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For Women by Women  

By Jo Mock 

October 16, 2026 

Daniel 1:8 But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king’s meat, nor with the wine which he drank…. 

While composing this devotional, it is a time of teaching VBS for us. This year I am focusing on leading children to follow Daniel’s example to purpose in their heart to follow God. 

In a day when the allurements of the world are greater than ever, the ease which we can possess things, and the sin of covetousness is abounding, we need to choose daily to “love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.” I John 2:5 

Daniel, and three friends, were the only ones captured from Jerusalem, who purposed in their hearts to stand alone and follow God. God blessed them, though they were tried by fire and the den of lions. 

As I teach children about choosing to purpose in their heart, I use a large blow-up porpoise as a visual, interchanging the word “porpoise” for “purpose” to remind them to choose to follow God. I encourage them to think of this challenge every time they see a porpoise on tv, at an amusement location, etc. 

At the end of the week, I hand each child a porpoise bead as a reminder also. I tell them that Daniel stood alone against all, but God sent His angel to protect and be with him in the lion’s den. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego stood alone when all others bowed before the king’s idol, but the Son of God stood with them in the fiery furnace! 

Dare to be a Daniel, dare to stand alone! 

Dare to have a “porpoise” firm, and dare to make it known! 

Reflection—Purpose of the heart reveals itself in decisions of life. 

By Steve Clark 

October 15, 2026 

Acts 2:17 And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams: 

God has always desired to work in and through His people. In Acts 2:17, Peter reminds the people of God’s promise that He would pour out His Spirit upon all flesh. This was not a promise reserved for a select few. God’s Spirit would reach people of every age, background, and situation in life. 

Notice the words, “I will pour out.” God does not give His Spirit sparingly. He gives it abundantly and according to His purpose. The Holy Spirit empowers believers to live for Christ, witness to others, understand God’s Word, and serve Him with boldness. 

The verse also says, “your sons and your daughters shall prophesy.” God can use the young and the old. He can use men and women. He can use people who feel inadequate, overlooked, or unqualified. What matters is not how impressive we are, but whether we are willing to be used of God! 

We are living in a world that desperately needs to see the power of God, not just merely hear about it. The answer is not for Christians to become more like the world, but for Christians to allow the Holy Spirit to work through their lives. 

Ask yourself—Am I making room for God to work in me and to use my life? 

Here’s an exciting fact—We cannot control what God wants to do through us when we are surrendered to Him! When God’s Spirit fills a willing heart, ordinary people can accomplish extraordinary things for the glory of God. 

God is still looking for willing vessels, and He’ll use you if you surrender your life to Him!  

Reflection—Die to self, live for God, so that you can live for others. 

By Ted Mock 

October 14, 2026 

Matthew 19:22 But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions. 

Another look at the story of the rich young ruler. This time we deal with the chains that possessions can put on our hearts. The young rich man had said he kept the six Jesus specified, but because of possessions, he had violated the first commandment. 

Matthew 19:16 gives us one of the most heartbreaking moments in the Gospels. A young man comes to Jesus sincerely asking what he could do to have eternal life. His desire was noble and right. His opportunity was divine. Yet the story ends with him walking away from the very Saviour. 

Jesus lovingly exposed the one thing that held this man back. The Lord said, “If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor… and come and follow me” (v.21). Christ was not attacking wealth—He was addressing attachment. The man’s possessions had become chains around his heart. 

Scripture says, “he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions” (v.22). His sorrow revealed the conflict inside him. He wanted eternal life, but he wanted his wealth more. He desired Christ, but he desired control of his riches even stronger. The tragedy is not that he had great possessions. It is that his great possessions had him. 

This passage warns every believer—Anything we cannot release becomes something that rules us. Jesus still calls, “Follow me.” But many never fully follow because their hands are full, their hearts are tied, and their security is anchored in what they own rather than in the One who owns them. 

This story teaches us that salvation is offered freely, but discipleship requires surrender. Christ does not demand poverty, but He does demands priority. He asks us to hold earthly things lightly so we can hold Him firmly. 

Reflection—The more you seek to own things; the more things seek to own you. 

By Hunter Grills 

October 13, 2026 

Matthew 12:35 A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things. 

When we hear the word treasure, we tend to think of material goods that hold great value. Spiritually speaking, the word treasure represents that which is most central to one’s identity. 

