Derek Charles Johnson

Following God’s Battle Plan | AS BOLD AS LIONS DEVOTIONAL | April 28, 2023 Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/nx_b9-J8_Iw And the LORD said to Gideon, “With the 300 men who lapped I will save you and give the Midianites into your hand, and let all the others go every man to his home.” Judges 7:7 Judges chapters 6-8 are a case study in following a battle plan that doesn’t make a whole lot of sense; at least from man’s perspective. Gideon is chosen by God to lead Israel into battle against their enemy, the Midianites. When called, Gideon is actually hiding in a winepress threshing grain. Still God calls him a “mighty man of valor” (Judges 6:12). As God prepares Gideon for battle, he cuts his army numbers down…way down. From a size of 32,000 Gideon somehow ends up with 300. From there, the battle itself depended upon two unlikely weapons: trumpets and jars with torches. Yet in all of this, Midian is routed. Surprised by an attack at night, Israel ambushes the camp. When the trumpets are blown, the enemy turns upon itself in utter confusion. Sometimes when God calls us to do something, the plans don’t make any sense. Financially the numbers don’t work out. Physically the toll seems too hard. Mentally and emotionally, we just don’t have the stamina to put forth the effort. But these are all reasons to quit based upon our abilities. God wasn’t looking for Gideon’s ability, only his availability. It was obvious God had another plan as He slimmed the army down to 300. It was obvious God would bring victory in such a way that only He could get the credit. If there’s a plan that seems too big today, good. It’s God’s way of letting you know the battle is His. You just need to obey and be ready for the call. Question for today: What is impossible with God? In light of that, how do I approach the mountains in front of me? Pray: God You are still the God who brought Gideon the victory with just 300 men. Help me trust You for victories today and stop relying upon my own strength. Want to subscribe to the AS BOLD AS LIONS devotional and blog mailing list? Click here to sign up: https://derekcharlesjohnson.com/as-bold-as-lions Tune in to the weekly AS BOLD AS LIONS podcast, available on all major streaming platforms including: Spotify:https://spoti.fi/3DfKqbU Apple Podcasts:https://apple.co/3gp6jvJ Pandora: https://pandora.app.link/6RgTqIoe0gb Google Podcasts: https://bit.ly/3G4Zt86 iHeartRadio: https://ihr.fm/3UymTde My website podcast player: https://derekcharlesjohnson.com/podcast We’d love to hear from you! Email: info@derekcharlesjohnson.com Interested in hosting Derek for an event? Visit https://derekcharlesjohnson.com/contact

Overcomers In Christ | AS BOLD AS LIONS DEVOTIONAL | April 26, 2023 Then I hearda loud voice in heaven, saying, “Now thesalvation, and the power, and thekingdom of our God and the authority of His Christ have come, for theaccuser of our brothersand sistershas been thrown down, the one who accuses them before our God day and night. And theyovercame him because ofthe blood of the Lamb and because ofthe word of their testimony, and theydid not love their lifeeven when faced with death.Revelation 12:10,11 The enemy of our souls knows that his time to accuse and persecute the brethren (believers) is short (Revelation 12:12). However, we often miss this when we are in the thick of things. Evil seems to abound. From the areas of politics to entertainment to business and beyond, Satan is at work. His tentacles reach far and wide. And his goal is to silence Christians because of the truth they possess. He uses methods to intimidate and threaten in order to quiet our voices. However, with the Holy Spirit living and active, Satan’s agenda cannot be rammed through. A posture we must take each day and an attitude of heart and mind we must put on is: we are overcomers in Christ. This passage in Revelation reminds us of this truth. As we go from day-to-day battle-weary and tired, we must remember our fight is not in vain. Through Christ we are literally pushing back the darkness and one day, darkness will be forever defeated. Satan will be thrown down and conquered — praise God. As we go through uncertain days, we must remember who we are and Whose we are: we are overcomers in Christ! Question for today: Where have I seen the enemy first-hand attacking me or those closest to me? How do I claim the blood of Jesus over those situation? Pray: Jesus, thank You that because You overcame, I can overcome. Help that be my identity as the enemy comes against me. Want to subscribe to the AS BOLD AS LIONS devotional and blog mailing list? Click here to sign up: https://derekcharlesjohnson.com/as-bold-as-lions Tune in to the weekly AS BOLD AS LIONS podcast, available on all major streaming platforms including: Spotify:https://spoti.fi/3DfKqbU Apple Podcasts:https://apple.co/3gp6jvJ Pandora: https://pandora.app.link/6RgTqIoe0gb Google Podcasts: https://bit.ly/3G4Zt86 iHeartRadio: https://ihr.fm/3UymTde My website podcast player: https://derekcharlesjohnson.com/podcast We’d love to hear from you! Email: info@derekcharlesjohnson.com Interested in hosting Derek for an event? Visit https://derekcharlesjohnson.com/contact

I Love To Tell The Story | Derek Charles Johnson Modern reworking of the hymn “I Love To Tell The Story.” Acoustic guitar and vocals by Derek Charles Johnson. Words: Katherine Hankey (1866) Music: William G. Fischer (1869) Listen to Derek’s cover of I Love To Tell The Story on Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3LalDdu ------------------------------------------------------------- WHERE TO FIND DEREK CHARLES JOHNSON: —MUSIC: Buy: https://derekcharlesjohnson.com/store Stream on Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3oD2mtH —RUMBLE: https://rumble.com/c/DerekCharlesJohnson —FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/derekcharlesjohnson1 —INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/derekcharlesjohnson/ ____________________________________________________________________ I LOVE TO TELL THE STORY LYRICS I love to tell the story of unseen things above, Of Jesus and His glory, of Jesus and His love; I love to tell the story, because I know ’tis true, It satisfies my longings as nothing else can do. I love to tell the story, ’Twill be my theme in glory, To tell the old, old story Of Jesus and His love. I love to tell the story, for those who know it best Seem hungering and thirsting to hear it like the rest; And when in scenes of glory I sing the new, new song, ’Twill be the old, old story that I have loved so long. I love to tell the story, ’Twill be my theme in glory, To tell the old, old story Of Jesus and His love. I love to tell the story, ’Twill be my theme in glory, To tell the old, old story Of Jesus and His love.

