Today’s One Year Bible Verses: Esther 4:1–7:10, 1 Corinthians 12:1–26, Psalm 36:1–12, Proverbs 21:21–22

Seek Him For Him

There are many reasons we come to God. We need direction, healing, provision, answers, protection, wisdom, or help with something we simply cannot handle on our own. And God welcomes us when we come with our needs. He is our Father, and He wants us to depend upon Him.

But there is another kind of seeking that draws us into a deeper relationship with Him—the kind where we come because we simply want Him.

The Lord explains it beautifully in today’s Gem of Knowledge: 

“By giving Me time every day, your undivided attention and worship, with no other motives than to love Me and be with Me, this is how you will find Me.”

There is something deeply intimate about spending time with someone when you want nothing from them.

You aren’t there because you need a favor. You aren’t trying to accomplish something. You simply love them and want to be near them.

God desires that kind of relationship with us too.

In Esther 4, Esther suddenly finds herself facing something far greater than herself. Haman has arranged for the destruction of her people, and Mordecai challenges Esther to recognize that perhaps God has positioned her in the palace “for just such a time as this” (Esther 4:14, NLT).

But Esther doesn’t immediately rush into action.

She first calls everyone to fast.

“Go and gather together all the Jews of Susa and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. My maids and I will do the same” (Esther 4:16, NLT).

Before Esther approached the king, she sought God.

Before the strategy came the surrender. Before the action came the time set apart.

And after those days of fasting, Esther walked forward with remarkable wisdom. She didn’t panic or impulsively accuse Haman. She waited. She prepared a banquet. Then another. She moved carefully until the right moment came, and God used her obedience to expose what had been hidden.

Perhaps some of the wisdom we are asking God for is found in the time we haven’t yet given Him.

Psalm 36 gives us a beautiful picture of what happens when we draw near to God. David says, “You feed them from the abundance of your own house, letting them drink from your river of delights. For you are the fountain of life, the light by which we see” (Psalm 36:8–9, NLT).

I love that.

The light by which we see.

We often come to God asking Him to show us what to do, where to go, or how something will work out. But sometimes the answer isn’t found by concentrating harder on the problem. It comes by drawing closer to the One who gives us light to see.

First Corinthians 12 reminds us that God has also given each of us His Spirit and placed us within the body of Christ according to His design. “God has put each part just where he wants it” (1 Corinthians 12:18, NLT). We don’t have to manufacture our place, our gifting, or our purpose. As we know Him, we begin to recognize how He has made us and where He is leading us.

But relationship must come before usefulness.

God doesn’t only want the part of your day where you bring Him your prayer list. He wants your heart. Your attention. Your affection. Your worship. He wants moments when you close the door on everything else and say, Lord, I don’t need anything from You right now. I just want to be with You.

That kind of time can feel difficult in a world constantly competing for our attention. Phones buzz. Responsibilities call. Thoughts wander. Even our quiet time can become another task to accomplish.

But love makes room.

And perhaps that is the invitation today—not simply to find more time for God, but to give Him time that belongs completely to Him.

No agenda.

No multitasking.

No ulterior motive.

Just love.

Because when we stop seeking only what God can give us and begin seeking God Himself, we discover something far greater than the answer we came looking for.

We find Him. 💎

Action (5 Minutes with God)

Set aside a few minutes today that belong completely to God. Put away your phone and anything else competing for your attention. Don’t begin with your list of needs. Worship Him, talk with Him, sit quietly with Him, or simply tell Him what you love about Him. Give Him your undivided attention for no other reason than this: you love Him and want to be with Him.

Prayer

Lord, I don’t want to seek You only when I need something from You. I want to know You because I love You. Teach me to quiet the distractions around me and give You my undivided attention. Help me make room for You every day—not out of obligation, but because being with You becomes the desire of my heart. Thank You for welcoming me into Your presence and for being the fountain of life and the light by which I see. More than answers, blessings, or direction, Lord, I want You. Draw me closer and help me know You more. In Jesus’ name, amen.

To read more 5 Minutes with God devotionals click here.

