Because God . . . I Can: 12 Themes on Following Jesus

By Dr. Stephen A. Gammon

Because God is personal and relational, He desires a personal relationship with every one of us. God invites us to come apart each day for some quiet time with Jesus. When we do this, our Lord speaks and we hear; then He hears as we share our hearts, and He changes us in His presence.
Daily quiet times with Jesus are an amazing and treasured opportunity. The life-changing principle we can apply in His presence each day is Because God . . . I Can. Because God what? Because He speaks, acts, reveals, empowers, loves – because He is with me in this moment and always, I can.

What can I be or do because of who God is and what He does? This devotional focuses on twelve foundational practices we are called and enabled to live as we walk with God. Each month a different practice is emphasized that I can live today Because God . . . Each day of the month another truth about God is highlighted regarding that theme, which leads to increasingly understand how I Can be living this practice today.

The twelve monthly themes in this yearlong devotional are Because God . . . I Can Believe, Trust, Receive, Pray, Praise, Love, Listen, Rest, Testify, Serve, Give, and Hope. Come, grow in these life practices as you follow the Lord and make it your habit to come apart for daily quiet time with Jesus.

A daily schedule for reading the Bible through in a year is also included.

About the Author
Dr. Stephen Gammon is a third-generation minister who has walked with God since early childhood, enjoying a lifetime of treasured quiet times with Jesus. A pastor for forty years, wherever and whenever God has led him, he has served as pastor in three local churches, as a denominational leader, and as an Active Duty and Navy Reserve Chaplain. Steve and his wife Helen are both cancer survivors and reside in Northfield, Minnesota. They are blessed with three adult children and four grandsons.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Aneko Press
• Release date: Dec 1, 2021
• ISBN: 9781622457151

Dr. Stephen A. Gammon

Dr. Stephen Gammon is a third-generation minister and has walked with God since early childhood. A pastor since age 25, he has served more than 30 years wherever and whenever God has led him, including in two local church pastorates, as a denominational leader of ministers and churches (Conservative Congregational Christian Conference), and as an active duty and Navy Reserves chaplain. Steve and his wife, Helen, reside in Colorado Springs, Colorado. They have three adult children, a son-in-law, and a grandson.

Book preview

Table of Contents

Foreword

Introduction

January –

Because God Saves

Because God’s Son Has Risen

Because God Knows Me

Because God Does Miracles

Because God Loves His Children

Because God Has Made Me His Child

Because God Provides Daily Bread

Because God Protects

Because God Forgives

Because God Keeps Me From Falling

Because God Will Never Fail Me

Because God Gives Faith

Because God Is Good

Because God Is Truth

Because God Cannot Lie

Because God Woke Me Up Today

Because God Has Revealed The Ending

Because God Is Very Near

Because God Is Omniscient

Because God Is Omnipotent

Because God Is Omnipresent

Because God’s Promises Are Assured

Because God Is Speaking Today

Because God Is Leading

Because God Is Merciful Today

Because God Is Eternal

Because God Is Glorious

Because God Enables Today

Because God Has Compassion

Because God Delivers

Because God Enters Through Locked Doors

February – I Can Trust Today . . .

Because God Has Been Faithful

Because God Has Fed Us

Because God Promises A Good Future

Because God Answers Whenever I Call In Trouble

Because God Sees Me

Because God Is With Me In Every Battle

Because God Even Cares For The Birds

Because God Has Given Me A Mission

Because God Keeps His Word

Because God Invites Me To Trust Him Fully

Because God Bids Me To Come In The Storm

Because God Is A Refuge For Me

Because God Is Able

Because God Loves Me So

Because God Is With Me

Because God Is Inviting Me To Come Near

Because God Works Wonders

Because God Does Not Change

Because God Gives Perfect Peace

Because God Is Good To Me

Because God Avails Us Of His Power Today

Because God Gives Living Water Today

Because God Has Numbered Our Days

Because God Forgives

Because God Is Here And There Today

Because God Redeems Me

Because God Brings Good Out Of Trials

Because God Is The Antidote For Fear

Because God Gave Us This Day

March – I Can Receive Today . . .