When Our Time Is Up | AS BOLD AS LIONS DEVOTIONAL | April 24, 2023 Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring. Proverbs 21:1 Have you ever been in a life-threatening situation in which without some outside intervention, things could go south really fast? Many cannot say they’ve experienced this but perhaps know someone who has. A near miss situation with another vehicle on the freeway. A bout with a serious illness. Perhaps being in the wrong place at the wrong time in terms of physical safety. In each scenario, there is a real “What if this is it?” type of thinking that goes on. “What if my life is cut short and I do not have tomorrow?” We pray for protection over our homes and our families. I believe God answers those prayers and have seen His protection even in small ways. It is good to pray for His mercies — when traveling, when going to work/school, when just doing life. But even beyond knowing He watches over us physically, we must know our eternal status is secure. Have we trusted in Christ? Are we leaning on Him daily? From there, are we telling others about Him so they can have that assurance and hope when they die? These are all reminders to us that life is short but we can know where we are going. When our time is up, we will be with Him! Question for today: Is there someone today that I need to witness to about Jesus? Am I praying for that person regularly? Pray: Jesus, if I have trusted in You and acknowledged You as Lord and Savior, I have assurance that I will go to Heaven and be with You one day. Help me bear witness to others who need to have that same assurance today. Want to subscribe to the AS BOLD AS LIONS devotional and blog mailing list? Click here to sign up: https://derekcharlesjohnson.com/as-bold-as-lions Tune in to the weekly AS BOLD AS LIONS podcast, available on all major streaming platforms including: Spotify:https://spoti.fi/3DfKqbU Apple Podcasts:https://apple.co/3gp6jvJ Pandora: https://pandora.app.link/6RgTqIoe0gb Google Podcasts: https://bit.ly/3G4Zt86 iHeartRadio: https://ihr.fm/3UymTde My website podcast player: https://derekcharlesjohnson.com/podcast We’d love to hear from you! Email: info@derekcharlesjohnson.com Interested in hosting Derek for an event? Visit https://derekcharlesjohnson.com/contact

This Is How We Change The World | AS BOLD AS LIONS DEVOTIONAL | April 21, 2023 So, whether you eat or drink, orwhatever you do, do all to the glory of God. Give no offense to Jews or to Greeks or tothe church of God,just asI try to please everyone in everything I do,not seeking my own advantage, but that of many, that they may be saved. 1 Corinthians 10:31-33 The Apostle Paul had a unique way of relating to those he was preaching the Gospel to. One might say he was able “get down on their level,” in order to be heard and understood. This didn’t always mean his message was accepted by others; quite the opposite in fact. Beatings and imprisonment marked his ministry. Yet in humility he made serving others a focus of his ministry. Why was this so important? Because in order to “win” some, he had to become like them; understanding what they identified with — whether Jew or Gentile, slave or free, and so on. Paul’s example is critical in a day and age when “identity” marks so much about a person. The culture today says “My identity is wrapped up in x, y, or z.” Somehow we must be able to meet people where they are at; even with misplaced and frankly, inaccurate views of themselves. It doesn’t mean we water down Scripture or become something that does not represent Christ. Jesus first modeled humility…He washed feet. We look at the ways in which we can serve and then point to Jesus; for His glory. Some will be drawn to learn more and even profess Christ. This is how we change the world, one person at at time. Question for today: How do I “wash the feet” of someone today and show Christ to them? Pray: Lord, like Jesus and your servant Paul, I just want to be a willing vessel that displays Your love and kindness. Show me how that is done today. Lead me to someone who just needs to see You. Want to subscribe to the AS BOLD AS LIONS devotional and blog mailing list? Click here to sign up: https://derekcharlesjohnson.com/as-bold-as-lions Tune in to the weekly AS BOLD AS LIONS podcast, available on all major streaming platforms including: Spotify:https://spoti.fi/3DfKqbU Apple Podcasts:https://apple.co/3gp6jvJ Pandora: https://pandora.app.link/6RgTqIoe0gb Google Podcasts: https://bit.ly/3G4Zt86 iHeartRadio: https://ihr.fm/3UymTde My website podcast player: https://derekcharlesjohnson.com/podcast We’d love to hear from you! Email: info@derekcharlesjohnson.com Interested in hosting Derek for an event? Visit https://derekcharlesjohnson.com/contact

It’s Time! | AS BOLD AS LIONS DEVOTIONAL | April 19, 2023 Do you not say, “There are yet four months, then comes the harvest”? Look, I tell you, lift up your eyes, and see that the fields are white for harvest. John 4:35 There is an urgency to preach and share the Gospel that I have not felt in my lifetime. Certainly we must always prioritize fulfilling the Great Commission. We read Jesus’ words in Matthew 28:8-10 (Great Commission passage), Matthew 9:36-38, and John 4:35 and we realize there is an element of “going out” and proclaiming this message of salvation. Oftentimes it is linked to the idea of a harvest. The crop is ready to be taken in, but the workers must go out into the fields. If we’re in Christ, we’ve realized this for awhile now. But have we taken time to consider just how short the days really are? As I consider all of this, one phrase comes to mind: It’s time. It’s time to have the conversations we’ve been putting off. It’s time to invite that friend or relative to church or to a Bible study. For me, it’s time to get to know my neighbors on more than just a surface level where we exchange pleasantries here and there. Because tomorrow is not promised. We are living in a window of time that is only open for a moment. Eventually it will shut. You and I may already have eternity figured out. But what about those who do not know Jesus? It’s time! Question for today: What is one conversation I need to have soon…perhaps today or this week? Pray: Lord help us to understand the urgency of the times. Help us not put off to tomorrow what needs to be done today. Want to subscribe to the AS BOLD AS LIONS devotional and blog mailing list? Click here to sign up: https://derekcharlesjohnson.com/as-bold-as-lions Tune in to the weekly AS BOLD AS LIONS podcast, available on all major streaming platforms including: Spotify:https://spoti.fi/3DfKqbU Apple Podcasts:https://apple.co/3gp6jvJ Pandora: https://pandora.app.link/6RgTqIoe0gb Google Podcasts: https://bit.ly/3G4Zt86 iHeartRadio: https://ihr.fm/3UymTde My website podcast player: https://derekcharlesjohnson.com/podcast We’d love to hear from you! Email: info@derekcharlesjohnson.com Interested in hosting Derek for an event? Visit https://derekcharlesjohnson.com/contact