If Gems of Knowledge has blessed your walk with Christ, please subscribe or consider partnering with us today. Your gift helps keep these devotionals free for everyone and carries God’s Word to more hearts. Every seed matters—thank you for sowing into this work! 💛

Test everything by the Word and the Spirit (John 16:13)

Subscribe

Partner/Donate

Alt...

Esther sitting quietly in prayer beside an open palace balcony with her crown set aside as warm golden light fills the room.

Today’s One Year Bible Verses: Esther 1:1–3:15, 1 Corinthians 11:17–34, Psalm 35:17–28, Proverbs 21:19–20

God Is Shaping You for More

We often ask God to use us, bless us, increase our wisdom, deepen our faith, and lead us into His purpose for our lives. But sometimes we forget that becoming who God created us to be requires being willing to change.

And what perfect timing as we begin the book of Esther today.

The Lord reminds us in today’s Gem of Knowledge, 

“Be moldable, willing and able to change to my bending. I want to make you more than you are now. Wiser, happier, holier. But you must allow it. Amen.”

God sees more in us than what we are today. He knows what He created us to become, where He intends to position us, and what will be required of us when we get there. But becoming that person often means allowing Him to shape things within us first.

Esther is such a beautiful example.

When Esther was brought into the king’s palace, she entered a season of preparation. She was given beauty treatments, instruction, guidance, and time to become ready for what was ahead. But what stands out about Esther is her willingness to receive direction. Scripture tells us, “Esther had not told anyone of her nationality and family background, because Mordecai had directed her not to do so” (Esther 2:10, NLT).

She listened.

Later, when it was her turn to go before the king, Esther again demonstrated a teachable spirit. Rather than insisting on what she thought would make her impressive, “she accepted the advice of Hegai, the eunuch in charge of the harem”(Esther 2:15, NLT).

And what happened? “Esther was admired by everyone who saw her” (Esther 2:15, NLT).

Esther did not yet know the magnitude of what God was preparing her for. She could not see Haman’s plot coming or know that one day the lives of her people would depend upon her willingness to step into the position she was being prepared to occupy.

But God knew.

That is something worth remembering when God begins bending and shaping areas of our own lives.

We may not understand why He is challenging an attitude, changing a habit, teaching us patience, asking us to forgive, stretching our faith, or making us uncomfortable with something we once accepted. We may simply feel the pressure of being changed.

But God sees what comes next.

He isn’t shaping us simply for the sake of changing us. He is making us more—wiser, happier, holier, and increasingly prepared to carry what He has entrusted to us.

First Corinthians 11 gives us another side of this truth. Paul tells believers to examine themselves before coming to the Lord’s Table: “That is why you should examine yourself before eating the bread and drinking the cup” (1 Corinthians 11:28, NLT). A moldable heart is willing to let God show us what needs to change instead of immediately defending what is already there.

That can be uncomfortable. Sometimes we would much rather ask God to change our circumstances than allow Him to change us.

But there is freedom in becoming teachable before Him.

Psalm 35:28 says, “Then I will proclaim your justice, and I will praise you all day long” (NLT). As God shapes us, our lives increasingly become a reflection of Him. Our responses change. Our wisdom grows. Our priorities shift. Holiness becomes less about following rules and more about becoming like the One we love.

And just like Esther, we may not understand today what God is preparing us for tomorrow.

The correction you receive today may become the wisdom you need later. The patience He is developing may prepare you to lead someone. The humility He is teaching may protect you when He gives you influence. The faith He is stretching may be exactly what you need when your moment comes to stand courageously.

So don’t resist the Potter’s hands simply because the shaping feels unfamiliar.

Stay soft. Stay teachable. Stay willing.

God sees who you are now—but He also sees everything you can become when you allow Him to shape you.

You may just be in preparation for such a time as this. 💎

Action (5 Minutes with God)

Be willing to give God at least 5 minutes of your time today. Ask Him:

• “Lord, what do You want me to know about this personally?”
  • Journal what He gives you through His Holy Spirit.
• Then ask, “What do You want me to do?”
  • Journal what He reveals – then do it!

