Be Still and Know Daily Bible Devotion

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Bring some Spirit-filled peace into your hectic schedule every weekday morning with this new Daily Devotional.

  1. 23h ago

    September 13th - Acts 24:24-25

    Acts 24:24-25 Several days later Felix came with his wife Drusilla, who was Jewish. He sent for Paul and listened to him as he spoke about faith in Christ Jesus. As Paul talked about righteousness, self-control and the judgment to come, Felix was afraid and said, “That’s enough for now! You may leave. When I find it convenient, I will send for you.” Here we meet Paul on the Mediterranean coast in Caesarea, the regional centre of Roman authority. After the plot to kill Paul in Jerusalem, the apostle was brought before Governor Felix. What I love about our verses today is that they are a beautiful illustration of the fact that, whatever his circumstances, Paul just kept witnessing. You couldn’t stop him! One moment he was happy to share his testimony with an angry crowd and the next we find him sitting down with the most powerful man in the land and his wife, telling them the good news. Felix didn’t have a great record. He was Governor of Judaea for eight years and had a reputation for cruelty and a love of bribes. It is said that he was hoping to get a bribe from Paul, so frequently asked to speak with the apostle. We have no idea what impact Paul’s testimony had on Felix and his wife, but that isn’t the issue. What is significant is that Paul seized his opportunity. We must leave with God the outcome of our witnessing. What matters is that we are continually seeking opportunities to speak of who Jesus is and what He has done for us. Question Will you pray for an opportunity to share your faith today? Prayer Lord God, thank you for every opportunity that You give me for sharing the good news about Jesus. Amen

  2. 1d ago

    September 12th - Acts 23:11

    Acts 23:11 The following night the Lord stood near Paul and said, “Take courage! As you have testified about me in Jerusalem, so you must also testify in Rome.” Paul was going through an incredibly difficult time. His arrival in Jerusalem had sparked a riot and the Roman authorities struggled to know what to do with him. They didn’t know how to handle religious disputes, so they tried to hand the matter over to the Jewish council. However, when Paul appeared before them, the meeting soon descended into chaos. The Roman commander who was watching the proceedings thought that Paul was in danger of being torn apart, so he ordered his soldiers to take him back into protective custody. By this time, they had discovered that Paul was a Roman citizen, which meant they had to be very careful in how they treated him. In the midst of this confusing and dangerous situation, God spoke to Paul confirming that his witness would continue and would even take him to Rome itself. Paul could have no idea how that word was going to be fulfilled, but in that moment, he didn’t need to know. All he needed was the encouragement that he was doing God’s will, and the knowledge God would be with him. I would love to tell you that your future is going to be problem-free, but God doesn’t promise us that. What He does promise is that He will be with us and that He has vital work for us to do. That should be a massive encouragement for us and should enable us to face the future with confidence and peace. Question Do you look to the future with confidence? Prayer Loving Father, thank you that my future is completely secure in Your hands. Amen

  3. 2d ago

    September 11th - Acts 22:1-2

    Acts 22:1-2 [Paul said:] “Brothers and fathers, listen now to my defence.” When they heard him speak to them in Aramaic, they became very quiet. Paul faced intense hostility when he reached Jerusalem. People had heard reports of his ministry among the Gentiles, and he was accused of telling people to disobey the Jewish laws. A riot broke out and the crowd demanded that Paul should be killed. The commander of the Roman regiment was informed that the city was in uproar, so he sent his troops to get hold of Paul. After some confusion, Paul asked the military commander for the opportunity to speak to the crowd and, interestingly, he agreed. This was an incredibly sensitive moment. Many in the crowd were going to hate what Paul had to say, and he knew it. He needed to tread with extreme care. He began by addressing them as brothers and fathers, the same way in which Stephen had commenced his final speech. But what really impressed them was that he spoke in Aramaic, their own language. That showed great sensitivity, and the crowd gave him their full attention. Paul launched into his testimony. He went into the details of his conversion on the road to Damascus and his calling to go and share the good news with the Gentiles. This triggered a huge reaction, and the crowd shouted that he wasn’t fit to live. Paul wouldn’t have been remotely surprised by the crowd’s reaction, but he had achieved what he set out to do. However, he would never have had that opportunity if he hadn’t approached his task with care and sensitivity. Question What do you learn from Paul’s example? Prayer Lord, help me to be as courageous and sensitive as Paul in sharing my testimony with others. Amen

  4. 3d ago

    September 10th - Acts 21:13

    Acts 21:13 Then Paul answered, “Why are you weeping and breaking my heart? I am ready not only to be bound, but also to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.” There was no stopping Paul! He was absolutely determined to go to Jerusalem, and no one was able to stand in his way. That’s not to say they didn’t try. When he arrived in Tyre in Syria, he spent a week with the believers there and they prophesied that he shouldn’t go to Jerusalem. Some days later, he went down the coast to the important city of Caesarea, where he met a man named Agabus who had the gift of prophecy. He dramatically took hold of Paul’s belt and bound his own feet and hands with it. He then declared that the owner of the belt would be bound by the Jews in Jerusalem and then turned over to the Gentiles. Upon hearing this, everyone begged Paul not to go to Jerusalem. But he wouldn’t be stopped. If risk assessments had existed in Paul’s day, he would undoubtedly have been told that it was much too risky to head to Jerusalem. But Paul’s mind was made up, and off he went, believing that he was acting in obedience to the Lord. We all face risks in life, and this incident emphasises that there is something far more important than risk: being obedient to Christ. I am convinced that we should always live responsibly and be aware of potential risks, but Paul reminds us that obeying the Lord is what really matters, however risky it might be. Question What risks have you taken in your Christian life? Prayer Lord God, help me to be willing to be obedient to You, whatever the cost. Amen

