Month: June 2026

Categories
PWTE Daily Devotion

Choose Your Focus

by Desiree Bustamante

Where has your focus been fixed lately—inward on your worries, or upward toward Christ?

“When I am overwhelmed,
    you alone know the way I should turn.
Wherever I go,
    my enemies have set traps for me.
I look for someone to come and help me,
    but no one gives me a passing thought!
No one will help me;
    no one cares a bit what happens to me.
Then I pray to you, O Lord.
    I say, “You are my place of refuge.
    You are all I really want in life.”
Psalm 142:3-5 New Living Translation

This bird seems focused on its own reflection. But with that focus he risks missing everything else — danger approaching, food nearby, other birds moving around him.

When life presses in and our thoughts spiral inward, our hearts grow fearful and our thoughts loom ever darker. Worry distorts and magnifies everything. The more we stare at our own reflection and our fears or failures, the more overwhelmed we feel. Our perspective sinks into hopelessness.

When we turn our eyes from ourselves and look to the Lord, everything shifts. Prayer pulls us out our own thoughts and into the presence of the One who sees clearly, loves us deeply, and heals our hurts. In Christ, we move from feeling trapped to rejoicing in the freedom we have with Him.

When we focus on our own worries, we miss seeing the blessings Christ has given us. We miss the people God places in our path. We miss opportunities to love, serve, and minister. But when our gaze is solely on Jesus and not ourselves, our faith, hope, and clarity are restored. He will provide for our every need, fill our hearts with peace, and realign our hearts toward His will and purpose for us.

Copyright Family of Christ Lutheran Church, Colorado Springs, Colorado

Categories
PWTE Daily Devotion

The Carousel Keeps Turning

by Anna Haiar

Finding Your Footing in a Spinning World

“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.”
Hebrews 13:8, English Standard Version

On our recent trip to Las Vegas, we stopped in at the Wynn hotel to see their impressive indoor flower display. Though I’ve seen this flower-adorned carousel several times before, it’s still one of my favorite attractions to visit. The bright colors, cheerful music, and beautiful horses make it feel magical. There’s something charming about watching a carousel spin. Riders go up and down, lights flash, music plays, and for a few moments, everyone is caught up in the experience. Life can sometimes feel a lot like that carousel!

 The world around us is constantly moving. Schedules fill up. Responsibilities change and relationships shift. News headlines bring new concerns every day. One moment we feel confident and secure; the next, we’re facing uncertainty or disappointment. It can feel as though everything around us is spinning faster than we can keep up.

But there is one important difference between the carousel and our faith. While the carousel turns in circles, God remains unchanged.

Hebrews 13:8 reminds us, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” What a comfort those words are! In a world where so much changes, Jesus does not. His promises do not change nor does His love for us. His mercy does not change. And His presence with us does not change.

When life feels hectic, we don’t have to search for something new to hold onto. We can return to the same Savior who has faithfully cared for His people throughout history. The same Jesus who calmed storms, comforted the hurting, and forgave sinners is still at work today. He remains our refuge and strength no matter what circumstances we face.

The next time you see a carousel, maybe it will be a reminder for you. The world may keep spinning, and life may rise and fall like the horses on the ride, but Christ stands firm at the center of it all. Because He never changes, we can face each day with confidence, knowing that His grace is sufficient and His love endures forever.

Categories
PWTE Daily Devotion

Walking in the Light

by Kala Loptien

No Darkness

This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. 1 John 1:5, English Standard Version

Our Lutheran school kiddos often sing in church. One of their favorite songs is I want to Walk as a Child of the Light. I love listening to children’s voices, joined together in joyful song. It’s especially sweet when they get to a familiar section. Suddenly, the whole sanctuary echoes with:

In Him, there is no darkness at allThe night and the day are both alikeThe Lamb is the light of the city of GodShine in my heart, Lord Jesus* 

We read about light and darkness throughout scripture. In 1 Thessalonians, we are referred to as children of the light and children of the day. Jesus is very clear in John 8 when He proclaims, “I am the light of the world.” We are promised that we will never walk in darkness when we follow him. The Old testament adds a prophetic exclamation point to this in Isaiah: “The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light.”

The contrast is stark. Light exposes, shines and spreads. It allows for clear vision and highlights the beauty of all God’s creation. On the contrary, darkness covers, confuses, creating unclear paths and heightens fear. When we walk as children of light, we have Jesus, the light of the world, as our guide. He is the way, the truth and the life. In Him there is no darkness at all. Our lives, in turn, should be a reflection of that brilliant, beautiful light.

Lord, thank you for Jesus. Help us shine our light and share the light of the world with others. Amen.

*Thomerson, Kathleen. “I Want to Walk as a Child of the Light.” 1999

Copyright Family of Christ Lutheran Church, Colorado Springs, Colorado