Instead of immediately resisting something that feels uncomfortable, consider whether God may be using it to develop wisdom, holiness, patience, courage, or another quality you will need for what He has ahead. Give Him permission to change you.

Prayer

Lord, I want to be moldable in Your hands. Help me not to resist You when You challenge me, correct me, or lead me beyond what is comfortable and familiar. You know who You created me to become and what You are preparing me for. Give me a teachable heart like Esther—willing to listen, learn, grow, and follow Your direction. Make me wiser, happier, holier, and increasingly like You. Shape me today for the purpose You already see ahead. In Jesus’ name I pray, amen.

To read more 5 Minutes with God devotionals click here.

If Gems of Knowledge has blessed your walk with Christ, please subscribe or consider partnering with us today. Your gift helps keep these devotionals free for everyone and carries God’s Word to more hearts. Every seed matters—thank you for sowing into this work! 💛

Test everything by the Word and the Spirit (John 16:13)

Subscribe

Partner/Donate

Alt...

Jesus shaping a clay vessel on a potter’s wheel as Esther watches beside Him in a warm, sunlit workshop.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6CBjB5Lh68Y&t=20s

How do you keep your faith when your life has been a fight from the very beginning?

Heather was born with a congenital heart defect and wasn’t expected to survive. After multiple heart surgeries, breast cancer, fibromyalgia, chronic pain, and ongoing physical challenges, she has every reason to ask, “God, why?”

And she has.

In this episode of the Gems of Knowledge Podcast, Heather shares how Jesus has continued to meet her in the pain—and how God is now using her story to bring hope, community, and purpose to others living with chronic and invisible illness.

Sometimes testimony doesn’t say, “Look, everything is perfect now.”

Sometimes it says, “Look—Jesus is still here.” ❤️🙏💎

Listen now! ✨

Listen & Subscribe On:

• YouTube
• Spotify

Heather Perron

Heather Perron is an author, Certified Wellness Coach, podcast host, and invisible disability advocate who is passionate about helping others feel seen, heard, and understood. Living with her own invisible disabilities has given Heather a unique perspective on the challenges so many face behind closed doors.

Through her writing, advocacy, and podcast, Living Beyond the Invisible: A Walk With Heather, she shares encouragement, hope, faith, and the reminder that our circumstances do not define who we are.

Connect with Heather

🎙️ Podcast: Living Beyond the Invisible: A Walk with Heather
🌐 https://walkingwithheather.com
Facebook & TikTok: @walkingwithheather
Instagram: @walkingwithheather1

To watch more episodes click here.

If Gems of Knowledge has blessed your walk with Christ, please subscribe or consider partnering with us today. Your gift helps keep these devotionals free for everyone and carries God’s Word to more hearts. Every seed matters—thank you for sowing into this work! 💛

Test everything by the Word and the Spirit (John 16:13)

Subscribe

Partner/Donate

Alt...

Episode 20: She Wasn’t Expected to Live—But God Had Other Plans | EP 20 Heather’s Story

Alt...

Episode 20: She Wasn’t Expected to Live—But God Had Other Plans | EP 20 Heather’s Story

Today’s One Year Bible Verses: Nehemiah 12:27–13:31, 1 Corinthians 11:1–16, Psalm 35:1–16, Proverbs 21:17–18

Look To God

I think one of the hardest battles we face is the battle within. The enemy tries to tear us down with lies about who we are in an effort to thwart us from accomplishing our calling and purpose in God.

I believe these lies plague us all in one form or another. You’re not good enough. You’re not qualified. You’re too weak. You don’t have what it takes. Someone else could do it better. Who do you think you are?

And if the enemy can get us to believe those lies, he doesn’t necessarily have to stop us himself. We may stop ourselves.

We begin examining our weaknesses, comparing ourselves to others, and taking inventory of everything we think we lack. Eventually, we can become so focused on our own inadequacies that we lose sight of the One who called us in the first place.

But today’s Gem of Knowledge turns our attention away from ourselves and back to the One we should have been looking at all along:

“Everyone lacks without Me. I make you whole. And because I am with you always, that means you do not lack anything. You are enough because I make you enough. You are whole because I make you whole. You are capable because I make you capable. You got this because I got you. Stop looking at yourself and look at Me. Amen.”

