Battle Drill Devotional
Engage every day with the Salvation Army daily devotional and discover how it can transform your spiritual journey. Battle Drill, fast-becoming a cherished tool in the Salvation Army, is being used as an everyday tool for personal devotion—forming a pathway for people to discover their faith. By encouraging regular, meaningful encounters with the Lord, this everyday ritual provides a timely weapon for spiritual battles and is notably seen as the cornerstone of the spiritual life of many soldiers. The Salvation Army daily devotional platform has been a light to numerous soldiers, adherents, and friends battling the darkness. It provides an unbroken thread of light, guiding individuals through the labyrinth of life’s twists and turns. The intention of Battle Drill is clear – to equip individuals with the strength to endure trials and tribulations and empower them with the fortitude to conquer whatever life throws at them.
Episodes
10 hours ago
10 hours ago
Embark on a spiritual journey from confusion to clarity, much like the disciples after Jesus' resurrection. Find guidance in today's devotional, where we uncover how the scriptures offer insight and purpose, and draw inspiration from Peter's sermon on Christ's transformative power. Reflect on where you seek clarity and let the disciples' experience strengthen your faith.
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Click here to read today's devotional - https://1drv.ms/b/s!Ak_QYEqdXpfKprswHpr7Fxv4OslPBg?e=nhI16c
2 days ago
2 days ago
Explore the profound significance of 'But God' in this daily devotional, highlighting transformative biblical moments where God intervenes amidst human failure. Reflect on Peter's message in Acts 3 and how these two powerful words illustrate redemption and grace in our lives, urging us to recognise God's limitless power shaping our narratives.
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Click here to read today's devotional - https://1drv.ms/b/s!Ak_QYEqdXpfKprswHpr7Fxv4OslPBg?e=nhI16c
3 days ago
3 days ago
Explore the parallels between apostolic courage and modern discipleship in this podcast, as we reflect on Peter's bold sermon in Acts 3 and its relevance for our own witness to Jesus. Find encouragement to embrace the transformative power of the gospel in your life and be a courageous disciple today.
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Click here to read today's devotional - https://1drv.ms/b/s!Ak_QYEqdXpfKprswHpr7Fxv4OslPBg?e=nhI16c
4 days ago
4 days ago
Discover the transformative power of the 'but God' moments in our latest sermon, where we explore the pivotal turning points in the disciples' journey post-resurrection. Experience the shift from confusion to clarity as we dive into scripture and embrace the legacy of apostolic discipleship, reflecting on our personal encounters with God's mercy and grace. Join us in examining Peter's bold proclamation and its relevance to our lives today.
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Click here to read today's devotional - https://1drv.ms/b/s!Ak_QYEqdXpfKprswHpr7Fxv4OslPBg?e=nhI16c
7 days ago
7 days ago
Summary
Discover the transformative power of love and humility in transcending societal expectations. Learn how to stand against injustice and embody Christ's love and grace. Reflect on the message and make a positive impact in your world.
Bible Reading: Romans 12:21
21 Don’t let evil conquer you, but conquer evil by doing good.
Introduction - Transcending Societal Expectations through Love and Humility
As followers of Jesus, how can we ensure we are not dragged down to the world's level? The world would encourage us to curse those who hurt us. The world's values are an eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth. We are urged to take revenge against those who hurt us.
How do we transcend all this? Paul encourages us to transcend the world's expectations through our love and humility.
Living Out Our Values
As followers of Christ, we are to stand against injustice, speak up for those without a voice, and challenge unethical practices with integrity.
Embodying Christ's Love and Grace
Living a life that transcends expectations means that we're constantly seeking ways to embody the goodness of God, not only within the church but in every sphere of influence we have. Whether in our workplace, school, or community, we are to be examples of Christ's love and grace.
Reflection Question
What is one area in my life where I can actively work to overcome evil with good, and how will this choice reflect my commitment to Christ?
Battle Drill Daily Devotional Podcast This Week
This week on the Battle Drill Devotional Podcast, we explore what it means to be shining lights in a dark world, showing God's love and grace with those we come into contact with. Each weekday we share hope and encouragement as we read and study the Bible together.
