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.