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July 15: The Power of Praying While Waiting

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by Tamelia Barriffe Key Text “And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint.” Luke 18:1 (KJV) Let’s be honest, waiting is hard. We don’t like waiting in traffic, waiting in long lines, or waiting for our food. But the hardest kind of waiting is waiting on God. Waiting for an answer. Waiting for healing. Waiting for a breakthrough. Sometimes we think that because God hasn’t answered yet, He isn’t working. But what if the waiting season is actually where God does His finest work? While we’re waiting for God to change our situation, He is often changing us. Waiting isn’t God’s way of ignoring us. It is often His way of preparing us. Jesus begins this parable by telling us why He is sharing it: ”...that men ought always to pray, and not to faint.” Why? Because waiting has a way of making us weary. It tempts us to give up, stop praying, or think God has forgotten us. But prayer keeps our hearts connected to God while we wait. Waiting doesn’t m...
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July 12: What is Cheap Grace?

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by T. C. Apple Creek SDA Church  Canada  It’s a grace that says that God doesn’t care how you live, what you watch, how you conduct your business, or what you do in secret as long as you pray the sinner’s prayer or walk the aisle when the preacher makes the altar call. It’s the belief that Jesus is a Saviour from the penalty of sin, but not the power of it. He’s the Redeemer of your soul, but not the Ruler of your life. In Genesis 3, Adam and Eve have just violated God‘s explicit prohibition. They sinned and the immediate result was a terrifying internal void, a deep shame and a realization of their nakedness. So, what did they do? They went to work. They sewed fig leaves together to make aprons for themselves. Many are still doing this today. Some of us try to cover our exposure through religious performance. We stitch together our church attendance, our self discipline, our giving and our moral superiority to cover the parts of ourselves we are terrified for God to see. We n...
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July 11: Rising After I "Dropped"

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Rising After Disappointment Key Text:  “Rejoice not against me, O mine enemy: when I fall, I shall arise; when I sit in darkness, the Lord shall be a light unto me.”   Micah 7:8 (KJV) Have you ever observed a baby or a small child falling to the ground? They often look around to see who saw them fall. If they do not see anyone, they usually get up and move on, seemingly unbothered. However, the moment they realise someone is watching, that is often when they begin to cry and become more aware of the fall. This experience aligns with my own life. There have been moments when I have fallen into disappointment, failure, or discouragement. At times, I was able to rise quietly and keep moving. Yet, there have also been moments when I became aware of others watching, judging, or even waiting for me to fail. In those moments, the weight of the fall felt heavier, and the disappointment felt deeper. However, Micah 7:8 reminds me that my fall is not my end. The verse declares, “when I f...
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July 9: Standing on His Promises

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Standing on His Promises Key Text : "I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee" (Hebrews 13:5, KJV). Usually, when I am asked how I am doing, I often respond, "God is good." Truth be told, there are times when we are not really doing as well as we appear. There are days when we are tired, discouraged, overwhelmed, or uncertain. Yet, in those moments, we are standing on the promises of God. When I face trials and difficulties, I am assured that I can overcome because God has promised: "I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee" (Hebrews 13:5, KJV). I do ponder about the future at times. I wonder how things will work out and what lies ahead. But God has assured me: "For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end" (Jeremiah 29:11, KJV). I find myself around various personalities, situations, and different vibes that can sometimes be draining or unsettling. But God'...
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July 8: Have I Missed the Welcome?

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  Have I Missed the Welcome? Sharon Campbell-Danvers  Educator and Motivational Speaker Key Text: "I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the Lord" (Psalm 122:1, KJV). Speaking truth this morning - I make it to church late most times. I often think about it and genuinely want to make a change. Sometimes I comfort myself by saying, "God understands. He sees how tired I am." Yet, when I finally arrive at church, I already feel weary and as though I have missed something important. When I first became an Adventist, I remember an elderly lady saying, "The angels are at the church doors waiting for us each Sabbath." I have never forgotten those words. As I reflected on them recently, I thought about taking a flight. The flight attendants stand at the door, warmly welcoming each passenger aboard. But there comes a moment when the doors are closed, and the plane takes off. I wondered, Could it be that by the time I turn up to church, I hav...
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July 7: The Tree Was Never The Problem

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The Tree Was Never the Problem Sharon Campbell-Danvers  Educator and Motivational Speaker Key Text: "Every branch in me that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit" (John 15:2, KJV). Years ago, I planted a cherry tree. It grew beautifully and reached full maturity, but there was one problem - every season the cherries were filled with worms. I tried everything I knew to do. I gave the tree more water, but that did not help. I trimmed back the branches, hoping it would make a difference, but year after year the same problem remained. Eventually, I made up my mind to cut down the tree. I thought perhaps I should remove it and plant another tree in its place. One day, while talking about the matter, someone suggested that I spray the tree because it might have a fungus or disease causing the issue. I decided to try one last time. To my surprise, the tree produced a bountiful harvest of beautiful cherries. We ate cherries to our heart's desire! God t...
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July 6: Ready at Any Hour

