Tag: DEVOTIONAL

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Diminishing the Authority of Scripture

Cindy Dawson

1-minute Devotion for Thursday, 3/5/26

As 1 Timothy 4:1 says, “Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons.”

“This is the end result of diminishing the authority of Scripture and inserting human opinion or cultural sensitivities in its place. When we fail to stress the importance of the apostles’ doctrines as we fellowship, break bread, and pray together with new disciples, we will leave people vulnerable to the enemy’s efforts to insert his doctrines into their thinking.”

Amir Tsarfati & Barry Stagner, from their book Until He Comes

In His Love, Cindy

“Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: May they prosper who love you.”

Psalm 122:6 NASB

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Truth Seekers: Fighting Lies in Today’s World

Cindy Dawson

Quote of the Week for 3/4/26

“The last bastion of truth is and will be the remnant of God’s people who remain curious and dedicated truth seekers.” Jack Hibbs, from his book, LIVING IN THE DAZE OF DECEPTION

There is an onslaught of lies assaulting the world today. Many people believe the lies that promote the evils of abortion, transgender surgery, and more. Even the Church is under attack by false teachers disguised as sheep.

Jesus said, “He (the devil) was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.” John 8:44

Truth is under attack from the one who is the Father of lies.

The last bastion is the final stronghold that defends something that is under threat, acting as a final defense against overwhelming opposition.

Be a truth seeker!

In His Love, Cindy

“Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: May they prosper who love you.” Psalm 122:6 NASB

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What Are Satan’s Schemes?

Cindy Dawson

Devotion for Monday, 3/2/26

As I read the book of Acts, I noticed that Satan is using the same schemes today that he used against the Apostle Paul!

Do you want to know how Satan operates? Just look in your Bible. Satan uses the same tactics, schemes, and traps today that he used 2,000 years ago.

“What has been will be again,
  what has been done will be done again;
    there is nothing new under the sun.” Ecclesiastes 1:9

After a certain age, you realize this is true because you’ve lived long enough to observe it for yourself.

SATAN IS BEHIND MURDER

“Some Jews formed a conspiracy to murder Paul.” (See Acts 23:12-13)

Today, all over the world, antisemites want to murder Jews just because they are Jewish. Extremists wish to murder anyone who disagrees with their ideology.

SATAN IS THE ACCUSER

Paul is falsely accused of “being a troublemaker and stirring up riots” (Acts 24:5)

But it isn’t Paul who instigated the riots. Rather, it was his accusers. Rioters blame those they hate for the riots when it is the rioters themselves who are responsible.

SATAN IS A LIAR

“Other Jews joined in the accusations, asserting that these things were true.” Acts 24:9

They were all lying. We see this today. Lies, lies, lies! They accuse their “enemy” of what they do themselves. (e.g., they say Israel is guilty of genocide. Nothing could be further from the truth! It is the enemies of Israel who pursue genocide of the Jews.)

Jesus told Paul, “I am sending you to them to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God…” Acts 26:17-18

Those who are evil and fight against the Truth are under the power of Satan, the father of lies.

In His Love, Cindy

“Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: May they prosper who love you.”

Psalm 122:6 NASB

All Scripture is from the NIV unless stated otherwise.

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Christian

Paul’s Warning to the Elders: Guard the Flock

Cindy Dawson

1-Minute Devotion for Sunday, 3/1/26

In Paul’s last words to the Ephesian elders, he warned them,

“I have not hesitated to proclaim to you the whole will of God.  Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which he bought with his own blood. I know that after I leave, savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock.  Even from your own number men will arise and distort the truth in order to draw away disciples after them.  So be on your guard! Remember that for three years I never stopped warning each of you night and day with tears.” Acts 20:27-31

“Wherever the work of God is progressing, there will be those who oppose it or try to capitalize on it for personal gain. The responsibility of the godly leader is to speak truth regardless of the cost – a responsibility great leaders do not shy away from.” Jeremiah Study Bible Notes

In His Love, Cindy

“Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: May they prosper who love you.”

