Listen to this devotion

I Know that My Redeemer Lives

In the Word

“I know that my Redeemer lives, and that in the end he will stand upon the earth. And after my skin has been destroyed, yet in my flesh I will see God; I myself will see him with my own eyes — I, and not another” (Job 19:25–27a).

Of the Word

I know that my Redeemer lives;
What comfort this sweet sentence gives!
He lives, He lives, who once was dead;
He lives, my ever–living head.

Inspired by words in Job 19, this Easter hymn reminds us that Christ has risen! He is risen indeed! Alleluia!

Christ lives to bless us with His love, to forgive us, to guide us, to calm us, to wipe away our tears, and to silence our fears. In other words, our Savior, who died for us to release us from the stranglehold of sin, is alive and with us in every aspect of life. What a wonder … what a joy!

“He lives, all glory to His name! He lives, my Jesus, still the same; Oh, the sweet joy this sentence gives: I know that my Redeemer lives!”

Walking with my Lord

Living Redeemer, what joy the Good News of Your resurrection brings to me! Live on mightily in my heart and life so I may daily praise all You have done. In Your life-giving name I pray. Amen.

Mustard Seed: Joyful, Joyful. Rev. Larry and Shari Miller, authors. 9/31. Hymn Text: LSB 461. ©2011  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, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. All rights reserved worldwide.
All hymns are public domain with the text reprinted from Lutheran Service Book, ©2006, Concordia Publishing House, St. Louis, MO.

Sign up to receive Mustard Seed Devotions by email

Listen to this devotion

I am Jesus’ Little Lamb

In the Word

He tends his flock like a shepherd: He gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart; he gently leads those that have young (Isaiah 40:11).

Of the Word

I am Jesus’ little lamb, Ever glad at heart I am;
For my Shepherd gently guides me,
Knows my need and well provides me,
Loves me ev’ry day the same, Even calls me by my name.

No matter our age, the opening words to this child-like hymn, based loosely on the words of Psalm 23, remind us that Jesus called Himself the good shepherd (John 10:11a).

Our Shepherd assures us we belong to Him and He “Even calls me by my name.” He provides for His sheep and gives us the greatest gift of all: His life, so that we may be forgiven. He then rose again, so that we, His little lambs, will have eternal life with Him in heaven.

Because we are joyful to have a Good Shepherd, we sing along with the hymn writer: “Who so happy as I am, Even now the Shepherd’s lamb? And when my short life is ended, By His angel host attended, He shall fold me to His breast, There within His arms to rest.”

Walking with my Lord

Shepherd of all Your little lambs, hold me and mine close to Your heart. Protect us and gently guide us to Your pleasant pastures. In Your watchful name I pray. Amen.

Mustard Seed: Joyful, Joyful. Rev. Larry and Shari Miller, authors. 8/31. Hymn Text: LSB 740. ©2011  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, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. All rights reserved worldwide.
All hymns are public domain with the text reprinted from Lutheran Service Book, ©2006, Concordia Publishing House, St. Louis, MO.

Sign up to receive Mustard Seed Devotions by email

Listen to this devotion

Holy, Holy

In the Word

Above him were seraphs, each with six wings: … And they were calling to one another: "Holy, holy, holy is the LORD Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory" (Isaiah 6:2a, 3).

Of the Word

Holy, holy, holy! Lord God Almighty!
Early in the morning our song shall rise to Thee;
Holy, holy, holy, merciful and mighty!
God in three persons, blessed Trinity!

The mystery of the Holy Trinity, the Triune God, or One God in Three Persons is just that — a mystery! We by faith believe that God the Father is our Creator, the Son is our Redeemer from sin, and the Holy Spirit is the Sanctifier that keeps us in the one true faith. What an amazing God we have!

“Holy, Holy, Holy” is the three-fold phrase sung again and again in this hymn. It is an awesome hymn devoted to an awesome God, the “Lord God Almighty”! We celebrate and praise God the Father who is for us, the Son who is with us, and the Spirit who is within us — “God in three persons, blessed Trinity!”

Walking with my Lord

Lord God Almighty, may I always live in awe of Your majestic power working within me. May my lips always sing praises unto You. I pray in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Amen.

Mustard Seed: Joyful, Joyful. Rev. Larry and Shari Miller, authors. 7/31. Hymn Text: LSB 507. ©2011  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, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. All rights reserved worldwide.
All hymns are public domain with the text reprinted from Lutheran Service Book, ©2006, Concordia Publishing House, St. Louis, MO.

Sign up to receive Mustard Seed Devotions by email

Listen to this devotion

How, Lord … can I stop procrastinating?

In the Word

If you wait for perfect conditions you will never get anything done (Ecclesiastes 11:4 NLT).

