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As Jesus was walking along, some people brought Him a man who couldn’t speak because a demon controlled him. Jesus cast the demon out, and the man began to talk. The crowd was amazed. They said, “Nothing like this has ever been seen in Israel!” But not everyone celebrated. The Pharisees, the religious leaders, looked at the same miracle and said, “He drives out demons by the power of the prince of demons.”

Isn’t that something? The people saw mercy. The Pharisees saw evil. They weren’t just blind—they chose not to see. They saw a miracle with their eyes but rejected it in their hearts.

Some people refuse to believe, no matter how clear the truth is. Like someone closing their eyes and saying, “I can’t see!” Jesus had just brought healing and hope, but the Pharisees hardened their hearts.

Our lesson is that we must be careful not to let pride or fear keep us from seeing what Jesus is doing. As Helen Keller said, “To be blind is bad, but worse is to have eyes and not see.”

 Jesus is still changing lives, but we must have eyes willing to see.

I’m Lonnie Davis, and these are thoughts worth thinking.

Our text for today is Matthew 9: 27 through 31

The blind men in this story couldn’t see Jesus, but they knew who He was. They cried out, not with their eyes, but with their hearts.

Sometimes our greatest spiritual insights come not through what we can see, but through what we cannot. These two blind men possessed something more valuable than physical sight—they had spiritual vision. While others questioned Jesus’ identity, they proclaimed with confidence, “Have mercy on us, Son of David!”

Their persistence reveals the nature of true faith. They didn’t let the crowds stop them. They didn’t let their disability define their destiny. Instead, they let their need find its voice, crying out until Jesus heard them.

Jesus tested their faith with a simple question: “Do you believe that I am able to do this?” Their response was immediate and unwavering: “Yes, Lord.” No hesitation, no conditions, no backup plans.

Jesus said to them, “According to your faith will it be done to you.”

It always is. When we cannot see our way forward, faith gives voice to our deepest longings. Like these men, we can cry out to Jesus with confidence, knowing that He hears the heart’s desperate call and responds with a healing touch.

I’m Lonnie Davis, and these are thoughts worth thinking.

Our text for today is Luke 14:28.

“Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Won’t you first sit down and estimate the cost to see if you have enough money to complete it?” 

Imagine a man standing in his backyard, dreaming of building a shed. He’s excited. He can see it finished in his mind. But Jesus says, “Wait. Sit down first. Count the cost.”

This isn’t a story about construction. It’s about wisdom.

Jesus knows something we often forget: good intentions aren’t enough. Dreams need plans. Faith needs preparation. Even God’s work requires counting the cost.

Planning isn’t the opposite of faith—it’s faith in action. When we think ahead, we’re being wise. When we prepare, we’re being biblical. Jesus himself planned his ministry, chose his disciples carefully, and prepared for his mission.

Before you say yes to a commitment, count the cost. Before you make a promise, think it through. Before you start a project, sit down and plan.

God gave you a brain. Use it. Planning isn’t faithless—it’s faithful. It honors God when we’re wise with our time, energy, and resources.

Count the cost. Then build with confidence, knowing He’s with you every step.

I’m Lonnie Davis, and these are thoughts worth thinking.

Mark 8 tells us the story of Jesus feeding 4,000 men with seven loaves and a few fish. 

They’d been with Him three days. No food. No supplies. Just hunger—and Him. The crowd probably didn’t come prepared, but they didn’t want to leave. Jesus had been feeding their souls, but now their stomachs were empty.

And here’s the part I love: Jesus noticed.

“I have compassion for these people; they have already been with Me three days and have nothing to eat” (Mark 8:2). He didn’t say, “They should’ve brought lunch.” He didn’t say, “Let’s stick to spiritual things.” He said, “They’re hungry.” Then He did something about it.

Jesus doesn’t just care about your church attendance or your quiet time. He cares about your groceries, your bills, and your weariness. He knows when the pantry is low and the pressure is high. He sees the real-life struggles we carry. And like He did for that crowd, He meets us in our need—with compassion and provision.

So don’t be afraid to bring your everyday worries to Him. He won’t turn them away. He welcomes them. And He’s still in the business of multiplying bread.

I’m Lonnie Davis, and these are thoughts worth thinking.

Our devotional comes from Mark 7, the story of a deaf and mute man who was brought to Jesus for help. Let’s read the actual healing, Mark 7: 33 through 35.