Monday 8 April - Beacons of Hope: Transforming Our World
Tuesday 9 April - The Power of Everyday Grace
Wednesday 10 April - Living Out Loud in Love and Humility: Embracing an Authentic Faith
Thursday 11 April - Radiate Your Faith through Radical Love
Friday 12 April - Transcending Societal Expectations: Embracing Love and Humility
There’s a new episode of Battle Drill Devotional every Monday through Friday.
Click on the link – https://linktr.ee/battlefieldresources – to listen, watch or subscribe to this podcast.
Related Posts On Our Blog
Rejoicing in Jesus’ Triumphant Entry: Finding Peace and Joy in the Chaos
Avoiding Spiritual Distractions: Prioritising Our Spiritual Well-being
Finding Hope in the Darkness: The Shepherd on the Throne
Seeing God’s Vision: A Glimpse of Glory
God’s Victory Over Sin and Death
Photo by Lesly Juarez on Unsplash
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Did you know you can now give each post and podcast episode on my website a star rating?
I value your feedback about what I am writing and teaching, so I can improve and try to give you content that will better nourish, challenge, and equip you for your Christian journey.
All you have to do is click on the star rating below.
Thank you!
Thursday Apr 11, 2024
Radiate Your Faith through Radical Love
Thursday Apr 11, 2024
Thursday Apr 11, 2024
Summary
Learn how to radiate and shine with faith through radical love. Contribute to the needs of others, show hospitality, and associate with the lowly. Practice radical love today and draw others to Christ.
Bible Reading: Romans 12:13-16
13 When God’s people are in need, be ready to help them. Always be eager to practice hospitality.
14 Bless those who persecute you. Don’t curse them; pray that God will bless them. 15 Be happy with those who are happy, and weep with those who weep. 16 Live in harmony with each other. Don’t be too proud to enjoy the company of ordinary people. And don’t think you know it all!
Introduction - Radiate and Shine with Faith
Have you ever met a saint? People who radiate and shine with faith? I can think of several people across my life, from my church where I grew up and the churches I have led who I would describe like this. Simply being in their presence made you aware of God's presence in the world.
In these verses, Paul calls us to radiate and shine with faith not just on a Sunday, but as a daily commitment. He invites us to be ready to help God's people when they are in need, to practice hospitality, ensuring there is a place for everyone at our table, to live in harmony with one another, not to be too proud, and to enjoy the company of ordinary people.
Radiating Love Through Radical Faith
This means looking beyond our comfort zones, reaching out to those in need, and embracing diversity within our communities. It's about setting aside our pride and preconceived notions to love others as Jesus loves us—unconditionally and sacrificially.
By radiating this kind of love, we transform our lives and the lives of those around us, drawing others closer to the heart of God.
Reflection Question
In what ways can I radiate and shine with faith and practice radical love today, and how might this act of love draw others to Christ?
Battle Drill Daily Devotional Podcast This Week
This week on the Battle Drill Devotional Podcast, we explore what it means to be shining lights in a dark world, showing God's love and grace with those we come into contact with. Each weekday we share hope and encouragement as we read and study the Bible together.
Monday 8 April - Beacons of Hope: Transforming Our World
Tuesday 9 April - The Power of Everyday Grace
Wednesday 10 April - Living Out Loud in Love and Humility: Embracing an Authentic Faith
Thursday 11 April - Radiate Your Faith through Radical Love
Friday 12 April - Transcending Societal Expectations: Embracing Love and Humility
There’s a new episode of Battle Drill Devotional every Monday through Friday.
Click on the link – https://linktr.ee/battlefieldresources – to listen, watch or subscribe to this podcast.
Related Posts On Our Blog
Rejoicing in Jesus’ Triumphant Entry: Finding Peace and Joy in the Chaos
Avoiding Spiritual Distractions: Prioritising Our Spiritual Well-being
Finding Hope in the Darkness: The Shepherd on the Throne
Seeing God’s Vision: A Glimpse of Glory
God’s Victory Over Sin and Death
Photo by Lesly Juarez on Unsplash
Please Consider Leaving Your Feedback
Did you know you can now give each post and podcast episode on my website a star rating?
I value your feedback about what I am writing and teaching, so I can improve and try to give you content that will better nourish, challenge, and equip you for your Christian journey.
All you have to do is click on the star rating below.
Thank you!
