Listen to this devotion

Persistence

In the Word

Pray without ceasing (1 Thessalonians 5:17).

Of the Word

I think it’s safe to say that babies are born with little patience. They want to eat … NOW. They need a diaper change … NOW. They want to be picked up … NOW. And when they don’t get what they want NOW, they are very persistent in letting you know about it.

Jesus approves of persistence. In his Gospel, Luke recorded a parable Jesus told His disciples about always praying and not giving up. In the parable, a widow kept approaching an unrighteous judge to demand justice against her adversary. Because of her persistence, the judge granted her the justice she was seeking. (Luke 18:1–8)

The lesson of Jesus’ parable is this: if an unrighteous judge will listen to the persistent cries of a widow and give to her what she asks, how much more will our loving, righteous God listen to the persistent prayers of His people?

The apostle Paul encourages us to be persistent as we learn to pray without ceasing. We have God’s assurance that He will hear us and He will answer us.

Walking with my Lord

Gracious God, I am thankful I can, with confidence, approach You in prayer, knowing You will always hear and answer me. In Your holy name I pray. Amen.

Mustard Seed: Love, Laughter, and Lullabies. DCE Amanda Stacy, author. 5/30 ©2013 Lutheran Women’s Missionary League, 801 Seminary Place Ste. L010, St. Louis, MO 63105. www.lwml.org

Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations were taken from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version Copyright ©2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers.

Sign up to receive Mustard Seed Devotions by email

Listen to this devotion

Look Into My Heart

In the Word

As in water face reflects face, so the heart of man reflects the man (Proverbs 27:19).

Of the Word

What beauty there is in sitting by a body of water — stream, lake, river, or ocean — and watching the sun set. The sky is filled with wonderful shades of reds, oranges, and yellows. The water reflects these brilliant colors, making what seems like a double sunset.

The author of Proverbs says that our hearts are just like water. Just as objects and light are reflected by water, the heart of man reflects his whole being. Looking into our own heart can be a scary thought. We are quickly made aware of our sins, faults, and evil actions when we compare what we carry in our heart to God’s expectations of us.

But the heart of a believer also shows the evidence of God’s redeeming work of Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross. God promises us “… I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you” (Ezekiel 36:26a). Through the waters of Baptism and faith in Jesus Christ, God has taken away our stony heart filled with sin, faults, and evil actions. He gives us a new heart filled with the Holy Spirit and faith.

Walking with my Lord

Faithful God, through Baptism You have given me a new heart. Guide me so my heart and actions will always reflect Your love and goodness. In Your holy name. Amen.

Mustard Seed: Water of Life. Michael Heckmann, author. 3/28 ©2013 Lutheran Women’s Missionary League, 801 Seminary Place Ste. L010, St. Louis, MO 63105. www.lwml.org

Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations were taken from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version Copyright ©2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers.

Sign up to receive Mustard Seed Devotions by email

Listen to this devotion

Bad Hair Moment

In the Word

I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made (Psalm 139:14a).

Of the Word

The one thing worse than a bad-hair day is a bad-hair week! Not one piece of clothing fits, our hair-do has become a hair-don’t, and nothing about us meets our expectations. Everyone has had those times when looking in the mirror is unthinkable. Not one redeeming feature is visible.

That is very true. No amount of change to our outward appearance can make us right under God’s Law. We are sinful creatures and can never redeem ourselves. Thanks be to God that He sees us through the sacrifice on the cross of His Son, Jesus. He sees us as He created us — fearfully and wonderfully made (Psalm 139:14b). We are righteous through Christ’s resurrection and beautiful in His sight. The bad-hair days will still happen, but reading Psalm 139 will remind us that our outward appearance does not determine who we are. We are precious children of God! Because of the grace of Jesus Christ, we can be renewed in this truth and be a mirror of God’s love to others.

Walking with my Lord

Lord, in moments when I am very critical of myself, assure me that through Jesus my Redeemer I am a new person, created in Your image. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Mustard Seed: From Quiet Times to Noisy Love. Jan Struck, author. 3/30 ©2013 Lutheran Women’s Missionary League, 801 Seminary Place Ste. L010, St. Louis, MO 63105. www.lwml.org

Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations were taken from the ESV Bible® (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), Copyright ©2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers.

Sign up to receive Mustard Seed Devotions by email

Listen to this devotion

Sarah — God’s Time or Mine?

In the Word

(Sarah’s Story: Genesis 17:15–21)

Then Abraham fell on his face and laughed and said to himself, “Shall a child be born to a man who is a hundred years old? Shall Sarah, who is ninety years old, bear a child?” … God said, “ … Sarah your wife shall bear you a son, and you shall call his name Isaac” (Genesis 17: 17, 19a).

Of the Word

Have you ever prayed long and hard for something you believed was good and right for you? How long did you pray? A week? A month? A year?

Can you imagine praying for decades? When Abraham and Sarah were young, they prayed for a child. God answered, “Wait.” They waited. They prayed. Years passed, and — humanly speaking — Sarah’s child-bearing years were over.