The Things Money Cannot Buy | AS BOLD AS LIONS DEVOTIONAL | April 17, 2023 A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches, and favor is better than silver or gold. The rich and the poor meet together; theLordisthe Maker of them all. Proverbs 22:1,2 It can be easy to chase after the same things the world chases after. Money is often at the top of that list. Having wealth and access to all the things a person could ever want can bring a sense of security. It’s a way of saying to ourselves, “I’ll be alright. I have the resources I need and then some. Whether in good or bad times, what I have will keep me.” Problem is, this is a false way of thinking. It’s misplaced trust and ultimately, money can become an idol if we are not careful. Further, it becomes obvious what money cannot bring us: a good name (character) and right standing before God. Our character cannot be shaped by the amount of money we possess. This is evident throughout much of the Book of Proverbs. Riches often bring a sense of pride and arrogance that lead to a disconnect with others. This is not always the case but as Christians we must use money to bring glory to God, not the other way around — glory to ourselves. The integrity we have and the placement before God are in our control: do we choose to humbly submit all that we are to Him? This includes our pocketbooks. There are things money can never buy and we do well to invest in God’s word in order to find them. Question for today: If character matters, how do I see my own desires at odds with what God wants to do in me? Pray: Lord I acknowledge that what the world strives for and what You desire for me are two different things. Help me surrender areas of my life (money, status, etc) to Your will. Want to subscribe to the AS BOLD AS LIONS devotional and blog mailing list? Click here to sign up: https://derekcharlesjohnson.com/as-bold-as-lions Tune in to the weekly AS BOLD AS LIONS podcast, available on all major streaming platforms including: Spotify:https://spoti.fi/3DfKqbU Apple Podcasts:https://apple.co/3gp6jvJ Pandora: https://pandora.app.link/6RgTqIoe0gb Google Podcasts: https://bit.ly/3G4Zt86 iHeartRadio: https://ihr.fm/3UymTde My website podcast player: https://derekcharlesjohnson.com/podcast We’d love to hear from you! Email: info@derekcharlesjohnson.com Interested in hosting Derek for an event? Visit https://derekcharlesjohnson.com/contact

The Words We Speak Over Ourselves | AS BOLD AS LIONS DEVOTIONAL | April 14, 2023 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. 2 Corinthians 5:17 The words we say and speak about others are powerful. And sometimes we must repent for the things that come out of our mouths that are said in error. But what about the words and thoughts we harbor about ourselves? Just as stinging are the lies we believe that profess harmful untruths. “You’re not good enough. You’ve failed before, you’ll fail again. How do you even call yourself a Christian?” Most of the time these lies come from the enemy’s whisper into our ears. Often they come during an especially vulnerable moment. Rather than rejecting the lie at face value, we consider it, mull it over, and begin to internalize it. I was struck a few weeks ago about the words I believe about myself in a moment of worship on a Sunday morning. “I am a child of God” was a reminder I needed to hear and speak over my life. For as much wrongful thinking we do in a week, we need to keep coming back to truth: what God’s word says about us in Christ. The verse today from 2 Corinthians is truth. It says we are not the people we once used to be. In Christ, we are made new. We have a new identity and because of that, we have freedom from wrongful thoughts and words. When we begin to grasp this more fully, our whole perspective and purpose begins to change…for the good! Question for today: What’s a lie I’ve believed about myself that Christ calls me to lay down today? Pray: Jesus help me to think right thoughts about myself today and to speak right words. My identity is wrapped up in You. Want to subscribe to the AS BOLD AS LIONS devotional and blog mailing list? Click here to sign up: https://derekcharlesjohnson.com/as-bold-as-lions Tune in to the weekly AS BOLD AS LIONS podcast, available on all major streaming platforms including: Spotify:https://spoti.fi/3DfKqbU Apple Podcasts:https://apple.co/3gp6jvJ Pandora: https://pandora.app.link/6RgTqIoe0gb Google Podcasts: https://bit.ly/3G4Zt86 iHeartRadio: https://ihr.fm/3UymTde My website podcast player: https://derekcharlesjohnson.com/podcast We’d love to hear from you! Email: info@derekcharlesjohnson.com Interested in hosting Derek for an event? Visit https://derekcharlesjohnson.com/contact