So Jesus took him aside privately, away from the crowd, and put His fingers into the man’s ears. Then He spit and touched the man’s tongue. And looking up to heaven, He sighed deeply and said to him,  “Be opened!” Immediately the man’s ears were opened and his tongue was released, and he began to speak plainly.

Why does Jesus do it in this fashion? He could have simply spoken a word. Instead, He touches the man’s ears and tongue. Why? Because Jesus speaks the man’s language—the language of touch.

Jesus knew this man understood gestures, not words. So Jesus used sign language that said, “I care about you. I see your need. I will help you.”

Here’s the beautiful truth: Jesus still speaks our language today. When words fail us, He communicates through His gentle presence. When we can’t hear His voice above life’s noise, He touches our hearts with His love.

Maybe you feel like that deaf man—isolated, unable to connect. Remember, Jesus doesn’t give up on us. He finds a way to reach us right where we are. He speaks fluent “you.”

I’m Lonnie Davis, and these are thoughts worth thinking.

She was desperate for Jesus to help her daughter. Even though she was not a Jew, she cried to Jesus, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on me! My daughter is miserably possessed by a demon.” Her exchange with Jesus serves to remind us of what is important. Let’s read Matthew 15:26-27.

Jesus replied, “It is not right to take the children’s bread and toss it to the dogs.”
“Yes, Lord,” she said, “even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their master’s table.”

There’s something beautiful in the way this woman responded. Jesus’ words could have easily sent her away, hurt and rejected. But she wasn’t looking for reasons to quit. She wasn’t scanning His tone or choice of words to find offense. She was looking for hope—and she found it, even in crumbs.

That’s the mark of real faith. She wasn’t focused on her pride. She was focused on her daughter. Her love gave her boldness, and her faith gave her eyes to see grace in a place others might have turned away from.

Too often, we let pride or hurt feelings block the blessing. We want God to speak gently, to act on our terms. But this woman shows us a better way: keep your eyes on what matters most.

Even crumbs from the Master’s table are enough to change everything.

I’m Lonnie Davis, and these are thoughts worth thinking.

My wife planted a yucca plant in our yard. After a few years, we grew tired of its sharp leaves and ugly appearance. “Get rid of it,” she said. So I grabbed my hoe and chopped it down.

A few weeks later, it was back. I chopped it down again. It grew back again. This went on for years. I felt like I was fighting a losing battle against this stubborn plant.

Finally, someone solved the problem for me. He didn’t just cut the top—he dug deep and pulled out all the roots. When the roots were gone, the plant was gone for good.

This story reminds me of what Jesus taught in Matthew 15:19. He says, “For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, and slander.”

Sin too has roots. We can try to fix our bad behavior on the surface. We can promise to do better. We can make rules and resolutions. But unless we deal with the heart—the root of the problem—sin will keep growing back.

Jesus wants to change us from the inside out. He doesn’t just trim our bad habits. He transforms our hearts. When the heart changes, everything else follows.

I’m Lonnie Davis, and these are thoughts worth thinking.

Imagine a crowded room, buzzing with excitement; then suddenly, the crowd thins. People are walking away, grumbling, confused by Jesus’s challenging words. It’s a tough moment. Even some of Jesus’s closest followers are scratching their heads, wondering if this is too much.

Then, Jesus turns to His twelve disciples and asks, “You do not want to leave too, do you?” And Peter, bless his heart, steps forward with a response that still echoes with quiet thunder: “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.”

Think about that for a moment. Peter wasn’t saying he understood every single thing Jesus had just said. He probably didn’t! His mind might have been swirling with questions. But deep in his soul, he knew one thing for sure: there was nowhere else to go. Jesus held the key to life itself.

This isn’t about having all the answers. It’s about full surrender. It’s about realizing that Jesus isn’t just a good teacher or a nice option; He’s absolutely essential. In a world full of loud voices and shifting opinions, Peter’s simple, honest cry reminds us. When life gets confusing, when the path isn’t clear, where else would we go? Only Jesus offers what our hearts truly long for: eternal life. He’s not just a way; He’s the way.

I’m Lonnie Davis, and these are thoughts worth thinking.

In Matthew 14, we see Jesus walking on the water. Peter joined him on the water walk. If you know the story, you will remember that Peter wound up sinking and Jesus saved him. 

Did you ever feel like you’re in a boat, miles from shore, with the wind howling and waves crashing? 

Peter surely did. One moment, he’s safe in the boat. The next, Jesus, walking on the water as if it were solid ground, tells him, “Come!” 