Wednesday Apr 10, 2024
Living Out Loud in Love and Humility: Embracing an Authentic Faith
Wednesday Apr 10, 2024
Wednesday Apr 10, 2024
Summary
Living out loud in love and humility means prioritising acts of service, demonstrating love through actions, and reflecting authentic faith. After all, actions speak louder than words in love. Discover how to align your actions with your beliefs and make a positive impact on the lives of others. Reflect on the changes you can make to ensure that your actions are an authentic reflection of your faith.
Bible Reading: Romans 12:11-13
11 Never be lazy, but work hard and serve the Lord enthusiastically.[a] 12 Rejoice in our confident hope. Be patient in trouble, and keep on praying. 13 When God’s people are in need, be ready to help them. Always be eager to practice hospitality.
Introduction - Living Out Loud in Love and Humility
If you had the cure for cancer, you wouldn't keep it to yourself, would you? You'd want to share it with as many people as you could.
In the same way, our faith isn't one we simply practice behind the closed doors of our churches or homes. Our faith is a public testimony, practised in the public square. Because actions speak louder than words in love, we must live out loud in love and humility. This means rejecting the world's temptation to prioritise status, buildings, and numbers over genuine worship and service. It's about shifting our focus from a consumer mentality to that of a worshipper, from publicity to true ministry.
Shifting Our Focus
Paul calls us to serve the Lord enthusiastically, to rejoice in hope, to be patient in trials, and constant in prayer. When we apply these principles, our lives become an offering to God—a testament to the transformative power of his love.
Actions Speak Louder Than Words in Love
Each moment of our day presents an opportunity to live out loud in faith and action. When we serve others with enthusiasm, when we extend patience during trials, and when we uplift others through prayer, we exemplify Christ's radical love.
Reflection Question
What changes can you make in your life to ensure that your actions are an authentic reflection of your faith?
Battle Drill Daily Devotional Podcast This Week
This week on the Battle Drill Devotional Podcast, we explore what it means to be shining lights in a dark world, showing God's love and grace with those we come into contact with. Each weekday we share hope and encouragement as we read and study the Bible together.
Monday 8 April - Beacons of Hope: Transforming Our World
Tuesday 9 April - The Power of Everyday Grace
Wednesday 10 April - Living Out Loud in Love and Humility: Embracing an Authentic Faith
Thursday 11 April - Radiate Your Faith through Radical Love
Friday 12 April - Transcending Societal Expectations: Embracing Love and Humility
There’s a new episode of Battle Drill Devotional every Monday through Friday.
Click on the link – https://linktr.ee/battlefieldresources – to listen, watch or subscribe to this podcast.
Related Posts On Our Blog
Rejoicing in Jesus’ Triumphant Entry: Finding Peace and Joy in the Chaos
Avoiding Spiritual Distractions: Prioritising Our Spiritual Well-being
Finding Hope in the Darkness: The Shepherd on the Throne
Seeing God’s Vision: A Glimpse of Glory
God’s Victory Over Sin and Death
Please Consider Leaving Your Feedback
Did you know you can now give each post and podcast episode on my website a star rating?
I value your feedback about what I am writing and teaching, so I can improve and try to give you content that will better nourish, challenge, and equip you for your Christian journey.
All you have to do is click on the star rating below.
Thank you!
Tuesday Apr 09, 2024
The Power of Everyday Grace
Tuesday Apr 09, 2024
Tuesday Apr 09, 2024
Summary
Discover the power of everyday grace in your daily life. Learn how to extend mercy in personal struggles and societal darkness. Reflect on how you can choose to extend mercy in difficult situations and make a positive impact on your own journey and the lives of others. Embrace everyday grace and become a beacon of God's love to the world.
Bible Reading: Romans 12:9-10
9 Don’t just pretend to love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Hold tightly to what is good. 10 Love each other with genuine affection,[a] and take delight in honouring each other.
Introduction - The Power of Everyday Grace
Have you ever met someone who you would call "gracious". I can think of people in my life who had grace. They seemed to be completely grounded and surrounded by an air of inner peace.
That's not to say they didn't have their trials and tribulations like anyone else. After all, the power of grace is most evident not in our strengths, but in our weaknesses. When we fall short, these moments become a canvas for the strength of our faith and the depth of God's love and mercy. It's in personal struggles and societal darkness that the challenge to love radically becomes most relevant.