It’s No Different Today | AS BOLD AS LIONS DEVOTIONAL | April 12, 2023 “But about the resurrection of the dead—have you not read what God said to you, ‘I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob’? He is not the God of the dead but of the living.” When the crowds heard this, they were astonished at his teaching. Matthew 22:31-33 As Jesus gets closer to his crucifixion, the gathering crowds hang on every word He speaks. Jealous of His influence on the masses, the Sadducees and Pharisees attempt various lines of questioning to try and trip Him up. From issues of authority or taxes or marriage/remarriage, the religious leaders plot to somehow take Him down. But Jesus responds in a way that perfectly diffuses the situation and leaves no doubt about His authority — on all matters. When the crowds witness the truth spoken in such a way, they are left astounded and moved. When we allow the Holy Spirit to bring discernment into our lives, He speaks words of truth through us to those we encounter. Truly it is Christ speaking in us and through us…on our own we are not able to comprehend such things. How do we deepen this level of spiritual acuity? It comes through relationship: getting to know Jesus through His word and through prayer. The disciples continued the work of Christ after His death and resurrection. It was made possible by waiting on the Holy Spirit and then being empowered to go. Many signs and wonders followed…it’s no different for us today. Question for today: Do I expect the same miracles to happen today that I read about in the Bible? Why or why not? Pray: Lord give me a level of faith that expects You to move in my day. Use me as a vessel to speak Your truth. Want to subscribe to the AS BOLD AS LIONS devotional and blog mailing list? Click here to sign up: https://derekcharlesjohnson.com/as-bold-as-lions Tune in to the weekly AS BOLD AS LIONS podcast, available on all major streaming platforms including: Spotify:https://spoti.fi/3DfKqbU Apple Podcasts:https://apple.co/3gp6jvJ Pandora: https://pandora.app.link/6RgTqIoe0gb Google Podcasts: https://bit.ly/3G4Zt86 iHeartRadio: https://ihr.fm/3UymTde My website podcast player: https://derekcharlesjohnson.com/podcast We’d love to hear from you! Email: info@derekcharlesjohnson.com Interested in hosting Derek for an event? Visit https://derekcharlesjohnson.com/contact

What’s Best Left Unsaid | AS BOLD AS LIONS DEVOTIONAL | April 10, 2023 So also the tongue is a small member, yetit boasts of great things. How great a forest is set ablaze by such a small fire! Andthe tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness. James 3:5,6 The Book of James is a favorite of mine. What always convicts me are the verses in James 3 that pertain to the tongue. Essentially the entire book is about character and conduct. What does it mean to be a Christian? How does that manifest and show up in everyday life? If we are being real, the tongue (our words…spoken or typed) are powerful. James recognizes this and compares a tongue’s control over the body to other small objects with lots of pull (a bit in the mouth of a horse, a rudder on a ship, a small spark that starts a forest fire). The tongue can do so much damage. Within this study on the power of words, I’ve been compelled to think about what it is I don’t say…and should leave unsaid. Often there’s the need to get in the last word. To be right. To win the argument. But is that what I’m called to in Christ? Most often, no. There’s always a temptation to have those words be spoken. To make sure that I’m heard. But in sincere humility, Christ went to the cross in silence. He modeled holding one’s tongue in a moment when He could have said so much. When we can hold our tongues we minimize damage and untold fallout. Sometimes it’s just best to leave things unsaid. Question for today: Jesus had every right to say something but didn’t. I can often have no right to say something but speak anyway. How can I be more like Christ today by carefully choosing my words? Pray: Jesus as always I thank You for Your example. Help me live in a way that honors and pleases you with my words. Want to subscribe to the AS BOLD AS LIONS devotional and blog mailing list? Click here to sign up: https://derekcharlesjohnson.com/as-bold-as-lions Tune in to the weekly AS BOLD AS LIONS podcast, available on all major streaming platforms including: Spotify:https://spoti.fi/3DfKqbU Apple Podcasts:https://apple.co/3gp6jvJ Pandora: https://pandora.app.link/6RgTqIoe0gb Google Podcasts: https://bit.ly/3G4Zt86 iHeartRadio: https://ihr.fm/3UymTde My website podcast player: https://derekcharlesjohnson.com/podcast We’d love to hear from you! Email: info@derekcharlesjohnson.com Interested in hosting Derek for an event? Visit https://derekcharlesjohnson.com/contact

Look At Him And Be Saved | AS BOLD AS LIONS DEVOTIONAL | April 7, 2023 Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes may have eternal life in him.” John 3:14 In the Book of Numbers in the Old Testament, Moses leads the people in the wilderness. The Israelites are tired and hungry and start to lash out. Their complaints are directed towards Moses and God and in the midst of their grumbling, God sends venomous snakes among them. The people are bit and some of them die. Others get very sick. But even in the sickness, God gives a means for the people to be healed: The Lord said to Moses, “Make a snake and put it up on a pole; anyone who is bitten can look at it and live.” So Moses made a bronze snake and put it up on a pole. Then when anyone was bitten by a snake and looked at the bronze snake, they lived. Numbers 21:8,9 This Old Testament event foreshadowed a promise to come in the New Testament: Jesus would be lifted up just as the bronze snake was. To gaze upon Christ would also bring life; spiritually He would heal anyone who would come to Him. Jesus became the sacrifice that imparted grace to us; something we could not deserve or earn. On a day that remembers His death, we can take heart: because the Son of God died, our sins can be forgiven. And because He rose again, we can have new life in Him as well. We must look to Him and be saved. We must point others to do the same. Question for today: Have I looked at Christ and accepted His free gift of salvation? Pray: Lord I thank You that Your word is complete. Your promises all hold true. Thank you Jesus for going to cross for me! Want to subscribe to the AS BOLD AS LIONS devotional and blog mailing list? Click here to sign up: https://derekcharlesjohnson.com/as-bold-as-lions Tune in to the weekly AS BOLD AS LIONS podcast, available on all major streaming platforms including: Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3DfKqbU Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3gp6jvJ Pandora: https://pandora.app.link/6RgTqIoe0gb Google Podcasts: https://bit.ly/3G4Zt86 iHeartRadio: https://ihr.fm/3UymTde My website podcast player: https://derekcharlesjohnson.com/podcast We’d love to hear from you! Email: info@derekcharlesjohnson.com Interested in hosting Derek for an event? Visit https://derekcharlesjohnson.com/contact

God Of All by Derek Charles Johnson, streaming on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/track/4OtCgueXstwG9kPId4sojk?si=d106b62839054684