Matthew 6:21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. 
Jesus instructs us not to focus on earthly treasure but rather to lay up treasures in heaven, 

where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: 

The greatest treasure that we possess is the light of the gospel that shines in our hearts. 

2 Corinthians 4:6-7 For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. 

⁷ But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us. 

We have this treasure in earthen vessels and have the responsibility to share the light of the gospel to a dark world. May we desire the good treasure and share the good news of Jesus Christ. 

Proverbs 21:20-21 There is treasure to be desired and oil in the dwelling of the wise; but a foolish man spendeth it up. ²¹ He that followeth after righteousness and mercy findeth life, righteousness, and honour. 

Reflection—Such great treasure in such humble vessels! Jesus was not embarrassed to live as an earthen vessel and is not embarrassed to use clay pots like us. 

By Scott K. Miller

October 12, 2026

Genesis 11:4 And they said… let us make us a name, lest we be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth.

The “let us” syndrome continues to affect everyone today—sinners and sadly, even saints.  From the nursery to the ball field, from the corporate world to the pew, we want to be noted—to have a name. Absalom craved notoriety, too.

2 Samuel 18:18 Now Absalom in his lifetime had taken and reared up for himself a pillar, which is in the king’s dale: for he said, I have no son to keep my name in remembrance: and he called the pillar after his own name: and it is called unto this day, Absalom’s place.

While tower-building is not our thing today, we do construct digital towers based upon the number of followers we have on social media, or on the total quantity of views or “likes” we get. It’s all egomania—“Look at me; I’ve got a name!”

When God came down to confuse man’s language at Babel, He brought tower-building to an end. The men scattered and the work ceased.

Genesis 12 gives the account of a man not seeking to build a name for himself. Yet, God told Abram: “Get thee out of thy country . . . and I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and I will make thy name great…”

Psalm 75:6 For promotion cometh neither from the east, nor from the west, nor from the south.

Proverbs 10:22 The blessing of the LORD, it maketh rich, and he addeth no sorrow with it.

A journalist sought and found the noted boxing champion Muhammad Ali. During the interview, Ali took the man out to his barn to view old photos of himself; however,  they were stained with bird droppings. Exiting the barn, Ali commented:  “I had it all, and it was nothin.”

Reflection—Don’t build your name; build up the name of Christ.   

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Brother Neff’s Collection’s – April 4, 2015

October 10, 2026

Matthew 5:4 Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.

To mourn means to have a broken heart.  It is like the deep mourning and wailing that occurs over the death of a loved one.  It is sorrow—a desperate, helpless sorrow.  It is a sorrow for sin, a broken heart over evil and suffering.  It is a brokenness of self that comes from seeing Christ on the cross and realizing that our sins put Him there.

A person who is desperately sorry for his sins and unworthiness before God may come to the place of mourning.  He has such a sense of sin that his heart is just broken, and he comes to Christ for salvation.  That person is now in a position to help others who are mourning over their sins.

There is mourning over the many tragedies of life including the loss of a loved one.  Many of our friends at Faith Baptist in GA are in a state of mourning at the loss of our dear friend “Bubba.”  God comforts our hearts with the knowledge that he is in a better place with a new body and no longer suffering.  We rejoice in the knowledge that there will be a glad reunion day. 

Reflection—God allows this grief into our lives as part of the path, not as a destination.

For Women By Women

By Laura Grills

October 9, 2026

Ecclesiastes 11:6 In the morning sow thy seed, and in the evening withhold not thine hand: for thou knowest not whether shall prosper, either this or that, or whether they both shall be alike good.

Recently, my husband and I sat in a Sunday school class listening to teaching on parenting by a wise saint. The teacher encouraged us as parents to be aware of golden moments where we can invest in our children. Sometimes the moments come when we are extremely busy or in our daily routines of life.

One evening, I had a migraine but was helping our 3 year old daughter get a bath and get ready for bed. She began asking questions about Adam and Eve and the snake in the garden. We had a great conversation about choices and sin and Jesus dying to pay for our sin. In the end, my daughter said, “Jesus is the One Who makes us happy.” I have no idea of how God is working in her life. But my prayer is that she continues to yield to His leading to salvation.

What an amazing responsibility and opportunity we have been blessed with to invest in the lives of children whether they are our children, nieces and nephews, grandchildren, or adopted children! May we pray for opportunities and moments to plant seeds from God’s Word into the hearts and minds of little ones that are opened to God’s truth seizing these golden moments.