Grace in Personal Struggles
Paul encourages us to let love be genuine, to hate what is evil, and to hold tightly to what is good. By living out these verses, we practice everyday mercy—forgiving those who wrong us, extending compassion to those who suffer, and loving without expecting anything in return.
Grace in Societal Darkness
The mercy we offer to those around us is a beacon of hope, illuminating the path for others to find their way to God's love.
Reflection Question
How can I extend mercy in a situation where I feel wronged or hurt, and what impact might that have on my journey and others'?
Battle Drill Daily Devotional Podcast This Week
This week on the Battle Drill Devotional Podcast, we explore what it means to be shining lights in a dark world, showing God's love and grace with those we come into contact with. Each weekday we share hope and encouragement as we read and study the Bible together.
Monday 8 April - Beacons of Hope: Transforming Our World
Tuesday 9 April - The Power of Everyday Grace
Wednesday 10 April - Living Out Loud in Love and Humility: Embracing an Authentic Faith
Thursday 11 April - Radiate Your Faith through Radical Love
Friday 12 April - Transcending Societal Expectations: Embracing Love and Humility
There’s a new episode of Battle Drill Devotional every Monday through Friday.
Click on the link – https://linktr.ee/battlefieldresources – to listen, watch or subscribe to this podcast.
Related Posts On Our Blog
Rejoicing in Jesus’ Triumphant Entry: Finding Peace and Joy in the Chaos
Avoiding Spiritual Distractions: Prioritising Our Spiritual Well-being
Finding Hope in the Darkness: The Shepherd on the Throne
Seeing God’s Vision: A Glimpse of Glory
God’s Victory Over Sin and Death
Photo by Brett Jordan on Unsplash
Please Consider Leaving Your Feedback
Did you know you can now give each post and podcast episode on my website a star rating?
I value your feedback about what I am writing and teaching, so I can improve and try to give you content that will better nourish, challenge, and equip you for your Christian journey.
All you have to do is click on the star rating below.
Thank you!
Monday Apr 08, 2024
Beacons of Hope: Transforming Our World
Monday Apr 08, 2024
Monday Apr 08, 2024
Summary
In a world filled with darkness and despair, we are called to be beacons of hope. This devotional podcast episode explores how we can transform our world through acts of kindness and love, reflecting the light of Christ in our daily interactions. Discover how embodying the qualities of hope and kindness can make a profound impact on those around us. Join us in becoming a beacon of God's love and inspiring others to do the same.
Bible Reading: Romans 12:1-2
A Living Sacrifice to God
12 And so, dear brothers and sisters,[a] I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him.[b]2 Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.
Introduction - Beacons of Hope: Transforming Our World
Have you ever found yourself totally in the dark? What a difference switching on a light or lighting a candle can make in that situation. Suddenly, the world looks very different!
In the darkness of our world, when hope seems fleeting, as Jesus followers we are called to be beacons of light. The Salvation Army seeks to exemplify this through our unwavering commitment to service and love.
Today, we pause for a few moments to consider the essence of our Christian identity - being lights of hope not just within the walls of our church buildings, but out in wider society.
Transformed by the Renewing of Our Minds
Paul implores us not to conform to the pattern of this world but to be transformed by the renewing of our minds. This transformation is a call to action, to live out our faith through everyday gestures of kindness and humility. It's about countering evil with good, not just in grand, heroic acts but in the simple moments of our day-to-day lives. When we choose to show patience in traffic, kindness to those who serve us, or understanding toward difficult colleagues, we're reflecting the light of Christ.
Becoming Shining Lights of Hope
This commitment to a daily embodiment of faith isn't for the fainthearted! It demands courage and persistence. But if we stick with it and consistently radiate God's love in our actions, we truly become beacons of hope to those around us.
Reflection Question
How can I embody the qualities of hope and kindness in my daily interactions to become a beacon of God's love?
Battle Drill Daily Devotional Podcast This Week
This week on the Battle Drill Devotional Podcast, we explore what it means to be shining lights in a dark world, showing God's love and grace with those we come into contact with. Each weekday we share hope and encouragement as we read and study the Bible together.
