Know Jesus Better With The Whole Bible Devotional

I’m so happy to introduce my writing friend, Melissa McLaughlin. We are in an online Facebook Group together for authors and bloggers. Her writing is heartfelt and all about how to know Jesus better.

By Melissa McLaughlin

The yarn lay in a mess on the floor. Our cats had seized it during their midnight marauding. My scarf-in-progress now drooped in an unraveled heap.

With a deep exhale, I leaned down to pick up the tangled mound. My hands tugged and twisted this way and that. To no avail. I could not unknot the giant yarn blob.

Finally, I found a loose end and pulled gently. Bit by bit, the chaos unwound until I discovered one long, uninterrupted fuzzy thread. Thankfully, I could begin again. Stitch by stitch, my crochet needle knitted. 

With the untangled yarn re-woven and intertwined, the once mottled mass now took on its proper shape. A winter scarf soon warmed and wrapped me close. 

When we look back over our lives, most of us can remember situations that became a disordered wreck. What a relief when things got sorted out.  

Know Jesus Better

At times, reading through the Bible can feel like we are left with too many knots or loose ends. We want to know Jesus more, but how does He fit in all the books of the Bible?

I remember the first time I read through the Bible from beginning to end.

10 Things I Want You to Know About Jesus

I love to talk about Jesus and share important things to know about Jesus.

Because He changes lives.

Jesus transforms people from the inside out.

And Jesus embodies God.

Whether I’m talking to fellow believers or those who don’t know much about Jesus, these 10 things are what I want everyone to know.

(1.) Know About Jesus: He is Love

True Love defined means, Jesus. 

Our lack of love from people never makes the Love of Christ less true. 

Instead, we are loved the way He says we are loved.

Love lays down His life for me (John 15:13); perfect Love drives out my fear (1 John 4:18-19), and He redeems my life from the pit and crowns me with Love (Psalm 103:4).

(2.) Jesus is merciful

Spiritual Vision That Sees God’s Faithfulness

Growing up, my vision was always great, until it wasn’t. Years ago, I lost distance vision from working at a computer for my job. An eye doctor explained how vision we no longer use, we lose.

Our eyes make the adjustment, Oh this is the distance you’re going to see. Now I’m near sighted and have glasses for when I need to see far away. 

Often, the same holds true in spiritual vision. We wish we could see what God’s doing in our life—how He’s working for our good. And like the saying goes, Hindsight is 20/20.

So we lose spiritual vision because we fail to use it, we fail to trust God is God and on His throne.

And we become near sighted, only putting our faith in God when we can actually see His works come to fruition. 

But the people mentioned in the Hall of Faith, Hebrews 11, believed God would fulfill His promises even though many of them never “saw” these promises come to pass. 

“Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.” Hebrews 11:1 (NIV)

“Assurance about what we do not see” is the hardest part. 

Maybe I can’t see things at a distance, but my faith eyes can have full assurance in God for on down the road and into the future.

Spiritual Vision Helps Us Trust God

Spiritual hindsight is how I’ve learned to trust God. And it’s always 20/20.

“If you have 20/100 vision, it means that you must be as close as 20 feet to see what a person with normal vision can see at 100 feet. Having 20/20 vision does not necessarily mean you have perfect vision. 20/20 vision only indicates the sharpness or clarity of vision at a distance.” (Google) 

Even though I’ve lost my vision at a distance, I pray not to lose my spiritual vision at a distance. I want to believe in the Lord’s ability and power and goodness for me.

Because in spiritual hindsight, my faith vision grows to sharper clarity. Since I’m now at a distance where I can see God’s faithfulness through the entire process. 

Spiritual hindsight is 20/20 when we stop and take the time to look back at what God has done and these steps for V-I-S-I-O-N.

God is Higher and Stronger Than Anything I Face

God is higher and stronger than anything I face. 

Yet, I still struggle with this truth—and it is the truth.  

Because when facing huge obstacles, hard circumstances, great loss, and even spiritual warfare, I sometimes falter. 

I remember when my kids were young, now my young grandchildren, and how they rely on their parents and adults to help them face anything. Perhaps moving and going to a new school, making friends, or a medical trauma. 

Likewise, I need reminding how my heavenly Father is higher and stronger in the difficult things I face.

God is Higher: Than Anything I Face

God is higher than people, things, other gods, the enemy, circumstances, and me. Why? Because He is holy. He’s the one true God. The Almighty. God is the only one who saves us. 