Psalm 122:6 NASB

All Scripture is from the NIV unless stated otherwise.

RealChristianWomen.blog

Christian

Will Being Ecumenical Bring Unity?

Cindy Dawson

Whole denominations are built on the belief that it does. But is ecumenism really the enemy of the cross? Satan has always tried to make people believe that there are many paths to God. But that is not true. There is one way to God, Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior. (John 14:6)

Ecumenism is defined as an intentional mindset of openness, humility, and cooperation aimed at fostering unity among different Christian denominations.

Unity, on the other hand, is anchored in biblical truth and Christ-like love, rather than just superficial uniformity or compromise.

“True Biblical unity can only be realized ‘in the bond of truth,’ and never at the expense of Biblical truth.” Bill Streich

” … I felt compelled to write and urge you to contend for the faith that was once for all entrusted to God’s holy people.” Jude 1:3.

“Contention for the faith (Jude 3) preserves the purity of the gospel in Christian fellowship,” Streich wrote, “and delivers those who have been deceived by false religious systems. We must speak the truth in love!”

As one who was once deceived by Word of Faith teaching, I heartily say, AMEN!

Can the Church be in unity with false teachers? Absolutely not! The moment ecumenism opens its arms to false teaching, it has crossed the line into disobedience. The Bible commands us to refute and avoid false teachers, not to compromise with them. Romans 16:17 Titus 1:9

Ecumenism has been called a slippery slope. It leads to compromise. The goal becomes less about contending for the faith and more about making people feel welcome. Ecumenism blurs the line between truth and false religion, which is perilous for the people in the pews!

“So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming.  Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.” Ephesians 4: 11-16

Becoming a “mature Christian” requires that our leaders speak the truth in love. Unity comes from Christian maturity, not compromise. When we become mature, Paul says, “we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming.”

If we justify unbiblical actions by calling them compassionate and loving, it might make everyone comfortable, but it always comes with a price, and the price is truth. The Bible says,

 “Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.” 1 Corinthians 13:6

Can Ecumenism impact the salvation of souls?

I would argue that it can because some “Christian” ministries teach another Jesus. (e.g. Prosperity Gospel, NAR, Word of Faith)

“But I am afraid that, as the serpent deceived Eve by his trickery, your minds will be led astray from sincere and pure devotion to Christ. 4 For if one comes and preaches another Jesus whom we have not preached, or you receive a different spirit which you have not received, or a different gospel which you have not accepted, this you tolerate very well! “

“13 For such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. 14 No wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. ” 2 Corinthians 11:3-4, 13-14

Ecumenism is not mentioned in the Bible. I contend that it is man’s way to bring about the unity of the Church. Or maybe it’s an attempt to fill the pews. You decide.

God says, “For the wisdom of this world is foolishness in God’s sight.” 1 Corinthians 3:19

May God’s Word guide our church leaders, not the wisdom of this world.

Reflect on this. Questions and comments are welcome.

In His Love, Cindy

“Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: May they prosper who love you.”

Psalm 122:6 NASB

All Scripture is from the NIV unless stated otherwise.

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Caution! It May Be a Trap!

Cindy Dawson

1-minute devotion for Thursday, 2/26/26

 “Now I urge you, brothers and sisters, keep your eye on those who cause dissensions and hindrances contrary to the teaching which you learned, and turn away from them. For such people are slaves, not of our Lord Christ but of their own appetites; and by their smooth and flattering speech they deceive the hearts of the unsuspecting.” Romans 16:17-18 NASB

There is a lot of information in these verses.

  1. The unsuspecting are people who are not aware of the presence of danger. They feel no suspicion.
  2. The Greek word for hindrances in this verse is skandalon. It means a “stumbling block, a trap, an obstacle, offense; something that causes sin”.
  3. Such people are deceivers.
  4. The Bible says we are to turn away from them.

