It is Well With My Soul

Many of us are familiar with the beloved hymn “It is Well with My Soul.” But do you know the story behind it?

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The Scarlet Cord

The Jewish Talmud, a collection of the ancient writings and oral traditions of the rabbis, describes a remarkable event that took place in the time of the second temple (between 516 BC and 70 AD).

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Giving Up Your Rights

In Samoa, as part of their transition to manhood, boys receive a tattoo signaling their commitment to their people and their chief. As a symbol of national loyalty, it’s a cultural norm that is exceedingly important.

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A Long Obedience in the Same Direction

Pablo Casals is considered by many to be the greatest cellist ever to draw a bow. His career spanned the decades. He played for Queen Victoria in 1898 when he was only twenty-two. He played for President Kennedy in 1962 when he was eighty-six.

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The Wonderful One Behind the Curtain

Frank Baum’s classic book, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz was the basis for the Oscar-winning film of 1939, “The Wizard of Oz.” My guess is that, just like me, you have viewed it many times.

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No Guts, No Glory

Recently, I’ve been reading a powerfully motivating book by best-selling author Mark Batterson. It’s titled Chase the Lion, with the subtitle, If Your Dream Doesn’t Scare You, It’s Too Small. Consider these excerpts.

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Easing Your Anxiety

Recently I read an insightful comment on the difference between fear and anxiety. “Fear is the emotional response to what threatens me while anxiety is rooted in imagination.”

Dave DeSelmFebruary 24, 2021devotionals, devotional, anxiety, anxious, don't be anxious, cast your anxiety, calm your body, calm down, quiet your body, take thoughts captive, taking thoughts captive, peace, gratitude, thanksgiving, pray about everything, pray about itComment

Appointed by God

We read in I Chronicles 9:29 about the role of the Levites in the Temple: “Some of them also were appointed over the vessels and over all the instruments of the sanctuary…” These individuals appointed by God were ordained for the fulfilling of His sacred purposes.

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The Invisible Gorilla

More than a decade ago Christopher Chabris and Daniel Simons conducted an experiment at Harvard University that became famous in psychology circles. Their book The Invisible Gorilla popularized it.

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The Unfolding of Your Life

In this text, the psalmist makes an amazing observation about the days of our lives. That, in God’s foreknowledge, all of them were recorded in God’s book before any of them came to pass.

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Blessed are the Peacemakers

It’s been called “The Greatest Sermon Ever Preached.” And rightly so. The content of the teaching Jesus delivered “on the mount” is not only timeless – appropriate for every generation – but timely – uniquely valuable for our generation.

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Praying for Our Leaders

As we all know, January 20th is Inauguration Day. In many ways, it’s the climax to arguably the most divisive and rancorous election ever.

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A Really Smart Guy

Many who live in the 21st-century picture Jesus as a well-meaning but naïve 1st-century guru who wandered around tossing off catchy sayings of simple folk wisdom. But no one who actually knew Him thought that.

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Hidden With Christ

Imputed righteousness. You may never have heard the term before, but it’s one of the most foundational doctrines of our faith. In essence, it means that through our faith in Christ, His righteousness is put to our account. The Chinese language has a great symbol for this truth.

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God of the Past, the Present, and the Future

Psalm 90 is a perfect psalm for the end of the year. For one thing, this psalm includes the word “year” more than any other. In the Hebrew text of Psalm 90, the word translated as “year” (shena) appears seven times.

Dave DeSelmDecember 30, 2020devotionals, devotional, New Year, New Years, Psalm 90, wisdom, future, past, present, time, God's presence, purpose in life, life's purpose, relationship with GodComment

A Season of Snow

Bing Crosby’s rendition of “White Christmas” isn’t merely one of my seasonal favorites, it is in fact the best-selling single of all time. There’s something about snow on Christmas that resonates with nearly everyone.

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All is Well

One of my favorite holiday albums is Michael W. Smith’s 1989 masterpiece, Christmas. And one of my favorite songs on the album is “All Is Well.”

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The Choreographer of Christmas

With these familiar words the gospel writer, Luke, begins his narrative of the Christmas story: And it came to pass in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered.

Dave DeSelmDecember 9, 2020devotionals, devotional, Christmas, Christmas devotional, Luke 2, birth of Jesus, Mary and Joseph, Bethlehem, Caesar Augustus, God's purposes, God's plans, God is in control Comments

A Love Story

In the church I first attended after coming to faith in Christ, people often spoke of the Bible as a kind of instruction manual for life. Something to consult for advice. Yet, while the Bible does provide insight and wisdom, what if it was more than that?

Dave DeSelmDecember 2, 2020devotionals, devotional, Christmas, God's love, incarnation, Kierkegaard, John 1:14, Jesus' love, king's love for maiden, king who left his throneComment

Great Things

This is such a brief verse, yet it arrested my attention when I read it recently. The Lord has done great things for us. Great things. As I reflected on this verse, I began to consider all the great things God has done for me in my 50 years of walking with Him.

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