Because God Saves

Because God Loves

Because God Gives

Because God Forgives

Because God Knows

Because God Leads

Because God Strengthens The Weak

Because God Prepares Us Well

Because God Anoints

Because God Restores

Because God Heals

Because God Comforts

Because God Holds Me Close

Because God Sees

Because God Speaks

Because God Provides

Because God Sustains

Because God Transforms

Because God Relates

Because God Hears

Because God Seeks

Because God Reconciles

Because God Conquers

Because God Cares

Because God Accompanies Us

Because God Welcomes Me

Because God Keeps Me

Because God Foreordains

Because God Teaches

Because God Prunes

Because God Sacrificed

April – I Can Pray Today . . .

Because God Invites Our Prayer

Because God Hears When I Pray

Because God Teaches How To Pray

Because God Commands Me To Pray

Because God Rewards Us As We Pray

Because God Loves It When His Children Pray

Because God Surprises Us As We Pray

Because God Draws Us Close When We Pray

Because God Strengthens Us As We Pray

Because God Gives Hope When We Pray

Because God Blesses When We Pray

Because God Is Glorified When We Pray

Because God Gives Peace When We Pray

Because God Sanctifies When We Pray

Because God Demonstrates How To Pray

Because God Rewards Persistence As We Pray

Because God Lets Us Joinin His Work As We Pray

Because God Gives Victory Over Evil As We Pray

Because God Makes Prayer Available

Because God Teaches Humility As We Pray

Because God Binds Us With Others As We Pray

Because God Lets Us Hear And Heed As We Pray

Because God’s Sacrifice Allows Us To Pray

Because God Changes Us As We Pray

Because God Reveals Himself As We Pray

Because Prayer Can Be Our Way Of Life

Because God Invites Us To Pray Boldly

Because God Offers Escape From Temptation As We Pray

Because God Invites Us To Pray Anytime

Because God Lets Us Pray Anywhere

May – I Can Praise Today . . .

Because God Is Praiseworthy

Because God Is My Savior

Because God Opens Access Through Praise

Because God Dwells In Our Praise

Because God Has Ordained Praise

Because God Chases Away Despair Through Our Praise

Because Praise Is A Weapon Against The Devil

Because God Is Worthy Of My Praise

Because God’s Son Is Soon Returning

Because God Is Alpha And Omega

Because God Is I Am

Because God Heals The Brokenhearted

Because God Sets Captives Free

Because God Rescues Us From Enemies

Because God Sets Me High Upon A Rock

Because God Comforts Us In Our Troubles

Because God Desires Praise From All Who Live

Because God Is Praised By Vast Multitudes

Because God Hides Me Beneath His Wings

Because God Delivers From Evil

Because God Is My Blessed Redeemer

Because God Sought And Found Me

Because God Defends Me

Because God Is My Provider

Because God Leads His Dear Children Along

Because God Is Merciful

Because God Makes All Things New

Because God Grants The Desires Of Our Heart

Because God Is Deserving

Because God Has Spoken

Because I Know God Loves Me

June – . . .