Singing Of The Cross | AS BOLD AS LIONS DEVOTIONAL | April 5, 2023 For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. 1 Corinthians 1:18 There is nothing quite like the point at which a sinner recognizes his or her need for Jesus. If we are in Christ, we all have come to that point some time during our lives. It’s a moment in which our shame and His sacrifice collide. In our hearts, we feel the burden to acknowledge our need for Him. In our minds, we know the weight of sin we carry as we replay it over and over again. And in our spirits, we recognize the emptiness that exists without His Spirit. In short, the moment we say “yes” to Jesus is the moment of much joy and hope. For me, some of the most powerful messages of the cross outside of Scripture are those songs and hymns which tell the story; the story of our sin debt being paid by our Savior. Songs like Jesus Paid It All, Amazing Grace, or The Old Rugged Cross. These are songs in which the listener can agree, “Yes I once was lost too. I was a messed up sinner. It wasn’t until Jesus came that I truly found life.” This week is a great time to revisit that moment you recognized your need for Jesus; maybe even to sing of it! It’s a wonderful time to reaffirm that His work on the cross is enough for you. It’s the hope we carry into each and every day this side of eternity. Question for today: Can I go back and remember the time I asked Jesus to be Lord over my life? What was it like? What does it still mean to me today? Pray: Jesus I am thankful that You went to cross on my behalf. I sing of Your salvation. Want to subscribe to the AS BOLD AS LIONS devotional and blog mailing list? Click here to sign up: https://derekcharlesjohnson.com/as-bold-as-lions Tune in to the weekly AS BOLD AS LIONS podcast, available on all major streaming platforms including: Spotify:https://spoti.fi/3DfKqbU Apple Podcasts:https://apple.co/3gp6jvJ Pandora: https://pandora.app.link/6RgTqIoe0gb Google Podcasts: https://bit.ly/3G4Zt86 iHeartRadio: https://ihr.fm/3UymTde My website podcast player: https://derekcharlesjohnson.com/podcast We’d love to hear from you! Email: info@derekcharlesjohnson.com Interested in hosting Derek for an event? Visit https://derekcharlesjohnson.com/contact

My Hope Is In The Cross by Derek Charles Johnson Stream on Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3zAw6K1

Are You Born Again? | AS BOLD AS LIONS DEVOTIONAL | April 3, 2023 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to His great mercy, He has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. 1 Peter 1:3 One of the key identifiers of a “Christian” I heard growing up was the term “born again Christian.” In my naivety, it seemed like more of a qualifier than anything else. There are perhaps people who just believed in Christ and then there are those who are truly “born again”! But as I reflect on this terminology, it still seems to be an important distinction and even a clarification we must reconcile. As Peter states in his letter, it is Christ that has caused us to be born again…not born of blood and water but of the Spirit (as Christ laid out to Nicodemus in John 3). So why make a big deal out of this? Should we even mention it? I believe it’s important. To truly be a Christian, one must be born again. It can be easy to claim “Oh I’m a Christian” and even believe because mom or dad (or someone else) believed, we believe too. But the access to that “living hope” Peter speaks of only comes to those who profess a faith in Jesus Christ. A faith marked by confession of sin, repentance, and an acknowledgment of Him as Lord and Savior. For that person, the status of “born again” is conveyed with all its rights and privileges. As we examine our lives may we do so with confidence if we’ve made this decision. From there, may we be motivated to ask those we encounter this simple question: Are you born again? Question for today: Is there one person today that I need to ask “Are you born again” to? Pray: God open up opportunities for conversations to happen with those who need to know Jesus. Want to subscribe to the AS BOLD AS LIONS devotional and blog mailing list? Click here to sign up: https://derekcharlesjohnson.com/as-bold-as-lions Tune in to the weekly AS BOLD AS LIONS podcast, available on all major streaming platforms including: Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3DfKqbU Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3gp6jvJ Pandora: https://pandora.app.link/6RgTqIoe0gb Google Podcasts: https://bit.ly/3G4Zt86 iHeartRadio: https://ihr.fm/3UymTde My website podcast player: https://derekcharlesjohnson.com/podcast We’d love to hear from you! Email: info@derekcharlesjohnson.com Interested in hosting Derek for an event? Visit https://derekcharlesjohnson.com/contact

Listen on Spotify: https://spoti.fi/431JZhV Apple Music: https://apple.co/40CrI9a YouTube Music: https://bit.ly/3G7Z0EM Pandora: https://pandora.app.link/ORZW6nYTEyb Amazon Music: https://amzn.to/3U9odEU

Just Sitting In His Presence | AS BOLD AS LIONS DEVOTIONAL | March 31, 2023 But few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her. Luke 10:42 When Mary and Martha are described in the Gospels, we often identify with one or the other. Mary was the one willing to be still and remain in Jesus’ presence. Martha on the other hand, was thedoer: she had tasks to get done and wanted others to help. Naturally I think we can fall into one camp or the other and there are merits to each at times. But often it’s the heart of Mary which is a trait and common practice we should develop. Some are better at it than others. It certainly does not mean that a Martha personality is wrong. But it does give us a reason to ask “What are our priorities and what can we cut out of our day?” Sitting at the feet of Jesus is always a priority we must have. How this looks might be different from person to person. It might be a devotional you read (like this one), a quiet time you have with the Lord on your commute, or some other way your carve out time each day with God. The main point is that this time is regularly built into the day and it is safeguarded. Other demands will always try to rob our time with God. Finding time to pull away and just spend a few minutes in the word and in prayer is so beneficial to the believer. Mary gave us a wonderful example to follow: just sit in His presence awhile today! Question for today: How am I carving out time in my day to be still before the Lord? Pray: God I am grateful for every minute I get to spend in prayer with You. Go before me into this day. Want to subscribe to the AS BOLD AS LIONS devotional and blog mailing list? Click here to sign up: https://derekcharlesjohnson.com/as-bold-as-lions Tune in to the weekly AS BOLD AS LIONS podcast, available on all major streaming platforms including: Spotify:https://spoti.fi/3DfKqbU Apple Podcasts:https://apple.co/3gp6jvJ Pandora: https://pandora.app.link/6RgTqIoe0gb Google Podcasts: https://bit.ly/3G4Zt86 iHeartRadio: https://ihr.fm/3UymTde My website podcast player: https://derekcharlesjohnson.com/podcast We’d love to hear from you! Email: info@derekcharlesjohnson.com Interested in hosting Derek for an event? Visit https://derekcharlesjohnson.com/contact