There is so much freedom in those words. God isn’t asking us to convince ourselves that we’re independently strong, capable, or sufficient. He is our sufficiency.

Of course we will find weaknesses when we look at ourselves—we’re human. There will always be something we don’t know, something we haven’t mastered, or someone who appears more qualified. But God never intended for us to accomplish His purposes apart from Him.

In today’s reading, Nehemiah returns to Jerusalem and discovers that things have once again fallen into disorder. Responsibilities have been neglected, provisions for the Levites haven’t been maintained, the Sabbath isn’t being honored, and compromise has crept back in.

Nehemiah could have become overwhelmed by everything that was wrong. Instead, he addressed each problem and continued the work God had given him. His ability to fulfill his assignment wasn’t dependent upon perfect circumstances or having an easy task. He continued moving forward with God.

Psalm 35 gives us another picture of that dependence:

“O LORD, oppose those who oppose me. Fight those who fight against me.”
— Psalm 35:1 NLT

David understood that some battles were bigger than he was. His answer wasn’t to become bigger—it was to call upon God.

The same is true when the battle is happening inside our own minds.

When the enemy says, You’re not enough, we don’t have to argue that we are enough on our own. We can answer, God makes me enough.

When he says, You’re not capable, our answer is, God makes me capable.

When he points out what we’re lacking, we can stop staring at ourselves and remember Who makes us whole.

God knew every weakness you would have when He called you. He knew your personality, your limitations, your past, what you would struggle with, and everything you would still need to learn. None of it surprised Him.

And He still called you.

“You got this because I got you.”

That is where our confidence belongs—not in believing we can do anything, but in knowing that with God, we can do whatever He has called us to do.

So stop allowing the enemy to make you stare at yourself.

Look to God. 💎

Action (5 Minutes with God)

Take 5 minutes looking to God today. Ask Him:

• “Lord, what do You want me to know about this personally?”
  • Journal what He gives you through His Holy Spirit.
• Then ask, “What do You want me to do?”
  • Journal what He reveals – then do it!

Ask Him to show you what is true when He is added to the equation.

Prayer

Dear Lord, help me recognize the lies that cause me to doubt who You created and called me to be. Forgive me for focusing on my weaknesses instead of Your strength. When I feel inadequate, teach me to look at You. You are my strength, wisdom, and help, and I trust You to make me capable of everything You call me to do. Thank You for making me whole and for reminding me that I don’t have to do any of this without You. In Jesus’ mighty name I pray, amen.

To read more 5 Minutes with God devotionals click here.

If Gems of Knowledge has blessed your walk with Christ, please subscribe or consider partnering with us today. Your gift helps keep these devotionals free for everyone and carries God’s Word to more hearts. Every seed matters—thank you for sowing into this work! 💛

Test everything by the Word and the Spirit (John 16:13)

Subscribe

Partner/Donate

Alt...

A discouraged woman sees words like “not enough,” “unqualified,” “too weak,” and “incapable” in a mirror while Jesus gently turns her away from the lies and toward Him.

Today’s One Year Bible Verses: Nehemiah 11:1–12:26, 1 Corinthians 10:14–33, Psalm 34:11–22, Proverbs 21:14–16

Draw Close To Hear Him

Have you ever tried to tell someone something quietly in a crowded room? You don’t shout it across the room for everyone to hear. You motion for them to come closer. Maybe you lean toward them and lower your voice because what you’re about to say is meant only for that person that came close enough to hear it.

I think there are things God wants to speak to us that require that same kind of closeness.

Today’s Gem of Knowledge says:

“There are secrets I want to reveal to you. Come closer so I can show you. Amen.”

What a beautiful invitation. God isn’t saying, Figure Me out. He isn’t asking us to search harder for some hidden code or chase mysterious knowledge. He is simply saying, Come closer.