Because God Is Love

Because God Commands Loving Him And People

Because God Has Loved Me Sacrificially

Because God Shows Me How To Love

Because God Is The Source Of Love

Because God Will Never Stop Loving Me

Because God Lives In Me And Loves Through Me

Because God’s Love Is Given, Not Earned

Because God Always Abounds In Love For Us

Because God Delights In Those He Loves

Because God Has Made Me His Child

Because God’s Love Is The Perfect Model

Because God’s Love Expels Fear

Because God’s Love Has Very Deep Roots

Because God’s Love Keeps Me Safe

Because God’s Love Is Vast

Because God Adopted Me In Love

Because God Gave His Own Son For Me

Because God Loves Us Even When We Rebel

Because God’s Love Lets Me Grow

Because God Bought Me With Jesus’ Blood

Because God The Holy Spirit Helps Me Love

Because God Cares For People In Anguish

Because God’s Mercies Are New Today

Because God Demonstrates His Love Through Me

Because God Allows Us To Remain In His Love

Because God Protects His Own

Because God First Loved Me

Because God Put Love In My Wardrobe

Because God Has Loved Me Extravagantly

July –

Because God Wants Me To Know Him

Because God Is Speaking

Because God Is Here Now

Because God’s Word Is For My Good

Because God Is Speaking In A Whisper

Because God Calls Me

Because God Redirects

Because God Speaks In Our Exile

Because God Opens His Word To Us

Because God Welcomes Me To Sit With Him

Because God Invites Children To Come

Because God Speaks Through His Word

Because God Speaks Through Gifted Teachers

Because God Teaches Through Difficulties

Because God Empowers By The Holy Spirit

Because God Speaks Through His Creation

Because God Speaks In Dreams And Visions

Because God Speaks In Surprising Ways

Because God Speaks Words Of Love

Because God Speaks Through My Circumstances

Because God Speaks Through Wise Counsel

Because God Speaks Through Peace

Because God Speaks In Our Thoughts

Because God Speaks Uniquely To Me

Because God Wants Me To Hear, Then Do

Because God Calls Me To A Listening Way Of Life

Because God Speaks That I Might Obey

Because God Heals That I Might Hear

Because God Is My Good Shepherd

Because God’s Word Is Guaranteed

Because God Speaks To His Friends

August – I Can Rest Today . . .

Because God Rested

Because God Restores Me As I Rest

Because God Commands Me To Rest

Because God Gives Me A Longing For His Rest

Because God Gives Rest To His Beloved

Because God Makes Me Safe Enough To Rest

Because God Created Me With A Need For Rest

Because God Knows My Frame

Because God’s Presence Brings Rest

Because God Gives Rest In Peace

Because God Is Granting A Sabbath Rest

Because God Gives Peace In Times Of Trouble

Because God Displaces Anxiety With Peace

Because God Makes Us Restless Without Him

Because God Keeps The Watch

Because God’s Salvation Includes Peace And Rest

Because God Is My Shelter In Time Of Storm

Because God Gives Me Rest As I Trust In Him

Because God Replenishes Weary Souls

Because God Offers Rest In Worship

Because God Provides Needed Rest Stops

Because God Is Holding Me As His Child

Because God Is With Me In The Lions’ Den

Because God Goes With Us Into The Storm

Because God Fights My Battles

Because God Bestows Rest In Quietness

Because God Calls Me To Come Away With Him

Because God Relieves Me Of My Worries

Because God Gives Rest To Those Who Return

Because God Sustains Me In Every Way

Because God Always Keeps His Promises

September – I Can Testify Today . . .

Because God Tells Me To Testify

Because God Has Given Me A Story To Tell

Because God’s Love Compels Me

Because God Gave Jesus As The Only Way

Because God Washes Me Clean

Because God Uses Unlikely People

Because God Doesn’t Want Anyone To Perish

Because God’s Son Will Return When All Nations Have Heard

Because God Opens Eyes To See

Because God Causes Me To Grow

Because God Edifies Others When I Testify

Because God Uses My Trials

Because God Gives Me What I Need

Because God Changes Me

Because God Has Made Me A Witness

Because God Has Divine Appointments For Me

Because God’s Light Shines In Me

Because God Alone Vaccinates

Because God’s Truth Is Wholly True

Because God Changes Lives Through Testimony

Because God Is Present In The Valley Of Death

Because God Prepares Me

Because God Says Don’t Be Ashamed

Because God Lets Me Speak Of His Love

Because God Brings Faith From Hearing

Because God Is Glorified In My Testimony

Because God Touched Me

Because God Reveals His Majesty To Me

Because God Sacrificed For Me

Because God Has Given Me Eternal Life

October – I Can Serve Today . . .

Because God Is The Master Servant

Because God Enables Me To Live As His Servant

Because God Elevates Servant Leadership

Because God Sees All I Do As Service To Him

Because God Is Greater Than His Servants

Because God Gives Me Opportunity

Because God Gave His Life For Me

Because God Washes My Feet

Because God Came As A Suffering Servant

Because God’s Gospel Is Adorned In Service

Because God Makes Leaders Who Serve

Because God Gifts Us To Serve

Because God Is My Supreme Example

Because God Sends Me Where He Goes

Because God Made Me His Servant

Because God Blesses Us To Serve The Least Of These

Because God Frees Us To Serve

Because God Gives Fervor For Service

Because God Loves Through Me

Because God Raised Jesus

Because God Notices People

Because God Helps Me Serve Only Him

Because God Flips My Definition Of Great

Because God Fills Me With Himself

Because God Helps Me Say No, So I Can Say Yes

Because God Uses Servant Leaders As Examples

Because God Heals To Serve

Because God Rewards Faithful Service

Because God Judges Unfaithful Service

Because God Has Done Great Things

Because God Invites Me To Choose

November – I Can Give Today . . .