Obedience Over Sacrifice | AS BOLD AS LIONS DEVOTIONAL | March 29, 2023 Then Samuel said: “Does the LORD take pleasure in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the LORD?” 1 Samuel 15:22 Saul was a king who could execute a battle plan successfully. He was a warrior; able to engage the enemy and conquer Israel’s foe. But his fatal flaw was being unable to completely carry out the instructions God gave him. In 1 Samuel 15, Saul defeats the Amalekites but spares their king and several livestock even though his instructions are to destroy everything. Instead of obeying, Saul sets up an altar and offers a sacrifice to God. In this, God is not pleased and rejects him as king. David was a king who was after God’s heart. Hungry, humble, and obedient, he followed God’s command to the letter and didn’t seek to take the kingship by force, waiting until God gave it to him. David made mistakes too, but he was quick to repent and turn away from his sin. Saul let his pride get in the way. In these two lives, there is much we can learn about persistence and waiting for God’s perfect timing. Question for today: If God sees obedience as more desirable than sacrifice, how do I apply this to my life? Pray: Lord, keep me humble today knowing that you delight in an obedient heart. Forgive me for pridefully trying to do things on my own. Want to subscribe to the AS BOLD AS LIONS devotional and blog mailing list? Click here to sign up: https://derekcharlesjohnson.com/as-bold-as-lions Tune in to the weekly AS BOLD AS LIONS podcast, available on all major streaming platforms including: Spotify:https://spoti.fi/3DfKqbU Apple Podcasts:https://apple.co/3gp6jvJ Pandora: https://pandora.app.link/6RgTqIoe0gb Google Podcasts: https://bit.ly/3G4Zt86 iHeartRadio: https://ihr.fm/3UymTde My website podcast player: https://derekcharlesjohnson.com/podcast We’d love to hear from you! Email: info@derekcharlesjohnson.com Interested in hosting Derek for an event? Visit https://derekcharlesjohnson.com/contact

The Same Kindness | AS BOLD AS LIONS DEVOTIONAL | March 27, 2023 And walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved usand gave himself up for usas a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. Ephesians 5:2 There is true heart-change that goes on the more the love and kindness of Christ indwells within us. Things we would never have cared about before start to break our hearts. Needs that we see in the world around us begin gnawing at our souls. We may look at the world and even ponder things like: Who is going to feed them? Who is going to clothe them? Who is going to take care of them? Who is going to share Christ with them??? We begin to see the world through fresh eyes; eyes I believe we were always meant to have before sin and the fall tarnished our view. Christ is the first one to show us how to truly see. Jesus’ death on the cross is love in action. It is kindness to the ultimate degree. And we are called to walk this path. We know the journey can be difficult. We know the flesh rears its ugly head from time to time and we get more concerned about our rights and our privileges. But the Christian man or woman is called to a different lifestyle. You can see it in chapter after chapter of Matthew through John. Jesus has a sincere love that doesn’t turn away but extends itself time and time again. His acts of kindness are not random and are not by chance. They are intentional and they point to Who He is. We are inhabited by that same Spirit and it calls us to display the same kindness. Question for today: What is one act of kindness I can display to someone right now? Pray: Jesus thank You for Your example of kindness. It is what draws us to repent and turn towards You. Want to subscribe to the AS BOLD AS LIONS devotional and blog mailing list? Click here to sign up: https://derekcharlesjohnson.com/as-bold-as-lions Tune in to the weekly AS BOLD AS LIONS podcast, available on all major streaming platforms including: Spotify:https://spoti.fi/3DfKqbU Apple Podcasts:https://apple.co/3gp6jvJ Pandora: https://pandora.app.link/6RgTqIoe0gb Google Podcasts: https://bit.ly/3G4Zt86 iHeartRadio: https://ihr.fm/3UymTde My website podcast player: https://derekcharlesjohnson.com/podcast We’d love to hear from you! Email: info@derekcharlesjohnson.com Interested in hosting Derek for an event? Visit https://derekcharlesjohnson.com/contact

Trusting With A Whole Heart | AS BOLD AS LIONS DEVOTIONAL | March 24, 2023 Trust in theLordwith all your heart, anddo not lean on your own understanding. In all your waysacknowledge Him, and Hewill make straight your paths. Proverbs 3:5,6 Proverbs 3:5,6 is a favorite Bible verse of mine and one I try to recall as I go through life. There’s a simplicity in these words of Solomon that is easy to miss. So often we look for the deeper meaning behind a passage; we may even read something into a verse that simply isn’t there (context is key). The command that begins this verse could not be more direct and to the point:trust withallyour heart. Trust is not a half-hearted effort. It’s not an on-gain, off-again sort of thing. No, it is an all-consuming, all-in level of faith that doesn’t waver from moment to moment. How is that lived out in a practical way? For me, one of the simplest applications is to not close God’s word and go about my daily business; ignoring what I just read. I can go from reading the Bible to watching the news and go from a place of 100% trust to a place of 50% trust (or less). Circumstances can change my level of trust but they shouldn’t. If Solomon writes“with all your heart,”he knows the tendency is to give less. From moment to moment, I must remind myself that my hope is not tied to my feelings or my status in this life. It is built upon solid rock. My trust remains unchangeable despite what changes around me. We must trust with whole hearts. Question for today: What things tend to cause my trust to waver? How do I keep coming back to the hope I have in the Lord? Pray: God help me trust You with all of my heart today! Want to subscribe to the AS BOLD AS LIONS devotional and blog mailing list? Click here to sign up: https://derekcharlesjohnson.com/as-bold-as-lions Tune in to the weekly AS BOLD AS LIONS podcast, available on all major streaming platforms including: Spotify:https://spoti.fi/3DfKqbU Apple Podcasts:https://apple.co/3gp6jvJ Pandora: https://pandora.app.link/6RgTqIoe0gb Google Podcasts: https://bit.ly/3G4Zt86 iHeartRadio: https://ihr.fm/3UymTde My website podcast player: https://derekcharlesjohnson.com/podcast We’d love to hear from you! Email: info@derekcharlesjohnson.com Interested in hosting Derek for an event? Visit https://derekcharlesjohnson.com/contact