Colossians 4:5-6 Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time. 6 Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.

Reflection—We know less of the future than we think we do; therefore, sow the seed and trust the outcome to the Lord.

By Steve Clark

October 8, 2026

Psalm 93:1 The LORD reigneth, he is clothed with majesty; the LORD is clothed with strength, wherewith he hath girded himself:

There are times when life feels out of control. Circumstances change, people disappoint us, and life happens in a way that we never expected. But Psalm 93 reminds us of one unchanging truth—the LORD reigneth!

God has never surrendered His throne. He has never been surprised by tomorrow, and nothing happening in our lives has caught Him off guard. The world may seem unstable, but our God is not.

Psalm 93:2 Thy throne is established of old: thou art from everlasting.

Before we ever faced our current circumstances, God was already there. Before our problems appeared, He was already reigning. And when our problems are gone, He will still be reigning!

Verse 3 also talks about the mighty waters and roaring floods. This is picturing overwhelming circumstances that we face at times. Things that seem powerful enough to sweep everything away. Yet the Psalm says in verse 4, “The LORD on high is mightier than the noise of many waters, yea, than the mighty waves of the sea.”

What a comfort! Our circumstances may be powerful, but God is greater.

We don’t have to understand everything God is doing to trust the One Who is doing it. When the waves come crashing, remember who sits upon the throne. When fear starts to take over, remember who sits on the throne!

This psalm ends with an amazing reminder—“Thy testimonies are very sure: holiness becometh thine house, O LORD, for ever.”

So today, don’t let the noise around you make you forget Who is in control.

Reflection—God’s Word is sure. God’s throne is sure. God’s promises are sure. The Lord reigns—and that is enough for me!

By Ted Mock

October 7, 2026

Matthew 19:22 But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions.

I was asked to speak at a Mission’s Conference Sunday at a church in Virginia. Mostly, I focused not on money, but on the giving of self. The question is the same for all believers—If God calls, are you free to follow?

The rich young ruler is a sobering example. Scripture says, “he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions.” His wealth was not the problem—his bond to it was. Christ was inviting him into eternal treasure, but he could not let go of earthly treasure. As believers, we must hold everything loosely. Houses, lands, careers, savings—these are tools, not masters.

The moment a possession becomes something we “cannot” surrender, it has become an idol. And idols always compete with Christ.

The second danger is just as real—Becoming so bound by debt that we are not free to follow Christ wherever He leads. Scripture warns, “The borrower is servant to the lender” (Proverbs 22:7).

Debt creates obligations, pressures, and limitations that can choke spiritual responsiveness. When God says “go,” debt often says “stay.” When God says “give,” debt says, “you cannot.” When God says “serve,” debt says, “you’re too tied up.”

Christ desires His people to live with open hands and unbound feet. Paul wrote, “Ye are bought with a price; be not ye the servants of men” (1 Corinthians 7:23). We cannot afford to be owned by creditors when we are already owned by Christ.

The call of discipleship is simple—travel light, stay free, and keep Christ first. Let possessions serve you, never rule you. Let finances strengthen you, never bind you. And let your heart remain fully available to the One who said, “Follow Me.”

Luke 5:11 And when they had brought their ships to land, they forsook all, and followed him.

Reflection—Financial wisdom is not merely practical, it is spiritual. It protects our ability to obey God without hesitation.

By Hunter Grills

October 6, 2026

Luke 23:39-42 And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and us. 40 But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation? 41 And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss. 42 And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom.

Jesus was on the cross of Calvary. There were two thieves crucified with Him, one on His right and one on His left. We often think of the thief on the cross that called upon the Lord for salvation. Our Lord answered in verse forty-three, “… Verily I say unto thee, Today shalt thou be with me in paradise.”

One thief called on the Lord for salvation from his circumstances; the other called on salvation because of his sinful condition.

Many people today want Jesus to heal them physically, bless them financially, and give them comfort as they live daily. The world wants Jesus to save them from their troubles but not from their sin. Jesus Christ came that He might give us life, even more abundantly.

John 10:10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.

The eternal gift of salvation that Jesus Christ gives us should lead us to live our temporal life for Him. May we not look to Jesus as just someone who can help us in our temporal state but as the Saviour of all mankind for eternity.

Romans 8:37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.

Reflection—The thief thought of a future kingdom and to be remembered—Jesus promised him Paradise and an eternal relationship, Today.