Because God Gives Good Gifts

Because God Gives Out Of Love

Because God Loves And Gives To The Unlovely

Because God Gives Priceless Treasures

Because God Blesses In Proportion To What We Sow

Because God Gives Me What I Need

Because God Expects Me To Give

Because God Freely Gives His Best

Because God Has Delivered Me

Because God Gave Himself

Because God Gives Me Time

Because God Shows The Blessedness Of Giving

Because God Gives Peace

Because God Gives Life

Because God Designed Me To Give

Because God Gives Joyfully

Because God Became Poor For Me

Because God Through Christ Has Saved Me

Because God Gives Great Grace Through Giving

Because God Encourages Through Giving

Because God Sees Every Giver’s Heart

Because God Gives What He Has

Because God Uses What We Can Give

Because God Loves Joyful Giving

Because God Rewards The Giving Of Our Best

Because God Holds Me Responsible

Because God Has A Giving Nature

Because God Is Glorified In Grateful Giving

Because God Is So Generous To Me

Because God Gave Himself For Me

December –

Because God Offers Hope In Him

Because God Promises Hope

Because God Is My Very Present Help

Because God Invites Me To The Mountaintop

Because God Sees And Acts

Because God Brings Hope To Hopelessness

Because God Makes A Straight Path For Me

Because God Shines A Great Light

Because God Changes Shall To Is

Because God Enters My Warfare

Because God Called Mary Who Said Yes

Because God Made A Way For Me To Hope

Because God Says The Days Are Coming

Because God Is Present In The Hardest Times

Because God Enables Patient Endurance

Because God Speaks Hope To Catastrophe

Because God Promises Eternal Life

Because God Raised Jesus From Death

Because God Comes To Unnoticed People

Because God’s Son Lay In A Feeding Trough

Because God Is Planning A Surprise Party

Because God Invites Expectancy

Because God Remembers His Covenant

Because God Dispels Gloom

Because God Incarnate Was Born

Because God Fills My Longing With Joy

Because God Promises Another Christmas

Because God Makes Me Be Resolute

Because God Is Patient With Me

Because God Satisfies Fully

Because God Makes All Things New

About The Author

FOREWORD

Although Dr. Stephen Gammon can accurately say he has known me my entire life, I cannot say the same about him, since he was already two and a half years old when we first met. I was blessed to be born into the same family; Stephen was the second of six children, and I was the fourth of the bunch. Yes, our often-exhausted mother gave birth to six children in six years and lived to tell about it. So we grew up in the same loving, happy, noisy, and encouraging but disciplined home. Our dad was a busy and devoted small-town Baptist pastor, and our mom a well-organized, mostly stay-at-home teacher. Our home-cooked meals were eaten together around a large family table. Following our early-morning breakfast, the routine was to take turns reading a Bible passage, then a daily devotional, followed by family prayer and a praise song or two to the Lord.

Illustrating the centrality of daily prayer in our household, I remember our mom laughing as she recounted the time when I was only eighteen months old and it was my turn to pray. I was already talking quite fluently, so I was expected to participate. But when I was urged to start praying, I adamantly refused by saying, This little girl ain’t gonna pray!! According to Mom, that earned me a swift and sad timeout in my bedroom, but then I was cheerfully compliant the next time around. Daily family devotions were assuredly not an option in our home, and our willing participation was a given.

Family devotions were not the only spiritual discipline we witnessed in our parents. They also prayed together as a couple every night for everyone in our family; they named each person individually as they prayed for God’s protection and blessings in their lives. They continued to do so for their entire sixty-five years of marriage, adding our spouses and later our children and grandchildren to their ever-burgeoning list. To this day, I remember the security and love I felt as a child when I overhead them praying for me by name. What a priceless gift we experienced by having faith-filled, praying parents during our formative years.