The Intersection Of Faith And Fear | AS BOLD AS LIONS DEVOTIONAL | March 22, 2023 Then He said to them, “Why are you fearful? Do you still have no faith?” Mark 4:40 Waking up we are daily confronted with two choices: the choice to serve ourselves or the choice to surrender and serve Christ. In those two extremes, we find ourselves choosing a path of faith or a path of fear. If we choose to do things our own way and in our own power, we ultimately allow fear to mark our lives. Why? Because decisions made out of fear are not based upon trust and surrender. They are based upon a false belief that God doesn’t have our best interests in mind. We know better and “can take things from here God, thank you very much.” Getting up everyday and choosing fear can lead to a life that never sees its true, God-given potential. So what then are we to do? First of all, start your day off reminding yourself Who is in control. Who is it that lives inside of you, that you pledged your heart to? If Jesus is Lord, all it takes is a simple prayer, saying “God be my ruler and my ultimate authority today.” In the words of a famous song, “Jesus, take the wheel” is appropriate and not trite at all. It acknowledges that the driver’s seat can be occupied by one of two people: me or Jesus. By starting your day with the realization that your life is His and not your own, you will be able to move forward putting faith over fear in every situation. Your trust will develop and strengthen over time and you’ll look back seeing moments where you truly grew as a follower of Christ. Each day these roads converge in our minds: have the ability to choose faith and deny fear each and every time! Question for today: How am I applying this very message to a specific area of my life today (perhaps an unmet need…health-related, financial, employment or otherwise)? Pray: God, I surrender my life to you once again knowing that surrender is an everyday thing, not a one-and-done event. I choose faith over fear. I choose You over me. Want to subscribe to the AS BOLD AS LIONS devotional and blog mailing list? Click here to sign up: https://derekcharlesjohnson.com/as-bold-as-lions Tune in to the weekly AS BOLD AS LIONS podcast, available on all major streaming platforms including: Spotify:https://spoti.fi/3DfKqbU Apple Podcasts:https://apple.co/3gp6jvJ Pandora: https://pandora.app.link/6RgTqIoe0gb Google Podcasts: https://bit.ly/3G4Zt86 iHeartRadio: https://ihr.fm/3UymTde My website podcast player: https://derekcharlesjohnson.com/podcast We’d love to hear from you! Email: info@derekcharlesjohnson.com Interested in hosting Derek for an event? Visit https://derekcharlesjohnson.com/contact

Will You Go? | AS BOLD AS LIONS DEVOTIONAL | March 20, 2023 And I heard the voice of the LORD saying, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” Then I said, “Here I am! Send me.” Isaiah 6:8 In the opening chapters of Isaiah, there is a clear indication of what the book will be about: the judgement of God’s people and His desire to restore them following their punishment. In these early chapters an interesting scene is described; a scene most have no concept for: the throne room of heaven. Isaiah was given a glimpse into the worship of angels singing “Holy, holy, holy” and of the Lord Himself. He felt unworthy. He felt unclean. He was broken over his own impurity before a holy God. But in Isaiah 6:6,7, we read that his guilt was atoned for; his shame was taken away so that he could stand before the Lord. Isaiah next receives a burden to go and tell the people of Israel about everything that would be coming. Some of it would not be happy news. Most of it was not. But the Lord impressed upon him the need to write and to share: to be a watchman to warn his fellow Israelites so they could turn back to God. This same burden that was laid upon Isaiah is a burden we should be aware of as well. God does not pick perfect people to carry out His will. He uses vessels like you and I. Into this call, He is looking for obedience. He is looking for surrender and willingness. Isaiah heard the Lord’s voice asking “Who will go?” When it comes to God’s mission for your life and where He wants to use you, are you willing to say “Here I am! Send me.”? Question for today: Am I willing to respond to God’s call when He asks me to do something; even if it seems difficult or overwhelming? Pray: Lord I pray my heart is always willing to say “Here I am! Send me.” Despite what the obstacles look like, help me trust that You go before me and will prepare the way. Want to subscribe to the AS BOLD AS LIONS devotional and blog mailing list? Click here to sign up: https://derekcharlesjohnson.com/as-bold-as-lions Tune in to the weekly AS BOLD AS LIONS podcast, available on all major streaming platforms including: Spotify:https://spoti.fi/3DfKqbU Apple Podcasts:https://apple.co/3gp6jvJ Pandora: https://pandora.app.link/6RgTqIoe0gb Google Podcasts: https://bit.ly/3G4Zt86 iHeartRadio: https://ihr.fm/3UymTde My website podcast player: https://derekcharlesjohnson.com/podcast We’d love to hear from you! Email: info@derekcharlesjohnson.com Interested in hosting Derek for an event? Visit https://derekcharlesjohnson.com/contact