  5. 4d ago

    September 9th - Acts 20:36-38

    Acts 20:36-38 When Paul had finished speaking, he knelt down with all of them and prayed. They all wept as they embraced him and kissed him. What grieved them most was his statement that they would never see his face again. There was clearly a very strong bond between Paul and the Ephesian elders, and this moment of parting was painful. Paul had an absolute conviction in the wonderful future that God had for him. He often spoke with great confidence about the afterlife. Even so, this moment of departure was sad, and the tears flowed. We shouldn’t be afraid of our emotions. At the funeral of a Christian, we always have much to celebrate. Our life is secure in God’s hands for time and eternity. Nevertheless, there is real sadness when a Christian dies, and it is important for us to be open about that. Death cannot separate us from the love of God, but it does separate us from one another for a while. These verses are important for me because they reveal the depth of love that these Christians had for one another. During my years of ministry, I have moved on to a new sphere on a number of occasions. I have always found those moments incredibly painful and never without many tears. In every situation, precious relationships have grown up and deep roots have developed. The pain of moving on has been real, but I don’t regret it because it has revealed the love that I’ve shared with others, and for that I will always be grateful. Question How do you cope with moving on? Prayer Loving God, thank you that You are with me all the time amid all the changes and challenges of life. Amen

  6. 5d ago

    September 8th - Acts 20:28

    Acts 20:28 Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which he bought with his own blood. I suspect most people would not choose to be compared to sheep! It would hardly be seen as a flattering description. Sheep are rarely viewed as the brightest of animals and are generally understood to be easily led. However, God’s people are frequently described as sheep-like in both the Old and New Testaments. It therefore isn’t surprising that as Paul addresses the Ephesian elders in his final talk with them, he speaks of their responsibility to care for the flock. Caring for the Church was such a great responsibility that the person had to be appointed by the Holy Spirit. That is still the case today. If an individual feels an inner conviction that this is something they should do, it should always be greatly welcomed, but it isn’t enough. That inner conviction needs to be carefully weighed and assessed by others who, listening to the Holy Spirit, will seek to discern whether this is God’s will. There are many different aspects to a shepherd’s role, but they are summed up in the word love. We see that supremely in the example of Jesus, the Good Shepherd, who gladly laid down His life for His sheep. We need to thank God that the Holy Spirit continues to appoint people to the awesome responsibility of church leadership. Question How do you understand the role of the shepherd in church life today? Prayer Thank you Lord for those whom You set apart for leadership in the Church in our day. May they be faithful in guarding, feeding and caring for their flock. Amen

  7. 6d ago

    September 7th - Acts 20:24

    Acts 20:24 [Paul said:] “I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me – the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace.” What’s the purpose of your life? We all have to agree that this is an excellent question, but most of the time we are far too busy to be able to ask it. We may be busy with our work, family, church, hobbies, sport and 1,000 other things, and asking the biggest question of all gets put off. We promise ourselves that we will ask it one day when we’ve got a bit more time! For the apostle Paul, the moment was now, because he recognised that his life was under threat and he might not have much time left. Paul was clear that his life’s work was to communicate the good news about the wonderful grace of God revealed in Jesus. What an amazing ministry he had! His leadership, teaching and example were of incalculable importance, and we are still deeply conscious of our debt to him. In all honesty, our roles are unlikely to have the same world-shaking significance as his. However, each of our lives is important and we need to make sure that we use our time well. We all have unique gifts and opportunities, and God wants us to use them. This life isn’t a rehearsal for anything. It’s the real thing, and we need to ensure that we are giving our best. Question How would you describe the purpose of your life? Prayer Lord God, thank you for the gift of my life and for every opportunity that You give me to serve You. Amen

  8. Sep 6

    September 6th - Acts 20:18-20

    Acts 20:18-20 [Paul] said to them: “You know how I lived the whole time I was with you, from the first day I came into the province of Asia. I served the Lord with great humility and with tears…You know that I have not hesitated to preach anything that would be helpful to you but have taught you publicly and from house to house.” I want to tell you about something which regularly happens in our home. When my son leaves for work, I will naturally wish him well, and he always has exactly the same response: “I’ll do my best, Dad.” What is more, I know that he will. And that’s exactly what we’re reading in this passage today – Paul had done his best. Paul had spent three years with the church in Ephesus, which was a very long ministry for him. He clearly loved the people passionately and was always keen to take every opportunity to encourage them. On this particular occasion, he was eager to get to Jerusalem in time for Pentecost, so he decided not to travel to Ephesus but invited their leaders to make the 30-mile journey to the coast to meet him at Miletus. He knew that this was the last time he would speak with them, and it is a moving speech revealing his deep love for the people. Paul wasn’t perfect, and neither are we. But God looks to us, frail as we are, to do our best and, amazingly, our gracious and loving heavenly Father will take that and use it to His glory. Question Are you committed to doing your best for God today? Prayer Lord God, thank you that You are willing to take and use what I give to You today. Amen

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Bring some Spirit-filled peace into your hectic schedule every weekday morning with this new Daily Devotional.

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  • Channel
    Premier Plus
  • Creator
    Premier
  • Years Active
    2017 - 2026
  • Episodes
    2K
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    Clean

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