In today’s reading, Paul speaks about communion and what it means to participate in the Lord’s Supper:

“When we bless the cup at the Lord’s Table, aren’t we sharing in the blood of Christ? And when we break the bread, aren’t we sharing in the body of Christ?” — 1 Corinthians 10:16 NLT

God doesn’t merely want us to know about Him; He invites us into fellowship with Him.

There is a difference between knowing someone from across the room and sitting with them at the table. Closeness changes what we hear, what we notice, and eventually how well we know their heart.

Our relationship with God works much the same way. There are things we begin to understand only as we spend time with Him. Scripture comes alive differently. His direction becomes easier to recognize. We begin noticing His fingerprints in places we might once have overlooked.

Not because we’ve become spiritually elite, but because we’ve drawn near enough to listen.

In Nehemiah 11, sacred lots were cast to choose who would live in Jerusalem, near the Temple and the presence of God. What a beautiful picture alongside today’s Gem: God was calling people closer. And through Jesus, that invitation is now extended to us—come closer.

Psalm 34 contains another invitation that fits God’s heart for us:

“Come, my children, and listen to me, and I will teach you to fear the LORD.” — Psalm 34:11 NLT

Notice the progression: Come. Listen. Learn.

Sometimes we want God to reveal mysteries but don’t want to take the time to come close to HIm. We want answers about tomorrow, direction for our decisions, understanding about what He’s doing, or deeper revelation from His Word. Yet sometimes His answer may simply be, Come sit with Me.

And the “secrets” God wants to reveal aren’t necessarily spectacular mysteries about the future. Sometimes the treasure He wants to show us is something about His heart. He may illuminate a Scripture we’ve read many times before, expose something in our own heart that needs changing, give us wisdom for a situation, reveal how He is working behind the scenes, or help us see another person through His eyes.

The revelation comes through personal, intimate relationship.

Psalm 34:18 tells us, “The LORD is close to the brokenhearted; he rescues those whose spirits are crushed.” God isn’t distant from His children. He draws near, and He invites us to draw near to Him.

Perhaps you’ve been asking God for answers and haven’t received them yet. Instead of striving harder to figure everything out, consider His invitation today.

Come closer.

Turn off the noise for a little while. Open His Word without rushing. Sit quietly with Him. Worship. Ask Him what He wants you to know instead of only telling Him what you need Him to do.

There are things the Lord wants to show us—not because we’ve earned access to secret information, but because intimacy with God naturally produces a deeper understanding of His heart.

You don’t have to shout across the room.

Your Father is inviting you to His table.

Come closer and listen. 💎

Action (5 Minutes with God)

Take at least 5 minutes to be with the Lord today. Ask Him:

• “Lord, what do You want me to know about this personally?”
  • Journal what He gives you through His Holy Spirit.
• Then ask, “What do You want me to do?”
  • Journal what He reveals – then do it!

Give God intentional, uninterrupted time today. Put away distractions, open your Bible, and simply ask, “Lord, what do You want to show me?” Don’t force an answer. Spend time with Him and listen. Write down anything He brings to your attention, and test what you hear against His Word.

Prayer

Father, thank You for inviting me closer. I don’t want to be satisfied with simply knowing about You; I want to know Your heart. Quiet the distractions around me and within me so I can recognize Your voice. Teach me through Your Word, give me wisdom and discernment, and reveal whatever You want me to understand. Draw me closer to You every day and help me treasure time in Your presence. I am listening, Lord. In Jesus’ name, amen.

To read more 5 Minutes with God devotionals click here.

If Gems of Knowledge has blessed your walk with Christ, please subscribe or consider partnering with us today. Your gift helps keep these devotionals free for everyone and carries God’s Word to more hearts. Every seed matters—thank you for sowing into this work! 💛

Test everything by the Word and the Spirit (John 16:13)

Subscribe

Partner/Donate

Alt...

Jesus cups His hand and whispers to a woman seated beside Him at a large table filled with others, illustrating God’s invitation to come closer and hear what He wants to reveal.