Peter steps out, and for a few glorious strides, he’s defying gravity, walking on water!

Then, the wind howls a little louder, the waves crash a little higher, and Peter glances down. Instantly, the miracle fades. The water that held him firm now swallows him. His eyes fixated on the storm, not the Savior.

How often do we do the same? God invites us to step into the impossible, to trust Him with our fears, our finances, and our future. For a moment, we soar. But then the “what ifs” start to swirl, the problems loom large, and we sink. 

Remember Peter’s cry: “Lord, save me!” Jesus, always there, always ready, reaches out. 

Your storm might be raging, but Jesus is still on the water. Keep your eyes on Him, not the waves. He’ll never let you drown.

I’m Lonnie Davis, and these are thoughts worth thinking.

One of the quiet tragedies in Scripture is how often people measured miracles with wallets. When Jesus told His disciples to feed the five thousand, they panicked. “That would take more than half a year’s wages!” they replied (Mark 6:37). Their reply reveals practical concern, but also limited vision. They were thinking in terms of what money could buy, not what faith could do.

Aren’t we just like them? Faced with a need, we reach for the checkbook or calculator. We assess the budget, the effort, the odds—and forget to factor in God. But Jesus wasn’t asking for math. He was inviting trust.

He didn’t need a catering budget. Just five loaves and two fish. Just someone to believe that little becomes much when placed in the hands of the Master.

What if we saw our needs not through the lens of limitation, but through the eyes of faith? What if we asked not “How much will it cost?” but “How much will God do?”

Bring your lunchbox to Jesus today. You’ll be amazed at what He can do with it.

I’m Lonnie Davis, and these are thoughts worth thinking.

Jesus wasn’t just a speaker. He touched people’s lives. He didn’t just preach about heaven; He stepped right into the messy, painful reality of earth.

In Luke 9:2, it says, He sent His disciples out “to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal the sick.” 

In this verse you can see how the message and mercy went hand-in-hand. That’s  still how Jesus operates today.

Too often, we try to split these two. We talk about salvation but then walk right past someone hurting. Or we offer practical help without offering the story of the gospel. Jesus, though, did both. He didn’t just talk about God’s love—He touched the leper, opened blind eyes, and literally called the broken close to Him. His gospel wasn’t a lecture; it was compassion in vibrant, life-giving action.

What if our everyday lives looked more like that? What if our words brought healing, and our actions genuinely carried the gospel message?

You don’t have to be a preacher or a theologian to do this. All you need is a willing heart. 

Share the truth of the kingdom, and then love people just like the King did. When we offer both the message and the mercy, we are genuinely offering Jesus Himself.

I’m Lonnie Davis, and these are thoughts worth thinking.

John the Baptist knew who Jesus was. He had proclaimed it boldly. He had baptized Him in the Jordan. He had seen the Spirit descend and heard the voice from heaven. But now? Now he was sitting in a prison cell, waiting for a verdict from a wicked man. The same voice that once shouted, “Behold, the Lamb of God!” now whispered a question through prison bars: “Are You the one who is to come, or should we expect someone else?” (Matthew 11:3).

It wasn’t that John stopped believing. It’s just that life didn’t look like he thought it would. And discouragement crept in like a shadow at dusk. He didn’t lose his faith, he lost his footing.

But notice this: Jesus didn’t scold John. He didn’t shame him. He didn’t say, “After all you’ve seen, how could you ask that?” No, Jesus responded with evidence and kindness. “Tell John what you see—the blind see, the lame walk, the dead live, and good news is preached.” In other words, “John, I’m still at work. Even when you don’t see it.”

Friend, God is not threatened by your questions. You can bring them to Him. Faith isn’t the absence of doubt—it’s what keeps walking when doubt whispers. So if you’re wondering, hurting, or just plain worn out, come, like John did. Ask.

I’m Lonnie Davis, and these are thoughts worth thinking.

Three women teach us everything we need to know about serving Jesus despite the obstacles.

Picture this: It’s the first Sunday after the cross. Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome are walking toward Jesus’ tomb, carrying spices. Their hearts are heavy, their mission clear—they must anoint their Lord’s body. But there’s a problem. A big one.

“Who will roll the stone away?” they wonder aloud.

This wasn’t a pebble blocking their path. This was a massive boulder, sealed tight, guarded by soldiers. Any sensible person would have turned around. Any logical thinker would have made better plans. But these women? They kept walking.