Of the Word

Procrastination is a habit that allows us to avoid doing a task or facing a situation or just plain putting something off because we don’t want to deal with it. In the meantime, work goes unfinished and we waste valuable energy thinking about (or worrying over) what it is we still have to do. Martin Luther said, “How soon ‘not now’ becomes ‘never’.”

To break this habit, the question “Why do I procrastinate?” needs to be answered. Is it fear of failure? Laziness? A desire for perfection? Self-doubts? When we look at these answers we realize that none of them are God-pleasing reasons for avoiding what needs to be done.

God does answer this question in His Word: Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men … (Colossians 3:23). We can face those put-off tasks by remembering that God is with us and “… nothing is impossible with God” (Luke 1:37).

Walking with my Lord

Lord, when I have things I must do, give me the determination not to put them off until later. Through Your Holy Spirit working within me, help me let go of the reasons I don’t get things done and instead do all things to Your glory. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Mustard Seed: How, Lord? Marcia Gomulka and Myrna Lou Meyer, authors. 9/32 ©2011 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, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. All rights reserved worldwide.
Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation ®, © 1996 by Tyndale Charitable Trust. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers. All rights reserved. 

Sign up to receive Mustard Seed Devotions by email

Listen to this devotion

How, Lord … can I defeat temptation?

In the Word

Because he [Jesus] himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted (Hebrews 2:18).

Of the Word

Temptations come in so many ways that it would take a long, long time to list them all, and even then some would be missed. Whether we consider the temptations small or large, they all lead us away from what God desires for us.

Satan knows our weakest point so he aims directly for it. If he can’t disable us by one method, he’ll try for another. Satan is sly as well as subtle, but in no way can he be stronger than our all-powerful God. No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it (1 Corinthians 10:13).

Breaking away from temptation can be achieved when we fill our minds with God’s promise to strengthen us and by remembering the Holy Spirit is great enough to overpower any threat to us.

Walking with my Lord

Jesus my Savior, open my eyes so I will not be blinded by deception for I know only You can lead me out of temptation. Help me change the focus of my thoughts so that I will rely on Your strength instead of my weakness. In Your forgiving name I pray. Amen.

Mustard Seed: How, Lord? Marcia Gomulka and Myrna Lou Meyer, authors. 8/32 ©2011 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, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. All rights reserved worldwide.

Sign up to receive Mustard Seed Devotions by email

Listen to this devotion

How, Lord … can I cope with hardships?

In the Word

“… And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes” (Revelation 7:17b).

Of the Word

Life doesn’t always unfold the way it was planned. Expectant parents don’t plan for babies born with birth defects or mental handicaps. Accidents that leave loved ones paralyzed were not part of the plan for their future. Loved ones living alternate life-styles so different from the way they were raised isn’t part of the happily-ever-after life envisioned for them.

The complications that accompany any of these situations, along with dozens more we could name, can become overwhelming because we can’t change anything! We question God … “How can I cope with this?” God knows our heartache and assures us that [we] … can do everything through him who gives [us] strength (Philippians 4:13).

Life’s challenges may not change, so we must believe that there are no limits to what God can do in and through us. We will face adversity; how we deal with it is what is important. Learning to rely on God, in good times and bad, will be our source of comfort and strength.

Walking with my Lord

Lord, forgive me for being fearful during difficult times. In my frailty please make me strong. Lift me up, Father, so I can give You glory. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Mustard Seed: How, Lord? Marcia Gomulka and Myrna Lou Meyer, authors. 7/32 ©2011 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, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. All rights reserved worldwide.

Sign up to receive Mustard Seed Devotions by email

View printable PDF of this devotion, How Lord … can I cope with hardships?

Listen to this devotion

Lighten the Load

In the Word

“Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light” (Matthew 11:29–30).

Of the Word

How can you weigh less without counting calories?
Step on a scale during a full moon.

It’s true! You weigh less during a full moon. But what about the weight we carry with us that has nothing to do with calories? Those burdens which weigh us down — burdens like sin and guilt? It takes more than a full moon to get rid of them!

To lose those ugly sins that weigh us down, to leave behind the guilt and shame Satan tries to give us, we need more than a full moon. We need the Son, Jesus, the Son of God. He came to earth to live, to die, and to rise again. He conquered Satan forever.

How can that be? What’s the trick? There is no trick. It is the absolute truth. To lighten your burdens, trust Jesus’ words, “Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light” (Matthew 11:29–30).

Walking with my Lord

Dear Jesus, thank You for loving me and for taking my load of sins away from me. I am happy and free because of Your love. In Your name. Amen.

Mustard Seed: Simple Trust. Elaine Bickel, author. 9/29 ©2011 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, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. All rights reserved worldwide.

Sign up to receive Mustard Seed Devotions by email