Monday 8 April - Beacons of Hope: Transforming Our World
Tuesday 9 April - The Power of Everyday Grace
Wednesday 10 April - Living Out Loud in Love and Humility: Embracing an Authentic Faith
Thursday 11 April - Radiate Your Faith through Radical Love
Friday 12 April - Transcending Societal Expectations: Embracing Love and Humility
There’s a new episode of Battle Drill Devotional every Monday through Friday.
Click on the link – https://linktr.ee/battlefieldresources – to listen, watch or subscribe to this podcast.
Related Posts On Our Blog
Rejoicing in Jesus’ Triumphant Entry: Finding Peace and Joy in the Chaos
Avoiding Spiritual Distractions: Prioritising Our Spiritual Well-being
Finding Hope in the Darkness: The Shepherd on the Throne
Seeing God’s Vision: A Glimpse of Glory
God’s Victory Over Sin and Death
Please Consider Leaving Your Feedback
Did you know you can now give each post and podcast episode on my website a star rating?
I value your feedback about what I am writing and teaching, so I can improve and try to give you content that will better nourish, challenge, and equip you for your Christian journey.
All you have to do is click on the star rating below.
Thank you!
Friday Apr 05, 2024
Living a Resurrection Shaped Life
Friday Apr 05, 2024
Friday Apr 05, 2024
Summary
Discover the concept of living a resurrection shaped life. Learn how the power of resurrection can transform your life, overcome sin, and bring new hope. Reflect on areas where you need resurrection power and invite Jesus into your life to experience his love and grace.
Bible Readings: Ephesians 1:18-20; Philippians 4:13
18 I pray that your hearts will be flooded with light so that you can understand the confident hope he has given to those he called—his holy people who are his rich and glorious inheritance.[a]
19 I also pray that you will understand the incredible greatness of God’s power for us who believe him. This is the same mighty power 20 that raised Christ from the dead and seated him in the place of honor at God’s right hand in the heavenly realms.
13 For I can do everything through Christ,[a] who gives me strength.
Introduction: A Resurrection Shaped Life
Do you wish sometimes you could put some of the stuff that goes on in your life to death? I wish I could throttle my impatience sometimes. I could do with putting my sarcasm to death, too!
Paul reminds us that we can have the power to put these things to death and to life a resurrection shaped life.
The Power of Resurrection
Resurrection is not just about life after death; it's about life after life after death. It's about the power that brings us into a new existence, one where we experience the fullness of God's promises.
As we journey beyond the grave, we're empowered to face our own spiritual deaths—the death of sin, the death of old habits, the death of everything that separates us from God—and to embrace the resurrection life that Jesus offers.
Embracing Resurrection Life
Why not take a few moments today to reflect on the areas of your life where you need resurrection power. Maybe it's a sin you're struggling with, a relationship that needs healing, or a situation that seems dead.
Ask God to bring resurrection life into these areas today. The power that raised Jesus from the dead is available to you to live a resurrection shaped life too.
Reflection Question
In what ways do you need to experience the resurrection power of Jesus in your life right now?
Battle Drill Daily Devotional Podcast This Week
This week on the Battle Drill Daily Devotional Podcast, we focus on living our lives in the power of the resurrection. Each weekday we share hope and encouragement as we read and study the Bible together.
Monday 1 April - The Power and Significance of Jesus' Resurrection
Tuesday 2 April - The Reality of a New Creation: Embracing the Hope and Power of the Resurrection
Wednesday 3 April - From Despair to Hope: The Emmaus Walk
Thursday 4 April - Living as a New Creation in Christ: Embracing the Power of the Resurrection
Friday 5 April - Living a Resurrection Shaped Life
There’s a new episode of Battle Drill Devotional every Monday through Friday.
Click on the link – https://linktr.ee/battlefieldresources – to listen, watch or subscribe to this podcast.
Related Posts On Our Blog
Seeing God’s Vision: A Glimpse of Glory
God’s Victory Over Sin and Death
The Victorious Jesus: A Reason to Worship and Celebrate Forever
Who Will Be in Heaven Because of You?
A Woman of Valour: Living Out Proverbs 31
Please Consider Leaving Your Feedback
Did you know you can now give each post and podcast episode on my website a star rating?
I value your feedback about what I am writing and teaching, so I can improve and try to give you content that will better nourish, challenge, and equip you for your Christian journey.
All you have to do is click on the star rating below.