As Stephen and I entered adulthood and went our separate ways, I was quite astounded that my very ordinary, often obnoxious and misbehaving elder brother went into full-time ministry and became a powerful man of God, one whom I will always admire. At times I have secretly envied his numerous supernatural encounters with God and his intimate and comfortable friendship with Jesus that he appears to come by so naturally. How blessed were the countless sailors and marines who listened to his wise counsel as a U.S. Navy Chaplain, and received his heartfelt prayers and encouragement. And thousands of people have since been touched and have had their lives changed by his kind pastoral care, his powerful biblical preaching, and the two inspirational Walking with God books he has authored. My own adult life took a much different road than his, as I chose to enter the medical field and served thirty years’ active duty in the U.S. Public Health Service. Following retirement, I spent many months living and volunteering in Israel, serving in numerous houses of prayer, and completing graduate degrees while studying in Jerusalem.

But what my brother Stephen and I will always have in common, besides our upbringing, is that we are both incurably in love with Jesus. Our lives revolve around Him. We wake up thinking about Him and go to bed grateful that He is always there; we even pray He will visit us in our dreams. We cannot imagine life without Him and have each desperately clung to our Lord through numerous life events such as parenting challenges, traumatic losses, illnesses, and other crises. But now it is time for a true confession. I have not been nearly as disciplined as Stephen throughout my life in my personal time with God. Currently, I do have my favorite meeting place – a private, wooden gazebo overlooking a small lake where my husband and I live in Georgia. This is my happy place, where I open the Word of God, turn my gaze to Jesus, and anticipate what He will say to me. There is nothing better than sitting at His feet, reading His Word, hearing His voice, and basking in His presence. Other times I experience His glory while sitting at my keyboard, singing and worshipping Him alone. Tears often flow in the secret place as I am once again awed by His boundless love, mercy, and goodness to me. But as much as I want and intend to, I have not consistently and daily spent time alone with Jesus as Stephen faithfully does. Admittedly, I let my erratic schedule, busyness, and cares of this life interfere too often, and I will bet many or most of those reading this can readily identify with my shortcomings. It also has been too long since I have read the whole Bible in a year, how about you?

But this is what makes this new devotional book so exciting and timely for me (and you). It is high time for a change and a recharge. I intend to delve into Because God daily and to discipline myself once again to put first things first – Because God is worth it all. Without a doubt, the 365 days I spend with this Holy Spirit-inspired devotional book, my Bible, and most importantly with Jesus will radically transform my life and effect an abiding practice of seeking Him daily. I am truly still a work in progress (always will be) and so are you. The Lord is lovingly and patiently wooing and drawing all of us closer still. And He has wonderfully promised to complete the work He has started in us. Jesus is waiting, and oh, how much we need Him. So let’s dive in!

Cheryl L. Tyler

With love and praise I dedicate this book to God

With forever gratitude to my parents

Glendon and Marjorie Gammon

From whom I learned how to love,

How to live in loving family and personal relationships,

And most of all, how to enjoy closeness with the One

Who made, and knows, and loves me and all of us.

INTRODUCTION

A Good Habit

I have done few things in my life more consistently and habitually than daily devotions. For this I am incredibly grateful. My parents started it, as our family of eight followed up breakfast each morning with family devotions, except on Sundays because we were preparing for church. During this time every day we turned our individual and collective focus to God, hearing and reflecting on His Word, reading and considering devotional thoughts centered on His Word, spending time in prayer, and singing together songs of worship. It wasn’t long before I was also doing this on my own.

A Great Invitation

Perhaps because of this childhood discipline, I found it easier to continue this personal practice through life. Having daily quiet times with Jesus, knowing He is with me now just as He promised to be, and hearing Him speak through the Holy Spirit to my heart each day as we have shared life together has been my lifelong privilege and pleasure. Many days, and in many ways, this daily practice has enriched and changed my life. Many mornings I have awakened with anticipation, because I knew my God was inviting me to come near to Him again.

I knew that in a few short minutes my Lord and I would enjoy quiet time together. I anticipated hearing Him speak to me, and I looked forward to sharing my heart with Him. I have wanted and needed God to be with me and to lead me each day, and He has done so to the extent I have listened, believed, and allowed Him to change and lead me. Every day God invites His children to come near for quiet time with Him. And when we do, we become conscious throughout the day that He is there.

