Our reading for today is Luke 4:33-35

In the synagogue there was a man possessed by the spirit of an unclean demon. He cried out in a loud voice, “Ha! What do You want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have You come to destroy us? I know who You are—the Holy One of God!”

But Jesus rebuked the demon. “Be silent!” He said. “Come out of him!” At this, the demon threw the man down before them all and came out without harming him.

In this story, the spirit obeyed Jesus–not because it wanted to, but because it had to. Even evil knows that resisting Jesus leads nowhere good. And what happened to the man? Though he was thrown down, he was left unharmed. That’s a message for us too. When we encounter Jesus, he makes us better than he found us.

Sometimes Jesus calls us to do things that feel hard–letting go of bitterness, choosing humility, turning the other cheek. These choices can feel hard. But when Jesus speaks, He speaks to heal, restore, and free. Even when obeying Jesus feels risky, painful, or confusing, it never is the wrong thing to do. Jesus never asks us to do something that isn’t for our good.

So don’t doubt Him. Do what He says. Trust His voice. Obedience to Jesus always leads to the right path. Always.

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

Our text is John 6:14-15.

When the people saw the sign that Jesus had performed, they began to say, “Truly this is the Prophet who is to come into the world.” Then Jesus, realizing that they were about to come and make Him king by force, withdrew again to a mountain by Himself.

Jesus fed the five thousand, and their bellies were full. Their eyes were wide with wonder. “Surely this is the Prophet!” they declared. What do they want to do? Crown him king. Right here, right now. No cross, no suffering, no waiting.

Sound familiar? It should. It echoes across the wilderness where Satan dangled the same carrot to Jesus: “All this can be yours,” Satan promised. Skip the agony. Bypass the grave. Take the shortcut to glory.

“But Jesus knew better. He rejected the shortcut, choosing instead the ministry that, though longer and more difficult, was the only path to true victory.”

The crowd saw bread and wanted a bread king. Jesus saw souls and chose the cross. The people pushed for shortcuts; Jesus walked the long road to Calvary.

We’re no different, are we? We rush to buy books like “The Four-Hour Work Week” and “Think and Grow Rich.” We chase shortcuts in marriage, parenting, and faith. Quick fixes instead of hard work. Easy answers instead of wrestling with life. But shortcuts rob us of character, depth, and the very growth God intends. His longer road always leads home.

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

When Jesus heard of John’s death, sorrow settled in His spirit. He didn’t rush to preach or perform miracles—He withdrew, seeking silence. Matthew 14:13 reveals a tender truth: “He withdrew by boat privately to a solitary place.” Grief pressed heavy on the Savior’s heart. John wasn’t just a prophet—he was family. The loss was personal.

Yet the crowds came, needy and unrelenting. And when Jesus saw them, His grief didn’t harden His heart. “He had compassion on them and healed their sick” (v.14). Pain didn’t pause His purpose—it deepened it.

This is the grace of Christ: wounded, but willing; sorrowful, yet still serving. He didn’t discard grief to move forward—He carried it and answered the call. Because healing often begins when we step into the “next,” not away from it.

Elijah knew this, too. After fleeing Jezebel and collapsing under weariness, God fed him. But when the provision ceased, God whispered: it’s time to move on. Whether you’re facing loss or a new beginning, don’t fear your “next.” It may be exactly where God’s greatest work begins.

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

When Jesus looked out at the crowds in Matthew 9:36, He saw more than just faces. He saw hearts—tired, confused, searching. The Bible says, 

“He was moved with compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.” 

The people weren’t bad. They were just lost.

God’s people are often called “sheep.” Sheep are gentle, but they lose their way easily. Without a shepherd, they are in danger. They might fall, get stuck, or be attacked. They need the shepherd’s voice and touch to guide them and keep them safe.

Jesus saw the crowds and felt that longing for someone to lead, love, and protect them. It wasn’t just about them having rules to follow, but about needing someone to care for their souls. Jesus understood their wandering—He knew they were worn out from trying to find hope on their own in empty places.

Today, we’re not much different. Sometimes we feel lost, too. We try to find our way on our own, but the world can be scary. Jesus, as a good shepherd, sees our fear and loneliness. He opens His arms and says, “Come to me. I’ll lead you home.” No one is too lost for Him to find.

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

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.