He is high and lifted up. And the train of His robe fills the temple (Isaiah 6:1).

“God is holy means there is no trace of evil in his character. Only God is holy.” (The Blue Letter Bible) 

Exodus 15:11 reiterates it, “Who is like you, O Lord, among the gods? Who is like you, majestic in holiness, awesome in glorious deeds, doing wonders?” (ESV)

No created being or false god can take on God’s identity. The Great One. The Most High. The Lord remains unequaled in name and in who He is. God Almighty is matchless!

So, look up! 

Find Solid Footing: Stand on Jesus the Rock

The sun beamed with brightness. My heart looked forward to the spectacular view I’d only heard about and seen in photos.

Pretty Place in South Carolina. Not only pretty, but also a place with an outdoor chapel, seating, and a cross for spiritual reflection. Once in the parking lot, we took a walking trail that led to Pretty Place.

But I lost my solid footing on the rocky path. The initial landing so hard I let go of the leash with our pug Winston on the other end—only a puppy at the time.

This sent my husband, Mike, chasing after him while I shouted, Winston, do you want a treat? hoping this would turn him around. No success. 

Finally, Mike grabbed the leash end just before a huge drop off at the overlook we were filming for our YouTube channel. We knew it could have been worse. Winston was fine. But Mike dropped the camera in the chase. And me? The soreness lasted for days.

Still, the trip unfolded as planned. An amazing view of God’s creation mesmerized us. 

Likewise, I’ve lost my solid footing on the path in life. Perhaps you relate. Maybe we stumble in a relationship, as a parent or grandparent, slip up at work on a project, mess up in a life goal or dream, or other. 

Further, we all know as God’s children how we lose our solid footing on our spiritual journey. 

Life often becomes rocky and causes us to stumble. But to find solid footing in this life, stand on the solid Rock. Jesus.

So let’s look at 4 ways we stand on Jesus the R.O.C.K.

R – Rest in Jesus: Solid Footing

Have you ever hiked and needed a break to catch your breath and rest? Often, life’s terrain is strenuous and taxing on our body, mind, and spirit. We need rest, the rest only Jesus provides. 

Loving Jesus Most of All

Loving someone often happens naturally. 

But maintaining loving another person is not that easy. In fact, it takes work.

Love. A small and seemingly simple word. Yet it holds more power than we realize. 

And I’m not an expert on the subject of love. Instead, I held misconceptions about love as a child and young woman.

You see, my father abandoned me for a time, and I never remember the phrase “I love you!” when he came back into my life.

I was grown with my own children the first time my father uttered the words I love you. The conversation’s forever etched in my memory.

Still, as much as I wanted to hear my dad tell me he loved me, I needed to believe it. And I longed for the reassurance he meant it.

You know what? The same holds true today. My husband and other family members can never tell me they love me too many times. And I can never say it enough to them.

Because a continual and intentional assurance of love takes any relationship to a higher and deeper level. Pure and whole-hearted love, in the most powerful form, is a show-and-tell affection.

Loving Jesus 

Though None Go With Me: Move on With Jesus

Though none go with me. Not all people will stand by you…believe in your dreams or calling. Move on with Jesus.

I recently finished a 30-day devotional by a writing friend, Dr. O’Shea Lowery, Lord, Please Help Me: God’s Truth & Light for Dark Times.

And I thoroughly enjoyed each devotion and the practical application to my life. So I’m sharing an excerpt this week from one of the devotions.

Though None Go With Me

“As a result of this many of His disciples withdrew and were not walking with Him anymore. So Jesus said to the twelve, ‘You do not want to go away also, do you?'” John 6:66-67 (NASB 1995)

God is bringing all of His children to their very own personal Promised Land—a place where He has assigned us to work and carry out His kingdom agenda.

…while journeying toward these ordained places, seasons may occur in which we find ourselves traveling alone—not aloof from God but from those to who we wished would have accompanied us. The guestion is, will we allow these moments to halt us in our journeys, or will we continue to follow Jesus?

David was the king of Israel, both blessed and anointed. Yet, on one particular day, David found himself fleeing for his life—not from an enemy or even a stranger but from Absalom, his very own son. David had to leave behind his home, his throne, and all that he loved. (See 2 Samuel 15:13-18)

Shea reminds us how we all experience those times in our lives when people who we trusted and loved rejected and betrayed us. And also times God had to step in and purposefully remove acquaintances from our lives who were unsafe or unhealthy.