They went anyway.

You see, God specializes in “anyway” moments. When the Israelites left Egypt, their sandals weren’t guaranteed to last forty years in the desert. But God said, “Go anyway.” And for four decades, their shoes never wore out.

The women at the tomb didn’t have all their ducks in a row. They didn’t have a stone-rolling strategy or soldier-negotiating skills. But they had something better—they had faith in the God who makes a way.

Maybe you’re facing your own immovable stone today. Perhaps you feel called to serve Jesus, but the obstacles seem insurmountable. Take a lesson from these faithful women: Start walking anyway. God is the “Anyway God,” and He will make a way.

I’m Lonnie Davis, and these are thoughts worth thinking.

Not that kind of deviled ham, but rather the story of the pigs that got devils sent into them. In Mark 5, we meet a man who knew the feeling of hopelessness all too well. He lived among the tombs. It pushed him to the edges of humanity, isolating him to a place of death and despair. It is a testament to how sin dehumanizes and strips away dignity and hope.

People tried to help by binding him with chains. Their efforts were futile. Human strength and physical chains couldn’t break the hold. He was too strong, or perhaps, the evil within was stronger still. But then, Jesus arrived. Not with a struggle, not with a battle, but with a word. “Come out of him, you impure spirit!” And just like that, the chains of darkness shattered and the demons were sent into a herd of pigs.

What an amazing contrast! All the strength of humanity couldn’t hold him for even a moment, yet a single word from Christ shattered his chains and set him completely free. It reminds us that our fiercest battles—the ones that drive us into our own dark “tombs”—are powerless against the voice of Jesus. No matter how alone or diminished you feel, His word still brings us life.

I’m Lonnie Davis, and these are thoughts worth thinking.

In the treasury of Scripture lies a gem of wisdom from Jesus: “It is more blessed to give than to receive” (Acts 20:35). Simple words. Profound truth.

The world whispers differently. Get more, it says. Accumulate. Acquire. Our hearts echo the chant. We hunger for possessions, position, praise. But Jesus? He charts a different course entirely.

Give, He says. Give freely.

What happens when we do? Something wonderful. Something unexpected. In the very act of opening our hands, our hearts expand. When we serve the hungry, comfort the lonely, encourage the weary—we taste a joy that no purchase can provide. We become what we were meant to be: conduits of heaven’s love.

Giving freely is worship in work clothes. When we give, we mirror our generous God who gave His Son. We become walking demonstrations of God’s heart.

The world says happiness comes from having more. Jesus says blessedness comes from giving more. 

The world promises fulfillment through accumulation. Jesus promises joy through giving away.

Which voice will you heed? The culture that builds bigger barns or the Christ who empties His hands? Choose His way. Choose the blessed way. Choose giving.

You’ll discover what millions before you have learned: it truly is more blessed to give than to receive.

I’m Lonnie Davis, and these are thoughts worth thinking.

Some stories are so well-known that we want to hear the whole story. In Mark chapter 4, we find one of these treasured accounts, Jesus calming the stormy sea.

When that evening came, He said to His disciples, “Let us cross to the other side.” After they had dismissed the crowd, they took Jesus with them, since He was already in the boat. And there were other boats with Him.

Soon a violent windstorm came up, and the waves were breaking over the boat, so that it was being swamped. But Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on the cushion. So they woke Him and said, “Teacher, don’t You care that we are perishing?”

Then Jesus got up and rebuked the wind and the sea. “Silence!” He commanded. “Be still!” And the wind died down, and it was perfectly calm.

From this story, I call your attention to three lessons for your heart.

First: In life we are all in a boat with someone.

Second: A storm always comes. To live without knowing this will lead you into an unhappy life. Expect the storm. “To be forewarned is to be forearmed.”

Third: When you find yourself in a storm, make sure you have Jesus in your boat. 

True faith doesn’t show itself in easy times but in the middle of the storm. The strength to stand firm comes from trusting that Jesus is in your boat.

I’m Lonnie Davis, and these are thoughts worth thinking.

Our verse today is Luke 7:38

“As she stood behind Him at His feet weeping, she began to wet His feet with her tears and wipe them with her hair. Then she kissed His feet and anointed them with the perfume.”

As she came up behind Jesus, she took at his feet. She carried more than perfume that day. She carried a heart so heavy with sin, so burdened with shame, that when she saw Jesus reclining at dinner, the floodgates opened.

