you come to that realization yet? Have you satisfied your soul with the love of Jesus? If not, why not turn to Him today? He will hear you. He will quench your soul’s deepest thirst.

TODAY’S PRAYER
Father, I thirst. I thirst deep, deep in my soul. I ask You to come and fill me with Your living waters. Satisfy the longing in my heart and make me whole in Jesus’ Name.
AMEN

_________________________________________________

NOW YOU CAN HEAR A DIFFERENT MOMENT IN THE WORD ON YOUTUBE! Go to http://www.youtube.com/@ronovitt and You will find my channel. Click on playlists and go to Moment In The Word. Make sure to SUBSCRIBE so you will get them every day!

CLICK HERE to send this to a friend

You can get this Daily Devotional sent to your e-mail as “Moment In the Word”. CLICK HERE to have this Daily E-votional sent to your e-mail

Do You Love Him?

TODAY’S VERSE
I love you, LORD.
Psalm 18:1 (NLT)

TODAY’S THOUGHT
Has your faith in God developed to the point where it has gone past religion to a relationship? Has your belief gone past your head and entered your heart? Has your worship matured beyond the praise songs you sing to where you have told God what David did? The Lord rescued David from Saul and his enemies, so David sat down and sang a song to the Lord. The first words out of his mouth were, “I love you, Lord.” Have you ever told God that? “I love you, Lord.” It isn’t Christianity until you can tell Him. Ask Peter. Peter spent three years with Jesus. He knew Him. He served Him. He pledged his allegiance to Him. But he also denied Him. When Jesus rose again from the dead, He only had one question for Peter. Three times, He asked, “Do you love me?” When Peter answered Jesus for the third time, there was something earnest in his voice. He was moved and said, “Lord, you know everything. You know that I love you.” Both David and Peter used the word “Lord” when addressing God and then they both used the word love. Why? Because He can’t be your Lord without your love. Today, hear Him ask, “Do you love me?” What is your answer?

TODAY’S PRAYER
Father, I come to You right now and tell You from the bottom of my heart that I love You. I commit my life to You. I truly do love You, Lord.
AMEN

_________________________________________________

NOW YOU CAN HEAR A DIFFERENT MOMENT IN THE WORD ON YOUTUBE! Go to http://www.youtube.com/@ronovitt and You will find my channel. Click on playlists and go to Moment In The Word. Make sure to SUBSCRIBE so you will get them every day!

CLICK HERE to send this to a friend

You can get this Daily Devotional sent to your e-mail as “Moment In the Word”. CLICK HERE to have this Daily E-votional sent to your e-mail

He Cares For You

TODAY’S VERSE
Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.
I Peter 5:7 (NLT)

TODAY’S THOUGHT
If someone offered to take all your anxieties away from you, would you take them up on the offer? Or would anxiety, by its own nature, cause you to worry that the person would not be able to take care of your situation? Ironically, you would end up with a whole new set of worries! So, what do you do when Peter tells you to give all your concerns and cares to God? If you are like most Christians, you hold on to them. Sure you pray. You even begin to trust Him, but as soon as anything happens, you go back to holding on to your worries and cares all over again. The truth is that giving your care to God takes faith. The author of Hebrews says if you have true faith, then it would necessitate that you believe God exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek him. That is what Peter meant when he said to cast all your cares on Christ. God exists and will “reward” your faith in Him by caring for you. Can you imagine that? Next time you worry, start with the thought that God deeply cares for you! He cares for you with all the resources of His mighty power and wisdom to use on your behalf. Today, start giving Him all your cares.

TODAY’S PRAYER
Father, You know how I worry and carry many concerns with me. Today, I choose to give all my worries to You. I know You are all-powerful, wise, and loving. You said that You care for me, so I trust You with all the outcomes of this step of faith. I pray this in the mighty name of Jesus.
AMEN

_________________________________________________

NOW YOU CAN HEAR A DIFFERENT MOMENT IN THE WORD ON YOUTUBE! Go to http://www.youtube.com/@ronovitt and You will find my channel. Click on playlists and go to Moment In The Word. Make sure to SUBSCRIBE so you will get them every day!

CLICK HERE to send this to a friend

You can get this Daily Devotional sent to your e-mail as “Moment In the Word”. CLICK HERE to have this Daily E-votional sent to your e-mail

Spiritual Victory

TODAY’S VERSE
Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith.
I Peter 5:8-9 (NIV)

TODAY’S THOUGHT
There is a spiritual reality that we need to be aware of. Peter warns us that we are in a battle and that “the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.” The good news is that God has given us everything for the victory. He has given us His Holy Spirit to guide us, His word to teach us, and His presence to protect us. As a result, we can obey Peter when he tells us to be self-controlled and alert and to resist Satan standing firm in the faith. James tells us that if we “resist the devil,” the devil will flee from us. So, today, let us resist the lies of Satan, stand firm in our faith in God, and be victorious.

