Daily Worship (May 25)
Devotional 1: Storms Don’t Stop God's Plan
Acts 27:22-25 (NIV)
“But now I urge you to keep up your courage, because not one of you will be lost; only the ship will be destroyed. Last night an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve stood beside me and said, ‘Do not be afraid, Paul. You must stand trial before Caesar; and God has graciously given you the lives of all who sail with you.’ So keep up your courage, men, for I have faith in God that it will happen just as he told me.”
Devotional Thought
Paul was in the middle of a violent storm at sea. Things were so bad that everyone thought they were going to die. But Paul had a different view. He had heard from God, and he trusted what God said more than what the storm looked like. This is the same kind of faith we need in hard times. We all face storms—trouble at home, fear about the future, or pain we don’t understand. But like Paul, we can learn to see not just the storm, but the God who stands above it.
This moment in Acts reminds us that God's plans are not stopped by our problems. Even when it seems like everything is falling apart, God is still in control. Paul’s ship broke apart, but not one life was lost. Why? Because God had a purpose for Paul’s journey. The same is true for us. When we feel like our story is going wrong, God may be doing more than we can see. His plans are still moving forward—even in the storm.
COMMA Questions
Prayer
God, thank You that storms don’t stop Your plans. Help me to trust You even when I feel afraid. Remind me, like Paul, that You are with me and that You have a purpose in every part of my story. Amen.
“But now I urge you to keep up your courage, because not one of you will be lost; only the ship will be destroyed. Last night an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve stood beside me and said, ‘Do not be afraid, Paul. You must stand trial before Caesar; and God has graciously given you the lives of all who sail with you.’ So keep up your courage, men, for I have faith in God that it will happen just as he told me.”
Devotional Thought
Paul was in the middle of a violent storm at sea. Things were so bad that everyone thought they were going to die. But Paul had a different view. He had heard from God, and he trusted what God said more than what the storm looked like. This is the same kind of faith we need in hard times. We all face storms—trouble at home, fear about the future, or pain we don’t understand. But like Paul, we can learn to see not just the storm, but the God who stands above it.
This moment in Acts reminds us that God's plans are not stopped by our problems. Even when it seems like everything is falling apart, God is still in control. Paul’s ship broke apart, but not one life was lost. Why? Because God had a purpose for Paul’s journey. The same is true for us. When we feel like our story is going wrong, God may be doing more than we can see. His plans are still moving forward—even in the storm.
COMMA Questions
- Context - What does the rest of Acts 27 tell us about the danger and fear Paul and the sailors were facing?
- Observation - What did the angel say to Paul that gave him hope?
- Meaning - What does it mean that Paul had faith in God, even when things looked bad?
- Main Idea - How does this passage help us see that God’s plans can still happen even when life feels out of control?
- Application - How can you remember to trust God when you’re going through a tough time?
Prayer
God, thank You that storms don’t stop Your plans. Help me to trust You even when I feel afraid. Remind me, like Paul, that You are with me and that You have a purpose in every part of my story. Amen.
Devotional 2: God’s Power in Weak Places
2 Corinthians 4:16–18 (NIV)
“Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.”
Devotional Thought
This passage reminds us that what we see with our eyes isn’t always the full story. Life can be really hard—our bodies get tired, our hearts feel heavy, and problems pile up. But Paul says we don’t need to give up. Why? Because something deeper is happening inside us. God is renewing us every day.
Paul had been through many hardships—beatings, prison, shipwrecks—but he still called them “light and momentary.” Not because they were easy, but because he compared them to the eternal glory that was waiting. That’s the power of perspective. When we focus on what is eternal—God’s promises, His presence, and His plans—we find strength to keep going.
This connects to Paul’s journey in Acts 27–28. Even though he faced storms, snake bites, and chains, God was still at work. The gospel kept moving forward. When life feels like it's falling apart, remember: God's power is working in your weakness. What feels like an ending may be the start of something greater.
COMMA Questions
Prayer
Lord, help me see life through Your eyes. When I feel tired or afraid, remind me that You are working inside me. Help me not to give up, but to trust in Your eternal plan. Amen.
“Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.”
