Devotional: Developing the Skill of Shrewdness

 Day 5 – Eternal Welcome

Scripture: “So that when it is gone, you will be welcomed into eternal dwellings.” – Luke 16:9b

Reflection:

One day, our money and earthly resources will be gone. But the eternal fruit of a shrewd life will remain. Imagine being welcomed into heaven by people whose lives were touched because you invested in them, prayed for them, or shared the gospel with them. That is the eternal outcome of godly shrewdness.

Application/Challenge:

Picture that eternal welcome. Who do you want to see there because of your faithfulness? Write down one person’s name and commit to praying for them daily this week.

Prayer:

Father, I want my life to matter for eternity. Help me to be shrewd with my money, my relationships, and my witness so that others will be welcomed into Your kingdom. Amen.

Devotional: Developing the Skill of Shrewdness

 Day 4 – Shrewd in Evangelism

Scripture: “Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity.” – Colossians 4:5

Reflection:

Sharing the gospel often requires shrewdness. Some approaches may work for one person but not another. Paul said he became “all things to all people” so that some might be saved. Shrewd evangelism requires courage, creativity, and persistence. It means asking questions that peel back false confidence and gently leading people toward the truth of Christ.

Application/Challenge:

Practice asking a simple gospel-centered question today. For example: “Do you have any spiritual background?” or “What do you think happens after we die?” Use it as a door opener to listen well and share hope.

Prayer:

Holy Spirit, guide my words and actions today. Give me shrewdness in sharing the gospel with wisdom, love, and boldness. Amen.

Devotional: Developing the Skill of Shrewdness

 Day 3 – Shrewd in Relationships

Scripture: “I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore, be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves.” – Matthew 10:16

Reflection:

Jesus calls His followers to combine innocence with shrewdness. In relationships, this means being thoughtful and wise in how we approach people with the gospel. It may involve asking the right questions, choosing the right moment, or using creativity to open doors. Shrewdness in relationships isn’t manipulation—it’s Spirit-led wisdom to win people for Christ.

Application/Challenge:

Pray for someone in your life who doesn’t know Jesus. Ask God to give you a wise and gentle way to start a spiritual conversation with them this week.

Prayer:

Lord Jesus, You spoke to each person with perfect wisdom. Help me to be discerning and shrewd in how I love, serve, and share the gospel with others. Amen.

Devotional: Developing the Skill of Shrewdness

 Day 2 – Shrewd with Money

Scripture: “Use worldly wealth to gain friends for yourselves, so that when it is gone, you will be welcomed into eternal dwellings.” – Luke 16:9

Reflection:

Money is temporary, but its impact can be eternal when used for the gospel. Just as the manager used resources to secure his future, Jesus calls us to invest in kingdom work. Supporting missionaries, church planters, or even inviting a neighbor for coffee in order to share Christ is a shrewd use of money. Every dollar can be leveraged for eternal fruit.

Application/Challenge:

Consider one way you can use your money this week for eternal purposes—supporting a ministry, buying a Bible for someone, or inviting a friend to lunch to share your testimony.

Prayer:

Father, teach me to see my money as a tool for Your kingdom. Show me where to give, how to bless others, and how to invest in eternity. Amen.

Devotional: Developing the Skill of Shrewdness

 Day 1 – Understanding Shrewdness

Scripture: “The master commended the dishonest manager because he had acted shrewdly.” – Luke 16:8a

Reflection:

Shrewdness is the ability to understand how things work and to leverage that knowledge at the right time. The dishonest manager wasn’t praised for his dishonesty but for his skill in thinking ahead. Jesus points out that the people of this world are often more shrewd in dealing with life than the children of light. Too often, Christians lack this skill because we confuse shrewdness with sin. But shrewdness itself is not evil—it depends on how and why it is used.

Application/Challenge:

Take five minutes today to reflect on areas of your life—work, finances, family, relationships. Where could you exercise godly shrewdness to honor Christ?

Prayer:

Lord, give me discernment to see situations clearly and to act wisely. Help me to grow in the skill of shrewdness, not for selfish gain but for Your kingdom. Amen.

