Month: February 2026

Read Luke 10:1-3

We shift our focus this week to Jesus’ desire for his disciples to share their faith with others.  In his journey from the transfiguration to Jerusalem, Jesus sent the 72 out to share the peace of Christ with others.  Jesus made it clear that this would not be easy.  He uses the metaphor of sending sheep out amongst the wolves.  Today it feels like that at times, but the harvest field today is just as ripe as it was then. 

While evangelism seems overwhelming; remember Who sends you out, remember the one who walks with you, Jesus.  We all share in this calling to share Jesus’ grace and peace with others.  Pray for and depend on the Holy Spirit to equip us with all we need to carry out this mission.

Brett Spalding, Pastor

Read Mark 10:46-52

Blind Bartimaeus is one of my favorite people in the Bible.  He shouted to Jesus in faith.  Even when people told him to be quiet, he shouted even louder, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me.”  Do we quiet our praise of God at times because people are put off by our loud praise of God?  Have you ever told someone to be quiet; have you ever shushed a child who is praising God (expressing their faith) in their own way?  Bartimaeus was taking no chances.  No one was going to silence his faith and get in the way of his one shot to be healed by Jesus.

Don’t ever allow anyone to silence your praise of God and please don’t ever seek to silence another’s praise of God.  Pray that we will always find the voice and courage to praise the Lord, even when people are trying to silence us.

Brett Spalding, Pastor

Read Luke 8:40-48

Today we see another example of great faith.  This woman, ill for 12 years had faith that if she only touched Jesus’ garment, she would be healed.  I don’t need to bother Jesus; I don’t need Him or anyone else to notice me; I just need to touch His garment.  Jesus however wanted everyone to see her faith.  He wanted everyone to know that healing (that peace in life) comes through faith.  Notice Jesus said, “Go in Peace.”  In other words, don’t be troubled with your illness anymore for you have found peace today in Jesus Christ.

Jesus often greeted people who were scared with the words; “peace be with you.”  He wanted this woman and us to know not just healing, but to know peace in Christ.  He wants us to know that same peace in Him.  Please pray for Jesus’ peace in our hearts and the hearts of others who do not know Him.

Brett Spalding, Pastor

Read Matthew 8:5-13

Many had faith that Jesus could heal them. This isn’t unusual to this story.  What is different is that a Roman Centurion is telling Jesus He doesn’t need to come, that he isn’t worthy to host Him.  The centurion doesn’t want Jesus to be put in the situation of having to answer for going into his home.  So the centurion states in faith, “Just speak the word Lord and my servant will be healed” shows a depth of faith greater than any found in Israel according to Jesus.

Unlike our passage from yesterday, this healing isn’t initiated by the one being healed, but through the faith of another.  We are called to pray for others to be healed; for the Holy Spirit to open their hearts to Jesus’ presence.  Pray that physical healing might open people to the permanent Spiritual healing available in Jesus Christ.

Brett Spalding, Pastor

Read John 5:1-8

It is ironic that Jesus would ask the paralytic if he would want to be healed.  It is heart breaking to think that someone might not want to be healed; but this is the case at some level with all of us.  Some find it so difficult to imagine life without an addiction, and they would rather live with what they know than face the unknown.  Others of us have a sin in our life we don’t want to give up because it provides some perceived happiness, and we are afraid to live without it.  Either way, it begs Jesus to ask the question; “Do you want to be healed?”  It begs us to ask the question; “Are we ready to allow Jesus to heal us?”

Let us cry out to God in prayer, yes, I want to be healed and pray for those we know who at this point have resisted healing in Jesus Christ.  Pray for the Holy Spirit to open hearts and minds and allow Jesus in.

Brett Spalding, Pastor

Read Psalm 30:1-4

David exalts God; he praises God for lifting him out of the depths.  He cried out to God and He healed him.  Like the healing we read about in our two previous devotionals, we must ask God for healing, we must believe and confess to receive it.   Notice that David specifies the healing in verse 3; it is not just physical healing, but spiritual healing as well.  While physical healing is temporary, spiritual healing is eternal.  Sometimes we get too caught up in desiring healing that is only temporary and not treasuring eternal healing.  Of course, pray for physical healing and praise God when He chooses to provide it, but let us always make sure our hearts are grounded in the eternal kingdom.

Let us praise God today and exalt Him in prayer for eternal healing that He lovingly provides us. 

Brett Spalding, Pastor

Read Luke 5:12-13

Yes, this week’s devotional theme is healing. Today we see a man who fell at Jesus’ feet with his face to the ground. He confesses his faith to Jesus knowing that if Jesus is willing, he can be “made clean.” Notice that Luke doesn’t just use the word healed, but “made clean.” People associated these types of diseases with some kind of sin during those days, and we can’t overlook the redemptive nature of this healing. While Jesus may not heal us of all our physical ailments (for example – Paul was not healed of his ailment) He will cleanse us from our sins, that is, make us clean in the eyes of God. To receive this blessing, we just have to do what the leper did, believe and confess our faith in him as Lord and Savior.

I urge you to give thanks in your prayer today that Jesus was and is willing to make us clean from our sins against God.

Brett Spalding, Pastor

Read Luke 9:37-43a

I often find it amazing how quickly Satan makes his appearance after we have a wonderful experience in our faith journey.  Peter, James, and John just had one of those “mountaintop experiences” in their faith journey and the moment they get off the mountain they are greeted by a boy possessed by demons.  Have you ever gone on a spiritual retreat or conference with other Christians and had a great time worshipping God and you feel totally uplifted and energized only to be immediately greeted with something that makes you angry or brings you down?  This passage reminds us to go back to the voice of God on the mountain and listen to Jesus.

Don’t forget: While we might be as powerless to heal as the disciples were, Jesus is not.  Pray that when we face difficult circumstances that we will turn to Jesus (listen to Him) and not let these situations in life overcome our faith and lead us away from Jesus. 

Brett Spalding, Pastor

Read 2 Peter 1:16-18

In this letter, Peter seeks to remind us of the true message of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  He implores us not to fall victim to clever stories made by false prophets.  Jesus will come in power and glory and Peter states with confidence that he, James, and John were witnesses to His glory on the sacred mountain.  As one reads this it is easy to make the link to Peter’s sermon at Pentecost; “God has raised this Jesus to life, and we are all witnesses of the fact.  Exalted to the right hand of God, He has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit and has poured out what you now see and hear.” (Acts 2:32-33)

Let’s pray for the Holy Spirit to speak truth to us, and listen carefully, so we never fall victim to any false teachings or false teachers.

Brett Spalding, Pastor

Read Luke 9:35-36

Before any reply is given to Peter’s sincere, but misguided request, the voice of heaven is heard, and God tells Peter, James, and John that Jesus is His Son, and they should “listen to Him.”  There is no response; only silence from the witnesses as Jesus’ glory is revealed by God the Father.  We should not overlook the obvious message here as well; God is telling us to listen to Jesus as much as He is telling Peter, James, and John.  My grandfather used to tell me; “you have two ears and one mouth, use them in proportion.”  Let us be slow to speak and quick to listen to the words of Jesus. Pray today for quiet time to listen for the voice of God speaking to us through the Holy Spirit and Scripture.

Brett Spalding, Pastor