Today’s One Year Bible Verses: Nehemiah 9:22–10:39, 1 Corinthians 9:19–10:13, Psalm 34:1–10, Proverbs 21:13

Complacency = Condemnation

There is a dangerous place in any battle that can feel deceptively safe—the place where we decide not to engage. We may not intentionally surrender to the enemy or consciously walk away from God. We simply become comfortable, distracted, or indifferent until eventually, we stop deliberately choosing at all.

But in a spiritual battle, refusing to choose is still a choice.

The Lord gave me a sobering warning in today’s Gem of Knowledge:

“Don’t be a casualty of war because you didn’t choose. Complacency = Condemnation. Don’t let it take you over or it will win. Cast it out, rebuke it, guard yourself against its future attacks. I don’t want to lose you. Amen.”

Those final words reveal the heart behind the warning: “I don’t want to lose you.”

God isn’t looking for an opportunity to condemn us. He is warning His children because He knows there is a real enemy who would love to lull us into complacency. The danger is becoming too comfortable.

Paul gives the Corinthians a similar warning in today’s reading. He reminds them of the Israelites who experienced incredible things with God. They were delivered from Egypt, passed through the sea, ate supernatural food, drank supernatural water, and witnessed God’s power firsthand. Yet many eventually turned away from Him.

Paul tells us why their story was recorded:

“These things happened as a warning to us, so that we would not crave evil things as they did.”
— 1 Corinthians 10:6 NLT

We can know God, experience His goodness, and still become distracted if we stop guarding our relationship with Him. Complacency usually doesn’t happen overnight. Prayer gradually becomes less important, God’s Word gets pushed aside, conviction becomes easier to ignore, and before we realize it, we’ve drifted.

That is why Paul warns:

“If you think you are standing strong, be careful not to fall.”
— 1 Corinthians 10:12 NLT

Nehemiah 9 shows the same pattern. God had continually provided for Israel, protected them, instructed them, forgiven them, and shown them mercy. Yet when they became comfortable, they repeatedly turned away.

After looking honestly at their history, the people made a different choice. They renewed their covenant and committed themselves to following God.

That is the opposite of complacency.

Following Jesus isn’t merely a decision we made years ago. Every day we choose whose voice we will follow, what we will pursue, and where we will place our trust.

When complacency begins creeping in, the Lord tells us what to do: “Cast it out, rebuke it, guard yourself against its future attacks.” Return to prayer. Open His Word. Obey what He has already told you. Remove whatever is pulling your heart away from Him and deliberately turn your attention back toward Jesus.

And remember, you aren’t fighting alone:

“God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure.”
— 1 Corinthians 10:13 NLT

As this end-times series of Gems comes to a close, perhaps this is the question God is leaving with us: Have you chosen, and are you continuing to choose Him?

God doesn’t want us frightened by what is happening around us. He wants us awake, close to Him, and able to recognize the spiritual battle without becoming casualties of it.

“I don’t want to lose you.”

So stay close. Guard your heart. Resist complacency, and keep choosing Jesus. 💎

Action (5 Minutes with God)

Take at least 5 minutes to be with God today. Ask Him:

• “Lord, what do You want me to know about this personally?”
  • Journal what He gives you through His Holy Spirit.
• Then ask, “What do You want me to do?”
  • Journal what He reveals – then do it!

Let today be a day of action with the Lord.

Prayer

Father, thank You for loving me enough to warn me. Forgive me for the places where I have become complacent or distracted. Awaken anything in me that has fallen asleep and help me recognize the enemy’s attacks before they take root. I choose You, Jesus. Help me stay close, obey Your voice, and remain faithful. You are my refuge and my strength. Guard my heart and keep it firmly fixed on You. In Jesus’ name I pray, amen.

To read more 5 Minutes with God devotionals click here.

If Gems of Knowledge has blessed your walk with Christ, please subscribe or consider partnering with us today. Your gift helps keep these devotionals free for everyone and carries God’s Word to more hearts. Every seed matters—thank you for sowing into this work! 💛

Test everything by the Word and the Spirit (John 16:13)

Subscribe

Partner/Donate

Alt...

A complacent man reclines in a chair looking at his phone while a spiritual battle between an army of light and an army of darkness surrounds him, illustrating the danger of spiritual complacency.