Featured Devotionals

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ODJ: new names, new nature

In 2012, Pretoria, the capital city of South Africa, changed many of its street names, initially causing confusion for commuters and a headache for traffic reporters who were expected to give both street names in every update. After the names were changed, the format for traffic bulletins at most radio stations included the new street name followed by the word “formerly” and the old

ODJ: changeless

She said to him, “I don’t want to try to fix our marriage. It’s over.” What had started with such high hopes and evident love was now a cold, lifeless thing. My friend desired to see renewal and restoration in their relationship, but his wife made it clear that the two of them had changed and that their marriage would soon end.

Sadly, human relationships are often fickle and l

ODJ: white knuckles

When I moved near to the big city where I now live, driving on unfamiliar roads made me feel uneasy. Merging into heavy traffic elevated my heart rate. I dreaded becoming boxed in by other vehicles. Cars and lorries streamed by me, making me feel that I needed to speed up. During these moments, my knuckles became white as I tensely gripped the steering wheel.

We can adopt the same ‘w

ODJ: storytellers

Every two years in Wales, hundreds of people gather for an international story festival called Beyond the Border. The festival is an effort to celebrate the world’s rich heritage of oral tradition.

Oral tradition is the passing on of stories—specifically historical, cultural accounts—by word of mouth. Once upon a time it was the primary way that history was preserved an

ODJ: the best deal

When I was a kid, my mum and I would often go to the supermarket together. As she taught me how to compare prices to find the best deal, she would stroll up each aisle with a list of items in one hand and a calculator in the other. She knew how to make each penny count and how to find the best deal. Now, as my husband and I step out into the unknown as church planters, I face a palpable fear of th

ODJ: a love song

The lyrics of one of my favourite worship songs lifts up the idea of praising Jesus with all that I am. When I sing it, my focus is solely on my Saviour who sacrificed His life that we might receive true life, completely on the One whose heart beats with passionate love for us. As I sing the beautiful chorus, it helps me express my deep, deep love for Jesus.

Isaiah once wrote down the

ODJ: nothing in the water

In the 2012 issue of American magazine Foreign Policy, columnist Micah Zenko wrote an article in an attempt to allay people’s fears of shark attacks. Zenko concluded that because of the movie Jaws, millions of people in America unnecessarily panic when they hear that a shark might be near the area where they’re swimming.

According to Zenko’s research, however,

ODJ: heavy lifting

An elderly man saw me struggling to carry a heavy box from my car to the post office. Rather than let his age, a pronounced limp or hot weather deter him, he rushed to my assistance.

I thanked the man, and then I thanked God for sending some kind assistance my way. Benevolence cheers hearts. This was proclaimed by the apostle Paul in his letter to co-labourer Philemon. “Your love h

ODJ: hope deferred

As any couple trying to have a child knows, every 28 days you’re looking for signs of success. For many couples, this expectation is met with disappointment for a few months until conception occurs. But for others, this monthly cycle of raised and dashed hopes can last for years. Proverbs 13:12 describes such an experience well: “Hope deferred makes the heart sick.”

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