This Day I Choose: 90 Days of Encouragement from God's Word

By Jennifer L. Brown

"This Day I Choose" is a 90-day devotional designed to encourage all believers in their journey with Christ. The Christian walk is a daily choice of surrender and dedication, and let's face it: some days it's easier said than done. This devotional is a compilation of daily inspirational words written to believers throughout the years, designed with one purpose in mind: to encourage the reader to choose Christ every day of their lives. It is our prayer that, as you read through each page, you will be inspired to keep fighting the good fight and to finish your race!

• Language: English
• Publisher: WestBow Press
• Release date: Oct 2, 2023
• ISBN: 9798385005703

Jennifer L. Brown

Jennifer L. Brown has been writing biblically-inspired daily devotionals for over 5 years. As a worship leader, songwriter, and Bible teacher for more than 15 years, she has a tremendous passion and desire to inspire other believers in their daily walk with Christ.

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Run This Race

Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

- Hebrews 12:1-2 NASB1995

Several years ago, I made the decision to take up running as a way to lose weight and get in shape. I began with what might seem like a small goal for most: I just wanted to be able to run an entire mile without stopping. When I started, I struggled. It was not easy for someone like me, who hated running, to embark on this journey, but I kept going, putting one foot in front of the other. When I got tired, I would walk, but I always began running again. I made up my mind that regardless of whether I could run the entire mile or just walk, I would not stop. Eventually, I ran the entire mile without stopping. I was so proud of myself. I then set my sights on a new goal: two miles. With the same vigilance and perseverance, I pursued my goal, and over time, I was able to run two miles without stopping. This led to three miles, then four, and five. Eventually, I made it up to seven miles without stopping. It was at this point that I set my sights on an even greater goal: running a 10k. This would be my crowning achievement in my jogging journey. I continued training faithfully, not forsaking one day, and when the time came, not only was I able to run the entire 10k without stopping, but I eventually was able to jog ten miles straight.

Over the course of my time working toward this achievement, I recognized so many parallels between the runner’s pursuit of a goal and the believer’s pursuit of heaven.

When we decide to follow Jesus, even the first mile seems impossible at times. We face a lot of resistance, both without and within. The flesh does not like the discomfort, and the enemy does not like another soul saved. At times, it can be tempting to give up, especially when this flesh is screaming for relief. However, if we make the decision to continue with that first mile, even if we are doing all we can just to put one foot in front of the other, we eventually complete the first mile, and before long, we complete two, then three. Each mile gets a little easier, and before we realize it, we have journeyed more miles than we ever thought we could!

Whether you are a new believer or one that has been running this race for years, the resistance will still come. If a runner does not keep their eye on the goal, they can easily fall into the trap of skipping a day of training, which can then lead to two days, then three, and before long, the habit which took so long to form is broken in just a few days’ time. Similarly, you as a believer must make the choice to arise daily and set your face like a flint toward the prize of the high calling of God.

Keep running your race. Arise with the dawn of each new day and proclaim those words deep within your soul, Today, I choose again.

Prayer: Father, thank You for saving me. My decision to follow You was the best one I have ever made. Though the road can be challenging at times, I keep my eyes fixed on the prize of Your high calling. Help me not to look to the left or right, but to keep my eyes on You. You are the Author and the Finisher of my faith, and that means that what You started You will complete. Help me to run this race with endurance, perseverance, and patience. Each day I will choose to follow You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

He Doesn’t Require Perfection

For there is no difference; for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed, to demonstrate at the present time His righteousness, that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.

-Romans 3:22-26 NKJV

Praise God! What wondrous grace and mercy the Father has bestowed upon His children.

There was a time when I lived under the burden of thinking that I had to earn my own salvation. You see, I am a recovering perfectionist, and for many years, I lived out my faith in Christ by thinking I had to be good enough to earn God’s approval. If I messed up, I lost hope, and felt like I could not go before God until I had served a time of penance. The burden became too much to bear, and I found myself believing that the Christian walk was too difficult.

It was in a time of brokenness that God began to draw my heart back to today’s scripture. He also reminded me that I did not need to be perfect, and that if I were to be judged according to His law, I was already condemned, for I had broken God’s commands multiple times over my life. Yet, in His mercy, while I was still a sinner, Christ died. He paid the price for my sins. The burden was never mine to bear.

A good friend once told me something that I have carried with me to this day. She said, Why would God entrust the work of salvation to flawed, sinful, mortal man? The fact is He didn’t. He completed the work through Christ.

You see, that’s what makes our redemption all the more spectacular and sacred. For God did not just simply overlook our sins. He is just, and the debt which we owed had to be paid. However, instead of making us pay a debt which we could not afford, the Father chose to place the penalty of our sins upon His only Son.

Now, when we place our faith in Jesus, His blood covers our sins, and we stand before God clean. How amazing is that?!

Today, if you are carrying the weight of feeling like you must have it all together before you come to Christ, lay it down at the cross. If you are carrying the weight of past sin, lay it down at His feet. If we could have obtained salvation on our own, we would not have needed a Savior. Receive His free gift of mercy and grace today.