A Growing Relationship

Personal relationships grow by people spending time together. It is the same in our personal relationship with God. If we want to know God more, knowing His heart and His truth, we will choose to come near and spend time with Him often and as a way of life. To know God a little is better than not at all, but to know Him intimately and increasingly, up close and personal, is far better. There is no greater honor.

We marvel that God desires a personal and growing relationship with us and that He is willing and available to all who come near to Him. But He does not force this on us. God loves us, but as is the nature of love, He wants us to want to love Him. We must therefore willingly come near and make it our personal priority to seek Him first. This includes taking time daily to enter His presence for quiet time and being still.

A Grand Gift

God has spoken to us through His Word, and by it He is still speaking. After more than sixty years of daily devotions with Jesus, I can speak personally of wonderful tools God has used to help and bless me in drawing near to Him each day. The ones that have blessed me most are Scripture focused, drawing truths from the Bible that are from God and about God; they speak to me about living with and for Him today.

Concerning God’s Word, I hope to encourage a discipline I have long practiced, which has enriched me greatly: I read the entire Bible again and again. Each time we prayerfully read and hear God’s Word, He opens our eyes and ears to things we have not yet seen or heard. We can easily accomplish this by following an annual schedule that includes an Old Testament and a New Testament reading for each day. These can easily be read in just a few minutes each day.

By following such a schedule, over the course of a year we will have read the entire Bible. Why is this important? Because God’s Word says, All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work (2 Timothy 3:16-17). These verses do not say some Scripture is inspired of God, they say all Scripture.

If we believe this, isn’t it reasonable to want to read it all, asking and trusting God to give us ears to hear what the Holy Spirit is saying? Of course, some portions of Scripture will speak to us more than others. But it is all God’s Word, and there are spiritual truths revealed throughout it. Most years I have followed this practice, and I have been blessed in doing so. I hope you prayerfully consider this discipline in your own daily quiet time with God. To encourage this, following each daily devotion in this book, I have included the assigned readings for that day to read the Bible through in a calendar year. The schedule included here is not copyrighted but was graciously provided to me by Day of Discovery ministry. This same schedule is included with their popular daily devotional, Our Daily Bread.

A Gracious Privilege

Perhaps you have noticed that over time we tend to pick up characteristics from those we hang around. For this reason it is wise for us to look for opportunities to be with people we wish to be like. All the more is this true regarding our personal relationship with God. If we desire to follow Jesus and become like Him, we will surely and gladly take time to be with Him. If we say that we love God and want to be like Him but neglect to seek quiet time at His feet to pray, read, listen, and enjoy His presence, then our words and actions do not agree.

The disciples of Jesus loved following Him, each one utterly astounded that they had been given this privilege. When Mary sat at Jesus’ feet, she was so glad for the privilege to be with the Lord and sit with Him. When Mary’s sister Martha wanted her to get up and assist with the busywork of the day, Jesus said of Mary and by extension of you and me, that she has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her (Luke 10:42). Sitting at Jesus’ feet and enjoying quiet time with Him each day is a gracious privilege He offers to us. We need only do what Mary did and do this as a way of life. This means sitting in His presence today and every day.

A Glorious Transformation

The more that we enter God’s presence to listen, learn, and love, the more we are transformed by Him and become more like Him. In His presence, as we hear His voice and respond to Him in faith, He anoints and equips us to be more like Him. So we are blessed to love, emulate, obey, honor, serve, and please Him. As we enter into His holy presence every day for quiet time with Jesus, and as He reveals Himself to us through His Word, God the Holy Spirit equips us to live each day according to His Word. The principle we can apply in His presence each day is this: Because God . . . I Can. Because God what? Because He speaks, acts, reveals, empowers, and loves today, I can . . . I can what? As the apostle Paul declared, I can do all things through him who strengthens me (Philippians 4:13).

What things can Christians do today because of God? This devotional focuses on twelve life practices that we are called and blessed to live every day as we walk with God. In each month a different life practice is emphasized that we can live, Because God. Each day of that month a particular truth about God is highlighted related to that theme, which leads us to consider how we can walk with God by living out that life practice that day.

