Daily Christian Devotion

Set your mind on things above

“Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.”

Colossians 3:2 ESV

A very famous Indian actress was once found dead in a hotel room in the world’s tallest building. A woman once celebrated for her beauty and grace was now reduced to a body prepared for autopsy. The media rushed to capture the first image of her face after death, but none succeeded. Her face remained hidden—veiled in mystery. Only during her funeral, once she was flown back to her hometown, was her face finally revealed—fully covered in makeup.

This woman had spent so much time, effort, and resources on her physical appearance. She was always careful about how she presented herself to the world. So even after her autopsy, her family ensured she looked beautiful.

But no matter how beautifully a body is decorated, one day it will still return to dust—buried, cremated, or eaten by worms.

We often live as though we will be here forever. But the truth is, even with long life and God’s grace, a person may live around 100 years. After a short time, even family may forget we existed. Time moves on. The world does not pause for anyone. The clock is ticking for every single one of us.

We care so much about how we look on the outside, yet many neglect the condition of the soul—the very part that remains long after this physical body fades.

This actress, who worked hard and gained fame, wealth, and influence—who invested so much in her outward beauty—still returned to dust. The industry she served, the people who adored her, and even her close family… slowly began to move on.

Yet the Bible says that those who belong to Jesus Christ will be transformed and live eternally with Him in glory (1 Corinthians 15:52–54).

Those who hear the truth and believe do not fear death—because Jesus Christ is the Hope of Glory.

So now the question stands before each of us:

Even if you gain the whole world but lose your soul—what have you truly gained?

(Matthew 16:26)

Scripture calls us to set our minds on eternity, not merely on this short earthly existence. Everything we possess today will one day belong to someone else—they may or may not preserve it the way we do. We work so hard to build a life that cannot follow us beyond the grave. We toil for something we see and enjoy for only a few years. Nothing here truly belongs to us.

But there is a place that lasts forever—a place prepared in heaven where there is no sorrow, no pain, no darkness, and no death (Revelation 21:4).

And there is only one way to that place:

Jesus Christ—the Way, the Truth, and the Life. Whoever believes in Him will have eternal life.

(John 14:6)

There is no karma in the Kingdom of God determining your eternity. Good works do not earn salvation. Only the blood of Jesus secures our place in heaven.

So, set your mind above to dwell in glory with Jesus for eternity.

Prayer

Lord Jesus, teach me to number my days and live with eternity in mind. Help me not chase what fades, but hold tightly to what lasts forever. Transform my heart and renew my soul. Draw me closer to You daily, that I may walk in truth, hope, and salvation. Amen.

Standard
Daily Christian Devotion

Your Darkness Is Not Too Dark For God

“The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.”

John 1:5 (ESV)

It was one winter—cold, gloomy, and dark. During that time, I was a single mother living in a five-story apartment with my six-year-old child, and I had already slipped into deep depression. I was walking through loss, pain, shame, and betrayal, and the enemy began to take hold of my life both physically and emotionally. When darkness arrived around 4 PM, fear would start creeping in. Fear soon opened the door to anxiety, and panic attacks joined in as if they had formed an alliance against me.

I wasn’t sure what was in that apartment, but I could feel spirits moving in the room. I remember lying in bed and physically feeling as if I was fighting something evil. My daughter would wake every night around 11 PM complaining of stomach pain. This continued for months. I grew weaker—spiritually, emotionally, and physically. I no longer had the strength to resist the enemy.

My mother was with me during that season, helping me in practical ways, but I didn’t tell her what was happening spiritually. She could see my suffering, and she heard my daughter screaming in pain at night. I could hear whispers—words of hopelessness and discouragement spoken into my mind by evil spirits. I once told her, “Something feels twisted in my mind. I’m confused, and I can’t think straight.”

Thank God for a praying mother. I have seen her pray for me day and night.During those months, sleep felt impossible to reach. Anyone who has battled anxiety or panic attacks knows the torment of lying awake through the night.

Many times, suicidal thoughts tried to take root. The enemy kept telling me that this was the end of my story—that the rest of my life would be lived in fear, anxiety, and torment. For a short time, I believed those lies. But thank God for the Holy Spirit—because He can pull anyone out of the darkest pit, even when it feels like there is no way out.

One night, I went into the bathroom and sat silently in a corner, crying and asking for help. The enemy whispered that I should jump from the fifth floor, but the voice of the Holy Spirit was gentle, comforting, and full of assurance. After wrestling for a long time, I chose to listen to the Holy Spirit. The blood of Jesus began to speak for me.