What Will It Be Like? | AS BOLD AS LIONS DEVOTIONAL | March 17, 2023 The streets of the city were made of pure gold, clear as crystal. Revelation 21:21 In the famous song “I Can Only Imagine” by the band MercyMe, there are these lines: Surrounded by Your glory
What will my heart feel?
Will I dance for You Jesus
Or in awe of You be still?
Will I stand in Your presence
Or to my knees, will I fall?
Will I sing hallelujah?
Will I be able to speak at all? It can be such an incredible thing to start to process — the reality of Heaven and what it will be like. What will we be like? What will it be like to see loved ones who have passed? What will it be to finally stand in the presence of our Savior and see Jesus face to face? Even now it’s overwhelming to start to think upon it. And just like the song, I cannot begin to imagine what it will be like when I’m finally there. There is a lot that is wrong with this world. There is an aching in our hearts because we know it is not how it should be. But we feel that way because we were meant for something this world does not offer — we were created to have fellowship with the Lord. Sin marred that relationship. But Jesus payed the penalty so that our broken fellowship could be restored. Heaven is the culmination of it all. We must not cling too tightly on this life. We fix our eyes on the eternal! Question for today: If Heaven is really real, how does that change my perspective in the day-to-day? What things become less important? Pray: Thank You Lord for preparing a place for those who love You. We cannot imagine what Heaven will be like but we eagerly anticipate being there with You. Want to subscribe to the AS BOLD AS LIONS devotional and blog mailing list? Click here to sign up: https://derekcharlesjohnson.com/as-bold-as-lions Tune in to the weekly AS BOLD AS LIONS podcast, available on all major streaming platforms including: Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3DfKqbU Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3gp6jvJ Pandora: https://pandora.app.link/6RgTqIoe0gb Google Podcasts: https://bit.ly/3G4Zt86 iHeartRadio: https://ihr.fm/3UymTde My website podcast player: https://derekcharlesjohnson.com/podcast We’d love to hear from you! Email: info@derekcharlesjohnson.com Interested in hosting Derek for an event? Visit https://derekcharlesjohnson.com/contact

Who Can Know The Plans Of The Lord? | AS BOLD AS LIONS DEVOTIONAL | March 15, 2023 In the days when the judges ruled there was a famine in the land, and a man of Bethlehem in Judah went to sojourn in the country of Moab, he and his wife and his two sons. Ruth 1:1 The story of Ruth starts with an unlikely catalyst event which brings a cascade of other events: a famine occurs in the land of Judah. Because of this, a man named Elimelech and his wife Naomi venture to a Moab, a foreign land. Here, Elimelech’s sons take Moabite wives, one of which is Ruth. Sadly, after a few years the daughters-in-law and Naomi are left as widows and are faced with the question of “What now?” Naomi decides to go back to her homeland alone yet Ruth clings to her saying “Your people shall be my people, and your God my God.” (Ruth 1:16). From there we know much of the rest of the story as God divinely orchestrates the meeting of Ruth and Boaz. Boaz becomes their “kinsman redeemer” and Ruth is grafted into the line of Christ, becoming the great-great-grandmother of David. When we read a story like this, we cannot mistake the sovereign hand of the Lord. God uses a famine to bring about His will and from there, the pieces start coming together. We don’t always know why certain things happen in our lives. But the Lord does. With Him there are no accidents; nothing is “purely coincidence” or chance. While we navigate twists and turns in life, our constant response before God must be “What are You trying to say to me through this?” Events may seem ordinary and mundane in and of themselves. But over a series of time, He is writing a beautiful story with your life. Who can know the plans of the Lord? We may not, but we can trust Him. Question for today: God led the paths of Naomi and Ruth to cross. How have I seen Him orchestrate things that ended up having a profound impact on my life? Pray: God I may not always know why certain things occur. Regardless I can trust You with my life. Want to subscribe to the AS BOLD AS LIONS devotional and blog mailing list? Click here to sign up: https://derekcharlesjohnson.com/as-bold-as-lions Tune in to the weekly AS BOLD AS LIONS podcast, available on all major streaming platforms including: Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3DfKqbU Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3gp6jvJ Pandora: https://pandora.app.link/6RgTqIoe0gb Google Podcasts: https://bit.ly/3G4Zt86 iHeartRadio: https://ihr.fm/3UymTde My website podcast player: https://derekcharlesjohnson.com/podcast We’d love to hear from you! Email: info@derekcharlesjohnson.com Interested in hosting Derek for an event? Visit https://derekcharlesjohnson.com/contact

Are You The One? | AS BOLD AS LIONS DEVOTIONAL | March 13, 2023 And Jesus answered them,“Go and tell John what you hear and see: the blind receive their sight and the lame walk, lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear, and the dead are raised up, and the poor have good news preached to them. And blessed is the one who is not offended by Me.” Matthew 11:4-6 As John the Baptist sat in a prison cell, we can understand his “shadow of doubt experience” as an uncertain fate loomed over his life. He had been the herald and forerunner for the Messiah. He had prepared many for Jesus’ coming, baptizing them in a baptism of repentance. Yet he had lingering doubts at the end of his life and must have pondered these questions: Have I “prepared the way” for the right person? Will Jesus come and save me or is this it? The disciples of John came to Jesus and asked Him “Are You the one who is to come, or shall we look for another?” (Matthew 11:2) We too can face doubts in our walk with Christ — doubts that can shake our faith. John had seen Christ up close and even heard the voice of God as he baptized his own cousin. Yet in a prison cell, we see some cracks emerge in his faith. He wants to know for sure: Is Jesus the one? Jesus’ response is a reminder of what He has done and is doing: the blind see, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, and even the dead are raised. In essence He is stating, “Yes John, I am the One.” With confidence, John could face the uncertainty before him knowing his work was not in vain. He would finish well. Are we able to do the same and declare, “Yes Jesus, You are the one”? Question for today: John faced doubts even after being close to Jesus. We can face doubts even after the intimate times we have with our Lord. How do we keep going back to the truth that He is the Messiah? Pray: Lord I thank You that You do not dismiss us in our doubts or questions. Help us to see what You have done, what You are doing now, and what You will do and let those things keep our faith unshakable. Want to subscribe to the AS BOLD AS LIONS devotional and blog mailing list? Click here to sign up: https://derekcharlesjohnson.com/as-bold-as-lions Tune in to the weekly AS BOLD AS LIONS podcast, available on all major streaming platforms including: Spotify:https://spoti.fi/3DfKqbU Apple Podcasts:https://apple.co/3gp6jvJ Pandora: https://pandora.app.link/6RgTqIoe0gb Google Podcasts: https://bit.ly/3G4Zt86 iHeartRadio: https://ihr.fm/3UymTde My website podcast player: https://derekcharlesjohnson.com/podcast We’d love to hear from you! Email: info@derekcharlesjohnson.com Interested in hosting Derek for an event? Visit https://derekcharlesjohnson.com/contact