Thank you!
Thursday Apr 04, 2024
Living as a New Creation in Christ: Embracing the Power of the Resurrection
Thursday Apr 04, 2024
Thursday Apr 04, 2024
Summary
Discover the power of how to be a new creation in Christ. Learn how the resurrection of Jesus can transform your life and empower you to overcome sin. Explore the perspective of God's new creation and embrace the values and principles of his kingdom. Find out how to live today as part of God's unfolding new creation and let his transformative love flow through you. Surrender your old ways and experience the abundant life promised by Jesus. Embrace the invitation to be a new creation in Christ and reflect his love, grace, and truth in your daily life.
Bible Readings: 2 Corinthians 5:17; Romans 6:4
17 This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!
4 For we died and were buried with Christ by baptism. And just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glorious power of the Father, now we also may live new lives.
Introduction: How to be a New Creation in Christ
What has changed for you this Easter? Anything? If you have been on the Christian faith journey for some time, you will have experienced a number of Easter weekends. Have they made a difference in your life?
Living as a New Creation in Christ
This Easter, I sense that God is calling each one of us to a life that is reshaped by the Easter message. Jesus' resurrection isn't just a historical event. It's the catalyst for a new creation, a new way of living that starts now and stretches into eternity.
The Power of the Resurrection
In this new creation, in this new life, we find the power to overcome sin and live in a way that reflects the transformative love of Christ. We are invited to see justice, beauty, and relationships through the lens of the sunrise of God's new world.
Now that really would mean that this Easter had changed us!
Living Today as Part of God's New Creation
Today, let the truth of the resurrection shape your actions and your attitudes. As you interact with others, view each person as a part of the new creation God is unfolding. As you begin to see others in this way, let it guide you towards actions that reflect the hope and love of the risen Christ.
What a difference that would make in the world!
Reflection Question
What does it mean for you to live today as part of the new creation sparked by Jesus' resurrection?
Battle Drill Daily Devotional Podcast This Week
This week on the Battle Drill Daily Devotional Podcast, we focus on living our lives in the power of the resurrection. Each weekday we share hope and encouragement as we read and study the Bible together.
Monday 1 April - The Power and Significance of Jesus' Resurrection
Tuesday 2 April - The Reality of a New Creation: Embracing the Hope and Power of the Resurrection
Wednesday 3 April - From Despair to Hope: The Emmaus Walk
Thursday 4 April - Living as a New Creation in Christ: Embracing the Power of the Resurrection
Friday 5 April - Living a Resurrection Shaped Life
There’s a new episode of Battle Drill Devotional every Monday through Friday.
Click on the link – https://linktr.ee/battlefieldresources – to listen, watch or subscribe to this podcast.
Related Posts On Our Blog
Seeing God’s Vision: A Glimpse of Glory
God’s Victory Over Sin and Death
The Victorious Jesus: A Reason to Worship and Celebrate Forever
Who Will Be in Heaven Because of You?
A Woman of Valour: Living Out Proverbs 31
Please Consider Leaving Your Feedback
Did you know you can now give each post and podcast episode on my website a star rating?
I value your feedback about what I am writing and teaching, so I can improve and try to give you content that will better nourish, challenge, and equip you for your Christian journey.
All you have to do is click on the star rating below.
Thank you!
Wednesday Apr 03, 2024
From Despair to Hope: The Emmaus Walk
Wednesday Apr 03, 2024
Wednesday Apr 03, 2024
Summary
Discover how the story of the Emmaus Walk can help you shift your focus from despair to hope. Learn how to find hope in the resurrection of Jesus and let it illuminate your path. Reflect on how you can turn your gaze towards the promises of Scripture and allow the hope it brings to transform your perspective. Find renewed hope and joy in the midst of life's challenges.
Bible Reading: Luke 24:13-35
The Walk to Emmaus
13 That same day two of Jesus’ followers were walking to the village of Emmaus, seven miles[a] from Jerusalem.14 As they walked along they were talking about everything that had happened. 15 As they talked and discussed these things, Jesus himself suddenly came and began walking with them. 16 But God kept them from recognizing him.
17 He asked them, “What are you discussing so intently as you walk along?”
They stopped short, sadness written across their faces. 18 Then one of them, Cleopas, replied, “You must be the only person in Jerusalem who hasn’t heard about all the things that have happened there the last few days.”