Devotional Thought
This passage reminds us that what we see with our eyes isn’t always the full story. Life can be really hard—our bodies get tired, our hearts feel heavy, and problems pile up. But Paul says we don’t need to give up. Why? Because something deeper is happening inside us. God is renewing us every day.
Paul had been through many hardships—beatings, prison, shipwrecks—but he still called them “light and momentary.” Not because they were easy, but because he compared them to the eternal glory that was waiting. That’s the power of perspective. When we focus on what is eternal—God’s promises, His presence, and His plans—we find strength to keep going.
This connects to Paul’s journey in Acts 27–28. Even though he faced storms, snake bites, and chains, God was still at work. The gospel kept moving forward. When life feels like it's falling apart, remember: God's power is working in your weakness. What feels like an ending may be the start of something greater.
COMMA Questions
- Context - How does the rest of 2 Corinthians 4 explain the kinds of trouble Paul faced?
- Observation - What does it mean that we are being renewed inwardly, even if we’re struggling outwardly?
- Meaning - What does Paul mean by 'eternal glory that far outweighs' our troubles?
- Main Idea - How does this passage help us understand what really matters when life gets hard?
- Application - How can you fix your eyes on what is unseen this week?
Prayer
Lord, help me see life through Your eyes. When I feel tired or afraid, remind me that You are working inside me. Help me not to give up, but to trust in Your eternal plan. Amen.
Devotional 3: Unstoppable Gospel
Acts 28:30–31 (NIV)
“For two whole years Paul stayed there in his own rented house and welcomed all who came to see him. He proclaimed the kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ—with all boldness and without hindrance!”
Devotional Thought
The Book of Acts ends in a surprising way. Paul is under house arrest in Rome, but the last thing Luke tells us is that the gospel was being shared “without hindrance.” Even though Paul is stuck, the message of Jesus keeps going. That’s the power of God’s Word—it doesn’t stop just because our circumstances are hard.
Sometimes, we feel stuck too. Maybe we’re waiting on answers, dealing with limits, or facing closed doors. But this passage shows us that God can still work in those moments. Paul didn’t let his chains stop him from sharing Jesus. He used the place he was in—his rented house—as a platform for God’s kingdom.
The end of Acts isn’t really the end. It’s a new beginning. The gospel didn’t stop with Paul. It spread through the early church and is still spreading today—through us. God is writing the next chapter in our lives and in our world. We are part of the same story. And even when it feels like nothing is moving forward, God’s Word is still advancing—without hindrance.
COMMA Questions
Prayer
God, thank You that Your Word keeps going, even when life feels stuck. Use me where I am, and help me be bold like Paul. Let Your kingdom grow through my life—without hindrance. Amen.
“For two whole years Paul stayed there in his own rented house and welcomed all who came to see him. He proclaimed the kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ—with all boldness and without hindrance!”
Devotional Thought
The Book of Acts ends in a surprising way. Paul is under house arrest in Rome, but the last thing Luke tells us is that the gospel was being shared “without hindrance.” Even though Paul is stuck, the message of Jesus keeps going. That’s the power of God’s Word—it doesn’t stop just because our circumstances are hard.
Sometimes, we feel stuck too. Maybe we’re waiting on answers, dealing with limits, or facing closed doors. But this passage shows us that God can still work in those moments. Paul didn’t let his chains stop him from sharing Jesus. He used the place he was in—his rented house—as a platform for God’s kingdom.
The end of Acts isn’t really the end. It’s a new beginning. The gospel didn’t stop with Paul. It spread through the early church and is still spreading today—through us. God is writing the next chapter in our lives and in our world. We are part of the same story. And even when it feels like nothing is moving forward, God’s Word is still advancing—without hindrance.
COMMA Questions
- Context - What happened earlier in Acts 28 that shows how Paul ended up in Rome?
- Observation - What does it say about Paul’s attitude that he kept welcoming people and sharing the gospel, even while under arrest?
- Meaning - What does 'without hindrance' tell us about the power of God’s Word?
- Main Idea - How does this verse challenge the idea that hard times mean God isn’t working?
- Application - Where is one place in your life where God might be using you, even if it’s not where you thought you’d be?
Prayer
God, thank You that Your Word keeps going, even when life feels stuck. Use me where I am, and help me be bold like Paul. Let Your kingdom grow through my life—without hindrance. Amen.
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