But finally it was time for God’s “Yes!” In His time — not Abraham’s, not Sarah’s — God gave them the son they had longed for.

Sarah’s story is much like women’s stories today. Ups and downs; joys and frustrations. God asked Sarah and He also asks us, “Is anything too hard for Me?” A faithful heart knows that God is all powerful. A faithful heart asks to be able to wait for His timing and His answers.

Walking with my Lord

Dear Lord, I am sometimes impatient, frustrated, and fearful. Forgive me and fill me with Your love, Your power, Your strength. Give me faith to trust Your timing for my life. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Mustard Seed: Daughters of the King. Marcia Gomulka and Myrna Lou Meyer, authors. 3/34 ©2013 Lutheran Women’s Missionary League, 801 Seminary Place Ste. L010, St. Louis, MO 63105. www.lwml.org

Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations were taken from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version Copyright ©2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers.

Sign up to receive Mustard Seed Devotions by email

Listen to this devotion

A Sweet Tooth Craving

In the Word

How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth! (Psalm 119:103).

Of the Word

Cravings — we hear of all sorts of unusual cravings pregnant women experience. Mixing ice cream and pickles or chicken and jelly are some of the more unique ones. Me? I developed a sweet tooth during my pregnancy.

I know I’m not alone when it comes to having a sweet tooth. The prophet Ezekiel and the apostle John each had one. They fed their sweet tooth with something more unusual than pickles and ice cream. God commanded them to eat scrolls! (See Ezekiel 3:1–3, Revelation 10:8–10.) The bizarre thing — aside from actually eating the scrolls — was they tasted like honey to them.

Perhaps just as bizarre is the fact that God would like us to do the same thing! Not by ripping pages from our Bibles and eating them, but by craving the sweet, nourishing message of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

A craving for ice cream or chocolate can’t be satisfied with celery just as a craving for God’s Word isn’t satisfied by any other means. But unlike the other sweet tooth cravings, this is one indulgence we can afford to splurge on day after day.

Walking with my Lord

Thank You, God, for the sweet message of salvation found in the Gospel of Jesus Christ. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Mustard Seed: Love, Laughter, and Lullabies. DCE Amanda Stacy, author. 3/30 ©2013 Lutheran Women’s Missionary League, 801 Seminary Place Ste. L010, St. Louis, MO 63105. www.lwml.org

Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations were taken from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version Copyright ©2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers.

Sign up to receive Mustard Seed Devotions by email

Listen to this devotion

Friends: Who? When? Where? How often?

In the Word

"Let us choose what is right; let us know among ourselves what is good" (Job 34:4).

Of the Word

Bowling night, Bible study, ladies night out, a hunting trip, a quick get-together after work — and suddenly time with friends is crowding out time together. It is easy for one spouse to feel jealousy or resentment toward the other spouse's friends. The perception might be that there is more fun to be had with friends than with each other. It is good and healthy to spend time with friends outside of the marriage; but when that time begins to infringe upon "couple-time," an adjustment is in order.

Setting boundaries that are comfortable for both of you can ease much tension. Giving permission for your spouse to spend time away from you sends the message of trust. Being open with your feelings keeps your mate informed of your concerns. Every now and then cancel plans with friends and tell your spouse that you would rather spend time together. Sacrifices like that can do a lot of good for a marriage.

Walking with my Lord

Dear Lord, You give us friends for support and enjoyment. Help us to balance our time so that our love and support for everyone grows. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Mustard Seed: With this Ring. Authors: Rev. Wes and Deaconess Sonja Baumeister. 7/28 ©2008, revised 2024 Lutheran Women's Missionary League, 801 Seminary Place Ste. L010, St. Louis, MO 63105. www.lwml.org

Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), Copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Sign up to receive Mustard Seed Devotions by email

Listen to this devotion

Begin with God … He Gives His Word

In the Word

Why did God give us His Word?

Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path (Psalm 119:105).

Of the Word

When driving to a new place we can easily become lost and confused because we are in unfamiliar territory. God knew we would need a road map for our life and He gave it to us in His inspired Word, the Bible.

But these [words] are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name (John 20:31).

The Bible is truly the greatest “self-help” book ever written. God’s Word tells us the Good News of Jesus and it teaches us how to love and forgive. It gives directions for living confidently, for relating to those around us, and for solving life’s problems. Best of all, God’s Word is constant and true.

The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever (Isaiah 40:8).

Walking with my Lord

Lord, I am grateful for the Bible. Through it You assure me of Your faithfulness, guidance, and forgiveness. Help me to study Your Word daily for direction in my life. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Mustard Seed: Begin with God. Authors: Marcia Gomulka, Deaconess Betty Knapp, Myrna Lou Meyer. 9/28 ©2007, revised 2024 Lutheran Women’s Missionary League, 801 Seminary Place Ste. L010, St. Louis, MO 63105. www.lwml.org

Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), Copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Sign up to receive Mustard Seed Devotions by email