Prayer: Father, thank You that, while I was still a sinner, You sent Your only Son to die for me. I do not have to be perfect to earn Your love. There is nothing I could do to make You love me more or less than You do right now. Your work on the cross was enough. Help me to know I am forgiven and loved, and help me to walk in Your grace today. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Deep Waters

Behold, God is my salvation, I will trust and not be afraid; ‘For YAH, the LORD, is my strength and song; He also has become my salvation.’

-Isaiah 12:2 NKJV

For Elijah, it was his flight from Jezebel. For David, his retreat from King Saul. For the children of Israel, it was standing in front of the Red Sea with the enemy hotly pursuing them from behind. For Jesus, it was the cross.

Each of us will face times in our walk with Christ where we are drawn out into deep waters, times in which we are solely dependent upon God, where we know in that moment that the Father is the only Source of our deliverance, strength, and hope.

God calls us all to a deeper faith in Him. He calls us to walk upon the water, just as He called Peter out of the boat. To do this, we must have faith. When we take these steps of obedience, and begin to step out of our comfort zone, we find that our faith begins to increase, and the Father sets our feet securely upon solid ground with each step.

Elijah seemed to be left alone, but he was brought to a place in which he was totally dependent upon God to supply his needs, and the Lord provided in a miraculous way.

David trusted God and continued to honor King Saul, even in the face of Saul’s attempts to destroy him, and eventually God gave the throne of Israel to David instead of Saul.

If the people of Israel had not been stuck between open ocean and the enemy, they would never have seen the miraculous wonder of God parting the Red Sea, nor had their faith increased by leaps and bounds in an instant.

It is in those moments when we are utterly dependent upon the Father that we gain a deeper understanding of what it means to walk by faith, and we come to know the Father as Jehovah Jireh, our Provider.

God is calling you out upon the waters. You may be going through a season of loneliness, rejection, or feeling as if there is no way out of your current situation. Do not be discouraged. Look up and put your faith in the only One Who is able to be all you need in this moment. Trust me, He will part the waters for your sake. He will be your Shield and Defender. He will honor your faithfulness in the face of adversity.

Prayer: Father, I know You are with me when I feel lonely, rejected, or discouraged. I know that You are my Defender when I am facing the enemy’s attacks from all sides. I know that You will provide when I do not know how my needs will be met. Help me to know these truths to the core of my being. Help me to walk on the waters with my faith, and to trust that You will support my every step. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Love the Lowly

Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep. Be of the same mind toward one another. Do not set your mind on high things, but associate with the humble.

-Romans 12:14-18 NKJV

I love how one of Jesus’ favorite things to do was to seek out the lowly, humble, outcast, and downtrodden, and make them feel like royalty.

He did not choose to dine in fine homes or wear the best clothing. No. He walked with the humble. He ate with the sinner. He fellowshipped with the rejected, and yet, He was still willing and ready to love just as equally those in high positions.

Jesus has the same love for all, and He calls us to be like Him. This is a challenge we are to embrace every day. I use the word challenge because it’s not always easy to love the outcast and downtrodden. This may include those who do not look like us, or even smell like us. They may be in a different social circle. Making the decision to be intentional about sowing into the lives of those rejected and lonely might cause us to lose some we once called friends. Yes, it’s not easy to love the broken, yet it is what Jesus calls us to do.

The Lord showed me several years ago that I had some work to do in this area. I had a habit of coming into church on Sunday’s and only talking with those in my circle of friends or ministry department. God began to challenge me instead to look for those who were lonely, those isolated, those to whom no one was speaking, and begin to pour into them. As I yielded to God’s conviction, I began to feel the weight of others’ opinions lift from my shoulders, and I felt the love of Jesus overflow from me into every person to whom I was ministering. I use the word minister here intentionally because ministry is in fact what we are doing when we spend time simply showing the love of Jesus to those in need. We become ministers of His gospel to them in our words and actions. As a worship leader, showing the same love to all is so important to me, for how can I stand and lead all in worship if I cannot love all and be the same to all. I cannot, and I refuse to do so.

Today, I challenge you to step beyond the norm and love the unlovable. Ask the Lord to open your eyes to see those around you who are hurting and in need of support and encouragement, and then go and be the hands and feet of Jesus. You will be more blessed than you can imagine!

Prayer: Jesus, as You purposefully sought out the unwanted, so Lord, help me to do also. As You poured out your love upon the downcast and the broken, let that love pour out through me to those hurting. Help me strive to be humble in my own sight, and to love the mighty and the lowly with the same compassion and fervor as You displayed while on this earth. In Your name I pray, Amen.

Reach to the Son

So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am Your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

-Isaiah 41:10 NIV

But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, will He not much more cloth you? You of little faith!

-Matthew 6:30 NASB1995

One summer afternoon, as I was lying on a blanket in the backyard reflecting on God’s creation, I noticed a tiny, almost pitiful looking flower trying to push its way up amidst the weeds and grass which surrounded it, all vying for the attention of the sun. It had been beaten down by recent