TODAY’S PRAYER
Father, thank You that the Spiritual battle we are in has already been won. Thank You for providing all I need for victory. Help me today to stand firm on Your promises, to be self-controlled and alert, and to resist the schemes of Satan.
AMEN

_________________________________________________

NOW YOU CAN HEAR A DIFFERENT MOMENT IN THE WORD ON YOUTUBE! Go to http://www.youtube.com/@ronovitt and You will find my channel. Click on playlists and go to Moment In The Word. Make sure to SUBSCRIBE so you will get them every day!

CLICK HERE to send this to a friend

You can get this Daily Devotional sent to your e-mail as “Moment In the Word”. CLICK HERE to have this Daily E-votional sent to your e-mail

Love As Jesus Did

TODAY’S VERSE
But to you who are willing to listen, I say, love your enemies! Do good to those who hate you. Bless those who curse you. Pray for those who hurt you. If someone slaps you on one cheek, offer the other cheek also. If someone demands your coat, offer your shirt also. Give to anyone who asks; and when things are taken away from you, don’t try to get them back. Do to others as you would like them to do to you.
Luke 6:27-31 (NLT)

TODAY’S THOUGHT
In today’s passage, Jesus set a whole new standard for moral behavior. That is why He starts this part of His sermon on the Mount by saying, “If you are willing to listen.” Our Lord knows how hard it is to follow what He is suggesting. But what makes this teaching even more impressive is that Jesus did not just teach this; He lived it! This was not a political speech with moral platitudes given in order to win our votes. Jesus’ teaching was a mandate for those He was calling to follow Him in His lifestyle. If we are to follow Jesus, we must love the way He taught us. When Jesus taught about love, He went much further than the Shema, which commanded the Israelites to “love the LORD your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your strength, and all your mind.” He went much further than “loving your neighbor as yourself”‘. In today’s passage, He said to bless those who curse us, to pray for those who hurt us, and to turn the other cheek when hit. These are ways to truly love others. Today, let us love others the way Jesus has commanded us to. 

TODAY’S PRAYER
Father, help me love with Your love. Help me see others with Your eyes. Help me be filled with Your compassion, guided by Your Holy Spirit, and used as an instrument of Your peace. In Jesus’ name.
AMEN

_________________________________________________

NOW YOU CAN HEAR A DIFFERENT MOMENT IN THE WORD ON YOUTUBE! Go to http://www.youtube.com/@ronovitt and You will find my channel. Click on playlists and go to Moment In The Word. Make sure to SUBSCRIBE so you will get them every day!

CLICK HERE to send this to a friend

You can get this Daily Devotional sent to your e-mail as “Moment In the Word”. CLICK HERE to have this Daily E-votional sent to your e-mail

Merry Christmas

TODAY’S VERSE
For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called
Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Isaiah 9:6-7 (NKJV)

TODAY’S THOUGHT
So often, we think of Christmas as the birth of Jesus. But in today’s verse, we see that it was so much more than a virgin birth. Christmas is the fulfillment of the promise of the Messiah, who would be sacrificed so we could become children of God. And with this comes all the benefits of knowing Christ. Isaiah prophesied that Christ would be our wonderful counselor, mighty God, everlasting Father, and Prince of Peace. This is everything we need to make it in this life. When we are born again and become a child of God, we experience a new, exciting relationship with this wonderful counselor, mighty God, everlasting Father, and Prince of Peace. Come to Him today. He has the Christmas gift of an abundant, eternal life. All you have to do is open it.

TODAY’S PRAYER
Almighty God, I am so thankful that You became a human through the birth of Jesus. You are the great counselor, might God, the everlasting Father and Prince of Peace. I come and worship you today as the shepherds did long ago. Fill me today with Your presence that I may rejoice in the true Spirit of Christmas.
AMEN

May you have a Merry Christmas and a Wonderful New Year!
Ron Ovitt

_____________________________________________

NOW YOU CAN HEAR A DIFFERENT MOMENT IN THE WORD ON YOUTUBE! Go to http://www.youtube.com/@ronovitt and You will find my channel. Click on playlists and go to Moment In The Word. Make sure to SUBSCRIBE so you will get them every day!

CLICK HERE to send this to a friend

You can get this Daily Devotional sent to your e-mail as “Moment In the Word”. CLICK HERE to have this Daily E-votional sent to your e-mail