Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls.
Concerning this salvation, the prophets, who spoke of the grace that was to come to you, searched intently and with the greatest care, trying to find out the time and circumstances to which the Spirit of Christ in them was pointing when he predicted the sufferings of the Messiah and the glories that would follow. It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves but you, when they spoke of the things that have now been told you by those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven. Even angels long to look into these things.
—1 Peter 1:3-12

~~~~~

Fan the Flames of Devotion
By Jennifer Kane

Adoration for all You have done,
Beyond what my heart could fathom.
Carefully, You crafted all things,
Devotion is Yours, my King.

Everything You made is wondrous,
Far beyond imagination.
Good—so good and faithful,
Holy, holy, holy are You!

Incredible in love and mercy,
Joyfully I lift my praise.
King of kings, Lord of lords,
Like morning dew, Your grace refreshes.

Majestic and noble in presence,
Never lacking in love or truth.
Ordinary? No—extraordinary, yet humble.
Peacefully, I sit at Your feet and learn.

Quality and wisdom fill Your teaching,
Righteous in all of Your ways.
Sovereign and mighty forever,
Thankful, my heart sings Your praise.

Universal Ruler, my Shepherd,
Very much my joy and delight.
Worship flows like water unceasing,
Xalted is Your glorious name.

You are my Friend, my Life, my Flame,
Zeal for You burns bright today!

~~~~~

Scripture: 1 Peter 1:3-12

Spiritual dryness is something that even the most devoted followers of Christ experience. Sometimes, our hearts grow dull, our prayers feel lifeless, and our excitement for Jesus seems to wane. But 1 Peter 1:3-12 reminds us of why our devotion should burn bright—because we have been born again to a living hope!

Our faith is not built on emotions, circumstances, or fleeting feelings, but on the resurrected Christ, whose love never fades. Peter reminds us that our salvation is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, guarded by God’s power. Even when we don’t feel on fire, the truth remains unchanged—Jesus is alive, and we belong to Him!

Recall the joy of your salvation. Jesus has given you a living hope—one that is not stagnant but always alive! Think back to moments when you felt closest to God. What stirred your heart then?

Peter acknowledges that we will face trials, but even they are refining our faith like gold in the fire. If you feel spiritually dry, perhaps God is refining you, teaching you to seek Him in deeper ways. Ask Him what He wants to reveal to you in this season.

Faith is not based on sight or emotions. Love for Jesus is a choice. Even when you don’t feel it, declare your love for Him in prayer. Worship Him. Read His Word with expectancy. The feelings often follow the actions.

Even the prophets and angels longed to understand the salvation we now experience. We have what they only dreamed of! Sometimes, we lose sight of how precious our salvation is. How privileged we are to be in Christ.

~~~~~

Father, thank You for the living hope I have in Jesus Christ. I confess that my heart has felt dry, but I don’t want to stay this way. I want to be more excited about Jesus than anything else in my life! Rekindle the fire in my heart. Let me love You not just in feeling but in action. Open my eyes to the beauty of my salvation again. Restore to me the joy of my salvation and renew a steadfast spirit within me. I long to burn with passion for You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

March 16 2025