Each month and day, as we make it our practice to have quiet time with Jesus, we see again that Because God . . . I Can. The twelve life-practice themes focused on in this yearlong devotional are foundational in following Jesus Christ, as we walk with Him through all of life and into eternity. Following God includes all of these: Believing, Trusting, Receiving, Praying, Praising, Loving, Listening, Resting, Testifying, Serving, Giving, and Hoping. This devotional focuses on one of these twelve themes each month, as day after day we grow in love for and obedience to God by living these life practices before Him. Our schedule is as follows:

January: Because God . . . I Can Believe Today

February: Because God . . . I Can Trust Today

March: Because God . . . I Can Receive Today

April: Because God . . . I Can Pray Today

May: Because God . . . I Can Praise Today

June: Because God . . . I Can Love Today

July: Because God . . . I Can Listen Today

August: Because God . . . I Can Rest Today

September: Because God . . . I Can Testify Today

October: Because God . . . I Can Serve Today

November: Because God . . . I Can Give Today

December: Because God . . . I Can Hope Today

As 2020 was approaching its end, as is my practice, I asked my Lord how He would have me proceed in my daily devotions in 2021. I heard His assignment clearly. In addition to again reading prayerfully through the whole Bible this year as I encourage you to prayerfully consider doing too, I was given a new assignment from my Lord. This year I was to write a daily devotional that focused on twelve particular themes that are all part of following Him. It has been my honor and joy to listen, learn, write, share, and pray.

I appreciate and thank my sister Cheryl L. Tyler who graciously wrote the Foreword for this devotional. She and I were blessed to be raised together, learning these same treasured and lifelong lessons on following Jesus, and enjoying daily devotions in fellowship with Him.

Now I pray for you. I am praying that the Lord of all blesses you greatly as you make it your practice to enter His presence for a special quiet time with Him each day. Come prayerfully, expecting to meet and hear Him. Come without pretense, just as you are. Come loving God, believing and receiving His deep and tender love for you. Come ready to be changed in His presence. The door is open wide for you. Every day God awaits your coming, and He covers you with His love. I know in faith that you will never be the same again.

Daily Devotions

For a Special Time with God Today

12 Themes on Following Jesus

JANUARY

Because God . . .

I Can Believe Today

January 1

I CAN Believe TODAY . . .

BECAUSE GOD SAVES

Say to those who have an anxious heart, Be strong; fear not! Behold, your God will come . . . He will come and save you. Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf unstopped; And the ransomed of the Lord shall return and come to Zion with singing; everlasting joy shall be upon their heads; they shall obtain gladness and joy, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away. (Isaiah 35:4-5, 10)

As we look forward to this new year and what follows, with hope we can hear God’s Word that everlasting joy is coming, for God comes to save. He declared this through His prophet Isaiah, and seven centuries later, the promised Messiah was born. His name was Jesus, meaning God saves. God has come to save. And when we have been saved through believing the good news, we want this for others.

Harriet Tubman’s story illustrates this. She was a slave who had suffered harshly, then ran north and discovered freedom. She became so grateful for this that she determined to risk her life so others could escape their slavery too. Harriet could neither read nor write, and she was frail, but she was undeterred. Altogether, she made nineteen trips south, freeing over three hundred former slaves, including several of her own family.

Could we who believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, having been saved from the slavery of our own sin through faith in Him, be content to simply rest in our own salvation? Or like Harriet Tubman, can we who know that this salvation is available to all, proactively show others the way? Looking ahead to whatever the future may hold, let us be supremely glad that God saves today, and that the Way is Jesus.

For Prayerful Reflection: In what ways have you been saved from slavery, and what has this meant to you? What will it mean for you today to believe that Jesus saves all who will believe and follow Him?

Bible in a Year: Genesis 1-3; Matthew 1

January 2

I CAN Believe TODAY . . .

BECAUSE GOD’S SON HAS RISEN

We have seen the Lord. (John 20:25)

Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with mighty works and wonders and signs that God did through him in your midst, as you yourselves know—this Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men. God raised him up, loosing the pangs of death, because it was not possible for him to be held by it. (Acts 2:22-24)

The resurrection of Jesus Christ is a firm pillar of Christian faith. We have not, as some presume, laid aside reason to blindly believe, as children do when believing in Santa or the Tooth Fairy. Rather, we have sought God’s truth; we have heard and examined evidence, and by God’s great grace we have become convinced that it is true. Today it is true that God has raised Jesus from the grave.