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Ready at Any Hour Matthew 24:44 (KJV) "Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh." Sharon Campbell-Danvers  Kings Seventh-day Adventist  For years, I noticed something interesting about my son. He slept on only one side of his bed. At first, I thought it was simply a habit or a preference. But what caught my attention was what occupied the other side. Neatly arranged beside him would be everything he needed for school the next day. His uniform would be laid out carefully. His socks would be paired and ready. His lotion, cologne, school bag, and any other items he needed would already be in place before he went to sleep. Night after night, the pattern remained the same. One day I finally asked him why he went through all that trouble. His answer was simple. "I don't want to be late for school." He understood something that many adults struggle to learn. Preparation is easier when it happens before the moment arrives. He...
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July 5: Living Holy in a Busy World

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by: Dr. Alicia Valasse-Polius  Odsan SDA Church, St. Lucia   “But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all   manner of conversation; Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I   am holy” (1 Peter 1:15-16)   Dearest Reader,   In the “hustle and bustle” era, the life of the working  professional is defined by strategy workshops in Zone A, proposal presentations in Zone B, board meetings in Zone  C, consultant briefings in Zone D, virtual training sessions,  team check-ins and the occasional face-to-face interaction  to foster serendipitous partnerships. In the midst of this  maze, the occasional date night slips in and weekend  afternoon naps are forced. Hey…it’s a busy world with  distractions here and there. Without prioritising, even  Christians can be caught up in the aura of busyness,  trading obedience to God for convenience. But the Word of  God encourages living holy in the hus...
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July 4: I Thought You Would Always Be Here With Me

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I Thought You Would Always Be Here With Me Mark 10:14 (KJV) "Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God." Sharon Campbell-Danvers  This morning, I dedicate this devotional to K. Chin. As I walked through a familiar place, memories and emotions accompanied me. Every pathway seemed to whisper stories from days gone by. Memories of laughter, learning, correction, encouragement, celebrations, and even challenges came flooding back. It was a place that once occupied a significant space in my daily life and in my heart. Although time had passed, the memories remained vivid. As I made my way through the garden, I noticed a young man staring intently at me. At first, I did not recognise him. He had grown so much. The little boy I remembered had become a young man. As our eyes met, he waved. I smiled and waved back. That simple exchange was all he needed. Without hesitation, he began running towards me. As he approached, his arms...
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July 3: Nothing Is Impossible with God

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Sharon Campbell-Danvers  Nothing Is Impossible with God Luke 1:37 (KJV) "For with God nothing shall be impossible." In 2022, I made a bold decision to return to school amidst the many demands and challenges of life. Balancing work, family responsibilities, health concerns, and academic studies was not easy. What began as an exciting journey soon became overwhelming. The pressure became so intense that I made the difficult decision to pause my studies for a year. At the time, I simply could not see how I could successfully manage everything that was competing for my attention. The dream was still there, but my strength and motivation had diminished. As time passed, I thought long and hard about returning to school. Deep within, I knew I wanted to continue, but I lacked the willpower to pick up the books and begin again. The journey seemed too difficult, and the road ahead appeared uncertain. Then God gently reminded me of where He had brought me from. He reminded me of the obs...
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July 2: Faith Moves the Mountain

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  Faith Moves the Mountain Sharon Campbell-Danvers  Kings Seventh-day Adventist Church  Matthew 17:20 (KJV) "And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you." Sometimes when we think about faith, we think about something big and extraordinary. We imagine dramatic miracles, remarkable breakthroughs, or life-changing events. Yet, often God calls us to exercise faith in the small, everyday moments of life. The truth is that many of us struggle to demonstrate genuine faith at the beginning of a situation. We analyse, worry, and try to figure everything out on our own. It is often somewhere along the journey, or even at the very end, that we finally begin to trust God with our thoughts, decisions, and circumstances. I remember a time when I was working on a major project for some...
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July 1: The Promise of His Return

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Sharon Campbell-Danvers  Kings Seventh-day Adventist Church    I Will Come Again John 14:1–3 (KJV) "Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also." Reflection During a certain period of my life, I had to make a transition that was deeply personal and emotional. It meant leaving behind little ones whom I had come to love as my own. As the day drew closer, and I realised that the moment of separation was inevitable, I wrestled with the thought of telling them that I would be leaving. My heart ached, and the tears were often uncontrollable. I tried to hide my pain, but there were moments when the emotions became too overwhelming to conceal. Looking into each little face was enough to break my heart all over again...
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