19 “What things?” Jesus asked.
“The things that happened to Jesus, the man from Nazareth,” they said. “He was a prophet who did powerful miracles, and he was a mighty teacher in the eyes of God and all the people. 20 But our leading priests and other religious leaders handed him over to be condemned to death, and they crucified him. 21 We had hoped he was the Messiah who had come to rescue Israel. This all happened three days ago.
22 “Then some women from our group of his followers were at his tomb early this morning, and they came back with an amazing report. 23 They said his body was missing, and they had seen angels who told them Jesus is alive!24 Some of our men ran out to see, and sure enough, his body was gone, just as the women had said.”
25 Then Jesus said to them, “You foolish people! You find it so hard to believe all that the prophets wrote in the Scriptures. 26 Wasn’t it clearly predicted that the Messiah would have to suffer all these things before entering his glory?” 27 Then Jesus took them through the writings of Moses and all the prophets, explaining from all the Scriptures the things concerning himself.
28 By this time they were nearing Emmaus and the end of their journey. Jesus acted as if he were going on, 29 but they begged him, “Stay the night with us, since it is getting late.” So he went home with them. 30 As they sat down to eat,[b] he took the bread and blessed it. Then he broke it and gave it to them. 31 Suddenly, their eyes were opened, and they recognized him. And at that moment he disappeared!
32 They said to each other, “Didn’t our hearts burn within us as he talked with us on the road and explained the Scriptures to us?” 33 And within the hour they were on their way back to Jerusalem. There they found the eleven disciples and the others who had gathered with them, 34 who said, “The Lord has really risen! He appeared to Peter.[c]”
Jesus Appears to the Disciples
35 Then the two from Emmaus told their story of how Jesus had appeared to them as they were walking along the road, and how they had recognized him as he was breaking the bread.
Introduction - The Emmaus Walk: From Despair to Hope
Do you ever feel hopeless, as if you will never escape the trials you are going through? There have been times in my life when it has seemed very dark, and I wondered if the sun would ever rise again.
Focusing on the Wrong Horizon
As the disciples on the road to Emmaus discovered, hope can feel like a distant dream when our gaze is fixed on the wrong horizon. Luke's story reminds us that their journey from despair to hope is mirrored in our own lives when we focus on the resurrection.
The Dawn of Hope: The Resurrection
The dawn of hope comes as we understand - just as the disciples on the Emmaus walk did - that the promises of Scripture, the ones that speak of a great deliverance and the Messiah's coming, are fulfilled in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus. Our sadness and despair are turned into joy and hope when we realise that Jesus' victory over death is also our victory.
Shifting Your Focus
In your moments of despair or doubt, when life seems hopeless and as if it will never get better, remember the Emmaus walk. Turn your gaze towards the resurrection and let it fill you with hope. Allow this dawn of hope to illuminate your path today.
Reflection Question
How can you shift your focus from the disappointments and sadness of life to the hope found in the resurrection of Jesus?
Battle Drill Daily Devotional Podcast This Week
This week on the Battle Drill Daily Devotional Podcast, we focus on living our lives in the power of the resurrection. Each weekday we share hope and encouragement as we read and study the Bible together.
Monday 1 April - The Power and Significance of Jesus' Resurrection
Tuesday 2 April - The Reality of a New Creation: Embracing the Hope and Power of the Resurrection
Wednesday 3 April - From Despair to Hope: The Emmaus Walk
Thursday 4 April - Living as a New Creation in Christ: Embracing the Power of the Resurrection
Friday 5 April - Living a Resurrection Shaped Life
There’s a new episode of Battle Drill Devotional every Monday through Friday.
Click on the link – https://linktr.ee/battlefieldresources – to listen, watch or subscribe to this podcast.
Related Posts On Our Blog
Seeing God’s Vision: A Glimpse of Glory
God’s Victory Over Sin and Death
The Victorious Jesus: A Reason to Worship and Celebrate Forever
Who Will Be in Heaven Because of You?
A Woman of Valour: Living Out Proverbs 31
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Battle Drill Devotional
Welcome to Battle Drill, a weekday devotional from Lieutenant Rob of The Salvation Army.
Join us as we share hope and encouragement as we read and study the Bible together.