Commentary: “False teachers excel at laying traps through the teaching of false doctrine…” Jeremiah Study Bible Notes

The word scandalon occurs 15 times in the N.T. It occurs three times in the following verse:

Jesus said, “Woe to the world because of its stumbling blocks! For it is inevitable that stumbling blocks come; but woe to the person through whom the stumbling block comes!” Matthew 18:7 NASB

In His Love, Cindy

“Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: May they prosper who love you.” Psalm 122:6 NASB

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How Do I Show My Love for Jesus?

Cindy Dawson

1-minute devotion for Tuesday, 2/24/26

I was reading the 14th chapter of John, and something jumped out at me because Jesus said it three times in this one chapter.

“If you love Me, you will keep My commandments. I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, so that He may be with you forever; the Helper is the Spirit of truth…” John 14:15-17 NASB

“The one who has My commandments and keeps them is the one who loves Me; and the one who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and will reveal Myself to him.” (verse 21)

“Jesus answered and said to him, “If anyone loves Me, he will follow My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our dwelling with him. The one who does not love Me does not follow My words…” (verses 23-24

That Jesus repeated this three times in this short passage tells me it is very important. That brings the question to mind: what commands?

I would say that includes everything Jesus taught us and told us to do. The red letters might be a good place to start!

In His Love, Cindy

“Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: May they prosper who love you.” Psalm 122:6 NASB

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You Can Make a Difference in Someone’s Life

Cindy Dawson

Over twenty years ago, I became a special education teacher. I quickly realized that I couldn’t make a difference in every student’s life. But the Lord planted in me the idea that if I could make a difference in just one student’s life, I had accomplished something wonderful.

That’s when I learned the Story of the Starfish. It made such a huge impression on me that I hung a dried starfish on my desk lamp as a reminder.

The Starfish Story – Adapted from The Star Thrower by Loren C. Eiseley

A young girl was walking along a beach where thousands of starfish had been washed up during a terrible storm. When she came to each starfish, she would pick it up and throw it back into the ocean. People watched her with amusement.

She had been doing this for some time when a man approached her and said, “Little girl, why are you doing this? Look at this beach! You can’t save all these starfish. You can’t begin to make a difference!”

The girl seemed crushed, suddenly deflated. But after a few moments, she bent down, picked up another starfish, and hurled it as far as she could into the ocean. Then she looked up at the man and replied, “Well, I made a difference to that one!”

This is the same idea the Lord spoke to my heart about my blog: Don’t pay attention to numbers. Write for individual people.  If just one person is encouraged, that’s something wonderful.

Look around for your starfish – someone you can encourage, or maybe even introduce to Jesus. Now that’s something wonderful!

“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.” John 13:34 NIV

In His Love, Cindy

“Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: May they prosper who love you.”

Psalm 122:6 NASB

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How Do I Grow In Christ?

Cindy Dawson

1-minute devotion for Sunday, 2/22/26

“As I look back, I see more clearly that every step, the missteps as much as the faithful strides, has been held within the hands of a gracious God. The longer I walk with Him, the more I realize that growth in Christ is not about achievement but surrender; not about strength but dependence.” Bruce Cooper, The Clarity That Comes With Age

Jesus said, “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.” John 15:5 Read full chapter

In His Love, Cindy

“Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: May they prosper who love you.”

Psalm 122:6 NASB

All Scripture is from the NIV unless stated otherwise.

RealChristianWomen.blog

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Teaching Our Children Faith

Cindy Dawson

1-minute devotion for Friday, 2/20/26

There is nothing more loving you can do for your children than to instill in them a love for God’s Word and teach them to pray by your example.

“We will tell the next generation
the praiseworthy deeds of the Lord,
    his power, and the wonders he has done.
 He decreed statutes for Jacob
    and established the law in Israel,
which he commanded our ancestors
    to teach their children,
 so the next generation would know them,
    even the children yet to be born,
    and they in turn would tell their children.
 Then they would put their trust in God
    and would not forget his deeds
    but would keep his commands.” Psalm 78:4-7

In His Love, Cindy

Would you like to learn more about Jesus? See my page Who Is Jesus?

“Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: May they prosper who love you.” Psalm 122:6 NASB

All Scripture is from the NIV unless stated otherwise.

RealChristianWomen.blog