Not All People

We experience these hard times. But here are 3 things from Dr. Lowery to remember:

Pray These Scriptures to Thank God

Do I thank God?

Because I’m quick to thank others.

Thank you rolls off my tongue when someone opens the door, a server brings me more water, a compliment comes my way, I receive needed help, and more.

But do we remember to thank God for so many blessings and His presence in our lives?

And sometimes we need reminding to say, “Thank you, God.”

Since I enjoy praying specific Bible verses, I’m sharing 10 Scriptures to pray.

Thank God: Scriptures to Pray

(1.) “Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him; bless his name!” Psalm 100:4 (ESV)

Prayer: Lord, I bless your holy name. You are matchless and deserve all the glory arnd honor due your name. I praise you, Lord, with thanksgiving for who you are, my God, and for all your wonderful attributes. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

(2.) “Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever.” Psalm 136:1 (ESV)

Prayer: Father, thank you for your goodness to me. You’re a good, good Father. Thank you for your love toward me that lasts forever! In Jesus’ name. Amen.

(3.) “Give thanks to the Lord, call upon his name, make known his deeds among the peoples, proclaim that his name is exalted.” Isaiah 12:4b (ESV)

Prayer: Lord, I’m thankful for your wondrous works in my life. Help me exalt your name and share my testimony of salvation and Jesus to everyone who knows me. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Thank You, God

(4.) “Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.” Colossians 2:6-7 (ESV)

What I Control and What’s in God’s Hands

Have you ever wished for control? 

I’ve desired control over circumstances and specific areas of life. 

The no-control feeling reminds me of an amusement park ride. Because the controls are in the hands of the ride operator, not me or any other rider. 

So the few times friends talked me into a free-fall ride or roller coaster, I prayed the entire time for the Lord to get my feet back on the ground. 

It’s a helpless feeling. 

While the Lord continues to teach me how I’ve never had control, the struggle still sometimes rears its ugly head.

I believe God is always in control. And He’s on His throne. The Lord’s CEO of the world and my life. So if the Lord manages the world and all of creation, He certainly manages my life well.

But I discovered a few things within my control. And God controls everything else.

(1.) Attitude: What I Control

Why do parents, teachers, and coaches often ask for an attitude adjustment? Because for kids and adults alike, our attitude is something within our control. Attitude makes all the difference in tough circumstances, a relationship hiccup, an unwanted project at work, and so on. 

We learn a lot about attitude from Jesus.

“Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility consider one another as more important than yourselves; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others. Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 2:3-5 (NASB, emphasis added)

(2.) Choices

4 Obedient Ways to Wait on God

I know. It’s so tough to wait on God.

But what if God orchestrates His works at the perfect time in our lives for His glory and sovereignty?

Even if things look and feel hopeless, His glory shows up in the choicest hour.

From Genesis to Revelation, stories of miracles and His mighty works grace the pages of God’s Word. The dead come back to life. Nature obeys the Creator’s voice—the rain comes or stops, the winds and waves cease or the sun doesn’t set.

Still further, a virgin gives birth to the messiah. A boy’s lunch of a few fish and bread multiplies to feed thousands.

The lame walk, the blind see, and the oppressed find freedom.

And there are many ways we see God in our daily lives. Like breath in our lungs, provision, mercy, heavenly wisdom, forgiveness, and so much more.

But His people also had to wait on God in biblical days and it’s no different in present day.

Wait on God

Not only does the Lord perform wonders for His people at the opportune time. But moments and miracles of faith require us to follow God’s instructions.

In Exodus 14, Moses leads the Israelites out of slavery in Egypt. A place of physical and emotional bondage. As God’s people travel through the wilderness, the Egyptian ruler, Pharaoh, and his army pursue them.

The scene looked and felt hopeless. Have you been in this place before?

“And they said to Moses,…are no graves in Egypt that you have taken us away to die in the wilderness? Why have you treated us this way and brought us out of Egypt?…it would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the wilderness” Exodus 14:11-12. (Emphasis mine.)

The Israelites find themselves up against a huge barrier, the Red Sea. As they wait on the shore, the enemy closes in with no where for them to go.

But, I’m familiar with the it-would-have-been-better attitude. Are you?