I was led to take communion from a packet that had been in my handbag for months. I believed again in the finished work of Jesus on the cross. I claimed the power of His blood over myself, over my daughter, and over that apartment. With fear still lingering, I grabbed my Bible and opened to John chapter 1. As I read, something shifted in the atmosphere. A light filled the room—not a physical lamp, but a divine presence. I knew someone holy was there.

The grip of darkness shattered. Peace replaced fear. The torment lifted. For the first time in many months, I slept soundly through the night and woke up refreshed.

Truly, my life was spared that night because the Spirit of God came through for me.

The next morning, my mother saw my face glowing. Everything began to change. My daughter stopped having stomach pain. Restoration accelerated. Fear and anxiety began losing their power as His light shined into every part of my life. His Word became a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.

What a wonderful Father we have—a God who does not hand His children over to the enemy. Thank God for Jesus Christ, and thank God for the Holy Spirit.

When the light of the Living God touches a person, nothing remains the same.

We see this in Scripture. Saul was persecuting and killing Christians, yet on the road to Damascus, the Light of Heaven met him—and everything changed.

“Now as he went on his way, he approached Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven shone around him.”

Acts 9:3 (ESV)

That same Saul became Paul—used by God with the same intensity he once used against the church. His writings, inspired by the Holy Spirit, continue to strengthen and encourage millions today.

So today, this word brings hope: your darkness is never too dark for God. His presence brings life. His Spirit brings freedom. If you invite Jesus into your heart, believe His Word, and ask for the help of the Holy Spirit, nothing—not fear, not trauma, not depression, not generational bondage—can stop your deliverance.

“So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.”

John 8:36 (ESV)

Your life is a gift from God. You do not have to live in bondage. With whatever strength you have left, call on the name of Jesus—He is ready to set you free.

Prayer

Lord Jesus, thank You for Your light that breaks every chain of darkness. Thank You for Your blood that speaks healing, freedom, and life. Holy Spirit, fill every place where fear once lived. Let Your peace rule my heart and my home. Strengthen me to walk in the freedom You purchased for me. In Jesus’ mighty name, Amen.

Standard
Daily Christian Devotion

Rejected by Evil but Reformed for good

“‘The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; this was the Lord’s doing, and it is marvelous in our eyes.’” Mark 12:10–11 (ESV)

On November 7, 2008, a three-story school building in Haiti collapsed. Nearly 93 people, most of them children, were killed, and more than 150 were injured. The builder, a preacher named Fortin Augustin, admitted that he had constructed the entire building by himself. He said he didn’t need an engineer because he believed he understood construction well enough.

But only an engineer truly knows how to lay a strong foundation. A structure can only endure if its base is firm and rightly aligned. The cornerstone is crucial—it determines the building’s strength, direction, and stability.

A cornerstone is not just any stone; it is chosen with great care. Masons select it deliberately because it must be one of the largest, most solid, and most perfectly shaped stones in the structure. Everything else rests upon it.

In the same way, our Heavenly Father has chosen Jesus Christ to be the firm foundation upon which we can build our lives. When we build upon Him, we build on solid rock. So when the rains fall, the floods rise, and the winds beat against the house, it will stand firm because its foundation is secure. But those who build on sand—on worldly wisdom or human strength—will see their foundation crumble when the storms of life come.

As you build your family, your plans, your work, your dreams, and your faith upon the foundation of Jesus Christ, you will remain unshaken.

The same people who once despised or rejected you will one day witness the Lord’s marvelous work in your life. What they once called failure, God will turn into testimony.

Do not be discouraged by rejection. God uses rejection as a tool of redirection—to shape, strengthen, and prepare you for His greater purpose. He will lift you up and make you a vessel of honor in your family, among your friends, and in your ministry.

“No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no heart has imagined what God has prepared for those who love Him.” (1 Corinthians 2:9)

You may not yet see the full picture, but you are in the process of being built into something beautiful and strong by God’s hands. Thank Him even for rejection—it means He is setting you apart for something greater. Remember, even Jesus Himself was rejected, but that rejection became the doorway to our salvation.

Rejection is not your end—it is the beginning of God’s marvelous work in your life. What others meant for harm, God will use for your good.

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, thank You for being my Cornerstone and firm foundation. When rejection or disappointment comes, help me to trust that You are working behind the scenes to build something beautiful in my life. Strengthen my faith to remain steady through every storm and help me see Your hand in all things. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Standard