There is much evidence. The testimony of His disciples affirms that it is true. Everything for which they had worked, longed, hoped, and prayed died when Jesus died on that cross. If He had not risen from the grave, they would have sadly returned to their former lives. In fact, after His death they gathered in fear and grief in secret behind closed doors, lest His suffering and horrible death should become their fate too.

But something happened to radically change all of them. Despite the dangers, they repressed their fears and became filled with great joy; they all boldly announced to everyone who would listen that Jesus Christ is Lord, and He is risen. The only plausible explanation for such change and for their lifelong passion and devotion is that Jesus was risen. He remains alive today.

For Prayerful Reflection: How and when did you come to believe in the resurrection of Jesus Christ? How does believing that He is risen affect the way you live today?

Bible in a Year: Genesis 4-6; Matthew 2

January 3

I CAN Believe TODAY . . .

BECAUSE GOD KNOWS ME

O Lord, you have searched me and known me! You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from afar. You search out my path and my lying down and are acquainted with all my ways. Even before a word is on my tongue, behold, O Lord, you know it altogether. You hem me in, behind and before, and lay your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high; I cannot attain it. (Psalm 139:1-6)

Now the word of the Lord came to me, saying, Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you. (Jeremiah 1:4-5)

Much like the psalmist, it blows my mind to consider that God knows everything about me. He knows my nature and yours, and everything we have ever thought, said, or done. God knows our every desire, including the things that shame us. Nevertheless, God wanted us even before we were conceived and formed in our mother’s womb. God knows each of us completely, and He has always been, is now, and will forever be with us in every moment of every day – even today.

Haven’t you experienced being misunderstood by others? Haven’t you been dishonest in a personal relationship, perhaps due in part to shame or fear of rejection if they should know who you really are? But being in a personal relationship with God through Jesus Christ isn’t like that. Nothing about us is hidden from God, yet He still loves us. Today we can believe this good news.

For Prayerful Reflection: What are some implications of believing God knows you completely and still loves you? How is such belief impacting you today?

Bible in a Year: Genesis 7-9; Matthew 3

January 4

I CAN Believe TODAY . . .

BECAUSE GOD DOES MIRACLES

The official said to [Jesus], Sir, come down before my child dies. Jesus said to him, Go; your son will live. The man believed . . . and went on his way. As he was going down, his servants met him and told him that his son was recovering. So he asked them the hour when he began to get better, and they said to him, Yesterday at the seventh hour the fever left him. The father knew that was the hour when Jesus had said to him, Your son will live. And he himself believed, and all his household. (John 4:49-53)

This father’s son lay dying, so he came to Jesus. Desperately needing a miracle, he begged Jesus to heal his boy. Seeing the man’s faith, Jesus spoke the word, and from a distance the boy was healed. When this father arrived home the following day, he learned that the fever had left the boy at the very moment Jesus proclaimed his healing. Then the Bible says he himself believed, and all his household.

Miracles alone do not evoke faith, for like the soldiers who guarded Jesus’ tomb and were there when He arose, many can witness God’s power, yet rationalize it away. But when people seek truth and hear about or see God’s miracles of grace, they are blessed with faith to believe. This has been true of me, for I have often been reminded of the miraculous power of God.

My grandfather and my mother told a story that especially touched me. They told of how God healed my mother from polio as she lay in a hospital, paralyzed and dying, while from a distance, her parents and others prayed for God’s miraculous touch. I am blessed to be alive today, as many others are also, because God still works miracles today.

For Prayerful Reflection: Do you believe in the gospel accounts of Jesus’ miracles? Do you believe He still does miracles today? How does such belief impact you?

Bible in a Year: Genesis 10-12; Matthew 4

January 5

I CAN Believe TODAY . . .

BECAUSE GOD LOVES HIS CHILDREN

[Jesus] put [a child] in the midst of them and said, Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. (Matthew 18:2-4)

Jesus said, Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven. (Matthew 19:14)

Jesus loved and welcomed children, and urged us to come to Him like children do. Today I am remembering God’s precious children in Myanmar. I was there in 2017. A decade earlier, after horrendous flooding, many little ones were left homeless. Led of the Lord Jesus, the church established a children’s