Devotional: Dealing with Anger

 Day 5 – Turning Anger into Love

Scripture: “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” – Romans 12:21

Reflection:

Anger can be a destructive fire—or a refining one. When channeled through God’s Spirit, anger can motivate us to pursue justice, protect the vulnerable, and repair relationships. Chapman calls this the redemptive use of anger: using it to move us toward love instead of away from it.

Application:

Today, ask yourself: How can I turn my anger into an act of love? Maybe it means having a hard but healing conversation, standing up for someone mistreated, or praying for change in a broken situation.

Challenge:

Choose one situation that normally stirs anger in you. Instead of reacting with irritation, do one intentional act of kindness or service in that space.

Prayer:

Lord, transform my anger into a force for good. Fill me with Your Spirit so that my words and actions reflect love, justice, and grace. Amen.

Devotional: Dealing with anger

 Day 4 – The Power of Forgiveness

Scripture: “Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.” – Colossians 3:13

Reflection:

Holding onto anger leads to bitterness, which poisons relationships and hearts. Chapman reminds us that forgiveness is not excusing the wrong, but choosing to release the offender from the debt. Just as God forgives us, He calls us to extend forgiveness—even when it’s difficult.

Application:

Identify one person you still feel angry toward. Begin the process of forgiveness by praying for them, even if your feelings haven’t yet caught up with your decision.

Challenge:

Write down the name of one person you need to forgive. Say out loud: “I choose to forgive [name] as Christ forgave me.”

Prayer:

Father, I confess that I’ve held onto anger. Today, I choose to forgive as You forgave me. Heal my heart and free me from bitterness. Amen.

Devotional: Dealing with Anger

 Day 3 – Righteous vs. Unrighteous Anger

Scripture: “The LORD is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in love.” – Psalm 145:8

Reflection:

Not all anger is the same. Righteous anger reflects God’s heart against injustice, oppression, or sin. Unrighteous anger, however, is rooted in selfishness, pride, or impatience. Chapman urges us to discern whether our anger aligns with God’s purposes or simply our preferences.

Application:

Think about a recent time you were angry. Was it rooted in protecting God’s values—or defending your own ego? Bring that situation before God and ask Him to purify your heart.

Challenge:

When anger rises today, pause and pray: “Lord, is this Your anger or mine?” Write down your answer and how you responded.

Prayer:

Lord, teach me to be slow to anger like You. Show me when to stand firm in righteous anger and when to let go of selfish anger. amen.

Devotional: Dealing with Anger

 Day 2 – The Wisdom of Listening

Scripture: “Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires.” – James 1:19–20

Reflection:

Anger often escalates when we react instead of listening. Chapman emphasizes that unprocessed anger damages relationships, but patient listening opens the door to peace. When we truly hear another person, our anger often softens.

Application:

Today, when someone frustrates you, resist the urge to interrupt or defend. Instead, listen carefully and reflect back what you hear before responding.

Challenge:

Have one intentional conversation today where you practice listening without interrupting. Notice how it changes your level of frustration or anger.

Prayer:

Father, slow me down when my heart races with anger. Teach me to listen more than I speak, so that my response brings peace and not harm. Amen.

Devotional: Dealing with Anger

 Day 1 – The Gift of Anger

Scripture: “Be angry, and yet do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger.” – Ephesians 4:26

Reflection:

Anger is not always sinful—it’s an emotion given by God. Gary Chapman explains that anger can reveal our deepest values and what we believe is right or wrong. The danger is not in the emotion itself, but in how we express it. Anger becomes destructive when it controls us instead of us controlling it.

Application:

Pause and ask yourself: Why am I angry? Is it because of genuine injustice, or because of personal inconvenience or pride? Naming the source is the first step toward using anger redemptively.

Challenge:

The next time you feel angry, stop and write down the reason. Ask: Is this righteous or selfish anger? Pray over it before responding.

Prayer:

Lord, thank You for giving me emotions, even anger. Help me to understand its source and express it in a way that honors You. Amen.

Devotional: Choosing the lower seat

Day 5 – For an Audience of One

Theme: Whose approval matters most?

Scripture: “Whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.”

—1 Corinthians 10:31

Devotional Thought:

Every day, we stand before two audiences: the crowd or the Creator. One gives applause. The other gives eternal reward. One is fickle. The other is faithful. If we live for people’s praise, we’ll always need more. But if we live for God’s approval, we’ll never lack joy—even in obscurity.