Her tears fell like rain on dusty feet. Not a sprinkle, but a downpour. Tears of recognition. Tears of relief. The kind of tears that come when you realize someone sees all your mess and loves you anyway.

Watch her worship. No songs, no speeches. Just tears and tender touches. She dried his feet with her hair—her glory, her crown—making it a towel for her Savior. Social rules? Forgotten. Personal dignity? Surrendered. 

This is love and worship. Her great sin had been met by even greater grace, and her heart couldn’t contain it. The deeper the forgiveness, the higher the gratitude.

Perhaps that’s the secret to worship: remembering how much we’ve been forgiven. When we truly grasp the weight of our sin and the wonder of his grace, like her, our hearts, and our worship will overflow.

I’m Lonnie Davis, and these are thoughts worth thinking.

Loss Piles Upon Loss

Picture her walking behind the wooden stretcher. Her world has collapsed—not once, but twice. First, her husband died leaving her a widow. Now, her son follows him to the grave and she is left alone in the world. She is more than bereaved; she is erased. In her culture, a woman without husband or son is voiceless, powerless, and vulnerable.

But here’s what she didn’t know: Someone was watching.

As the funeral procession wound through Nain’s narrow streets, another procession approached—this one pulsing with life. At its center walked Jesus, and when He saw her tears, His heart broke. “Don’t cry,” He whispered, stepping toward the impossible (Luke 7:13). She did not yet know that though her hope was being carried to the grave, Jesus specializes in resurrection appointments.”

One touch. One command. One breath from heaven, and death released its grip.

Sometimes our losses pile up like winter storms—relentless, numbing, seemingly endless. We walk behind our own stretchers, that carry our dreams that have died. We feel forgotten, overlooked, abandoned.

But we’re not. The same Jesus who stopped a funeral procession is walking toward your sorrow today. He sees your tears. He knows your name. When life has stripped away everything you thought you needed to survive, that’s often when God shows up to remind you that He is everything you actually need to live.”

I’m Lonnie Davis, and these are thoughts worth thinking.

Our text today is Matthew 8:5-6

When Jesus entered Capernaum, a centurion came and pleaded with Him, “Lord, my servant lies at home, paralyzed and in terrible agony.”

Ever noticed how love pushes us? Not just a gentle nudge, but a full-on shove into uncomfortable places? Take the Roman centurion in Capernaum. A big shot, a man of authority, yet his heart was wrapped around a sick servant. Not just any servant, mind you, but one he deeply valued.

He was a Roman, a Gentile, humbling himself to seek out Jesus, a Jew. Think about that, a Roman big-wig, seeking the help of Jewish preacher! Yet, his love for his servant’s suffering bridged that gap. He didn’t send a note or a friend, he went himself, pleading for a miracle. His urgency, his willingness to cross social and religious lines, screamed one thing: “I care!”

Jesus saw it. He marveled at such faith. A faith born from such profound compassion. The depth of our love isn’t measured by our words, but by our willingness to step out, to go the extra mile, to swallow our pride, all for the sake of another. That centurion’s effort wasn’t just a request; it was a testament to a love that wouldn’t quit. How far you are willing to go to help another shows how much you care.

That is a love that moves mountains… and heals servants. It still does.

I’m Lonnie Davis, and these are thoughts worth thinking.

When we think of anger, we often picture Jesus, whip in hand, overturning tables in the temple, and label it “anger.” But wait! Did He “lose it”? Did He “blow His stack”? No. With purposeful resolve, He cleansed what was holy. His actions were deliberate, not a fit of rage.

Yet, there is a place, a singular moment, where the Bible uses the word anger and Jesus together.

It is in Mark 3:5.

“Jesus looked around at them with anger and sorrow at their hardness of heart. Then He said to the man, ‘Stretch out your hand.’ So he stretched it out, and it was restored.”

Imagine Jesus, His gaze sweeping across the faces of the religious leaders. He sees their rigid hearts, more concerned with rules than with righteousness. He sees their indifference to a man’s withered hand. In that moment, His eyes reflect both anger and sorrow.

He didn’t lash out; He healed! He said, “Stretch out your hand.” Instantly, the man was healed. Jesus’s anger was not rage.

So what should we learn from this? The answer: When anger stirs within you, remember this scene, then ask, “What did Jesus do?” He controlled the anger and used it for good. His example reminds us that even in our anger, we can choose to do God’s will, and bring healing, not harm.

I’m Lonnie Davis, and these are thoughts worth thinking.