George Müller cared for thousands of orphans with quiet faith. He didn’t promote himself—he trusted God to provide and notice. And God did.

You are fully seen. Fully loved. And fully known—by the only One whose opinion truly matters.

Reflection Questions:

1. Whose voice carries the most weight in your life?
2. How would your actions change if you lived only for God’s eyes?

Action Step:

Take time to reflect today. Ask yourself honestly: “Am I doing this for God or for people?” Adjust one thing this week to align more with living for God’s glory.

Prayer:

Father, help me silence the noise of public opinion. I want to live for Your glory, not human praise. Anchor me in Your approval. Amen.

Devotional: Choosing the lower seat

Day 4 – Loving Without Agenda

Theme: Serve those who cannot repay you.

Scripture: “When you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind… You will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.”

—Luke 14:13–14

Devotional Thought:

Jesus shifts the focus from honor to hospitality. He challenges us to give—not to those who can return the favor—but to those who can’t. That’s real love. That’s gospel-shaped generosity. It mirrors the grace God shows us: undeserved, unearned, freely given.

Reflection Questions:

1. Who do you typically serve or invite? People who benefit you, or those in need?
2. What does it look like to give without expecting return?

Action Step:

Find one tangible way to serve or bless someone who cannot repay you. It could be as simple as a meal, a ride, a visit, or a gift.

Prayer:

Lord, help me to love like You love. Break any selfishness in my service. Let me serve not for reward, but because You first served me. Amen.

Devotional: Choosing the lower seat

Day 3 – Imitating Christ’s Humility

Theme: True greatness is found in humility.

Scripture: “He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross!”

—Philippians 2:8

Devotional Thought:

Jesus didn’t just teach humility—He lived it. Though He was God, He chose the path of obedience, servanthood, and sacrifice. His life is the ultimate reversal: the King of Kings choosing the lowest place, so we could be lifted up.

When we choose humility, we’re not becoming less—we’re becoming more like Christ.

Reflection Questions:

1. Do you believe that humility is strength, not weakness?
2. How can you imitate Jesus in your relationships or leadership?

Action Step:

Do one Christlike act of quiet service today—without posting about it, sharing it, or seeking credit.

Prayer:

Jesus, You laid down Your rights to lift me up. Help me to walk in Your example—not chasing honor, but giving honor. Amen.

Devotional: Choosing the lower seat

Day 2 – The Trap of Pride

Theme: Pride leads to humiliation, but humility leads to honor.

Scripture: “For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”

—Luke 14:11

Devotional Thought:

Pride is sneaky. It doesn’t always look like arrogance—it can also look like insecurity masked by performance or people-pleasing. Jesus watched the guests scramble for the best seats and used their behavior to expose a truth: self-promotion often leads to public embarrassment.

God honors those who take the low seat—not because they think little of themselves, but because they trust Him to lift them up in due time.

Reflection Questions:

1. Where have you tried to “exalt yourself” recently?
2. How is God calling you to choose humility instead?

Action Step:

Choose humility today in one specific way—whether it’s letting someone else go first, not correcting someone to prove you're right, or simply serving without recognition.

Prayer:

Jesus, humble my heart. Show me where pride has crept in, and give me the courage to choose the lower seat. Amen.

Devotional: Choosing the lower seat

 Day 1 – Seen by God

Theme: Are you living to be noticed by people or approved by God?

Scripture: “Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”

—1 Samuel 16:7

Devotional Thought:
In a world obsessed with followers, likes, and platforms, it’s easy to live for applause. But God sees beneath the surface—to our motives, our desires, our hearts. In Luke 14, Jesus wasn’t impressed by status or seats of honor. He watched the proud jockeying for position and offered a better way: the way of humility.

We don’t need to push our way into recognition. We are already fully seen and known by the One who matters most.

Reflection Questions:

• Whose attention do you crave most?
• Do you trust that God sees you, even when others don’t?

Action Step:
Today, pause once when you feel tempted to seek validation. Redirect that moment into a silent prayer: “God, You see me—and that’s enough.”

Prayer:
Lord, help me to live for Your eyes alone. Teach me to care more about being faithful than being famous. Amen.