Gems of Knowledge

Today’s One Year Bible Verses: Isaiah 62:6–65:25 | Philippians 2:19–3:4 | Psalm 73:1–28 | Proverbs 24:13–14

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Always Faithful

Sometimes God uses the most unexpected things to remind us what faithfulness looks like. This week, He used my dog.

She was hit by a car. Thankfully, the driver immediately came and told us what had happened, but when I found her, she was in shock. Her belly was badly swollen and scraped from the road. She was shaking, breathing rapidly, and her heart was pounding as she lay beside me. I truly thought she was going to die.

All the vets were closed, and I felt completely helpless. So I sat beside her, petting her and soothing her until her body finally began to calm. Eventually, she sat up and stared toward the back of our property, then looked back at me.

I didn’t know what else to do, so I prayed.

I laid my hands on her broken, hurting body and asked God to heal her. I wasn’t going to leave her. But as darkness came, she slowly began moving away from me. A few inches at first. She would look into the darkness, look back at me, then move a little farther. Eventually she was about ten feet away.

I wondered if perhaps she couldn’t rest with me hovering over her, so I went inside for about twenty minutes to eat dinner.

When I came back—she was gone.

I panicked. I grabbed a flashlight and searched our property but couldn’t find her. Finally, my husband went looking. We have several acres, and when he returned, he looked almost speechless.

“Did you find her?”

Yes.

And I wasn’t prepared for what he told me.

Our badly injured dog had made her way all the way into the back field. She was sitting upright, on duty, guarding us and her property just as she does every night.

We were blown away.

She was hurting. She had just been hit by a car. Yet somehow, in her little dog mind, she still had a job to do. She wasn’t thinking about herself. She was watching over those she loved.

And I couldn’t help thinking, Lord, if only I had a fraction of that kind of dedication to what You have called me to do.

Then I read today’s Scripture:

“O Jerusalem, I have posted watchmen on your walls; they will pray day and night, continually. Take no rest, all you who pray to the LORD. Give the LORD no rest until he completes his work…”
—Isaiah 62:6–7 NLT

Watchmen.

There was my dog, injured and hurting, still keeping watch. There was Isaiah’s picture of watchmen refusing to stop praying. And beyond both of them, I saw something greater: the faithfulness of God Himself.

God does not abandon His post. He does not become distracted or lose interest halfway through our story. He is faithful to complete what He has begun.

Jesus showed us what that kind of love looks like when He went to the cross. He knew what awaited Him, yet He remained obedient to the Father and gave Himself for those He loved. Philippians tells us that He “humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross” (Philippians 2:8 NLT).

That is devotion. That is faithfulness. That is love.

And part of God’s work in our lives is healing.

This morning’s Gem spoke directly to that:

“A doctor can heal only by using the gifts and talents I give, and only when I allow it. Their failures are to keep them humble and remind them they aren’t God, although some may never get past themselves in this life or the life to come. If you want true healing, come to Me. I will heal you inside and out. You just got to ask, believing. Amen.”

I had prayed through the night that God would help my girl. The next morning, by His grace, she was still alive—and still watching. I scooped her up and rushed her to the animal hospital.

And praise God, nothing was broken. They believe she is going to make it.

I am incredibly grateful for the veterinary professionals who were able to examine and care for her. But I also know where I turned when there was no veterinarian available and nothing I could do. I turned to God. And whether He works through a doctor, a veterinarian, medicine, the body’s own healing processes, or in a way we cannot explain, He remains the source we ultimately depend upon.

Psalm 73:26 says, “My health may fail, and my spirit may grow weak, but God remains the strength of my heart; he is mine forever.” (NLT)

I prayed for healing, and God answered. But somewhere in the middle of asking Him to teach me something, He used my injured little watchdog to teach me about dedication.

It’s quite humbling that I needed a dog to remind me.

May we be that faithful. May we keep watch, keep praying, keep loving, and keep doing what God has entrusted to us—even when it costs us something.

And above all, may we remember that our dedication will always be only a faint reflection of His.

Our God is still on watch. He is still working. And He will remain faithful until His work is finished.

Will we? 💎

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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!

Consider what God has entrusted to you. Is there an area where weariness, distraction, or difficulty has caused you to leave your post? Ask God to renew your dedication today. And if you need healing—whether physical, emotional, or spiritual—bring that need to Him in faith while also receiving the help and care He may provide through others.

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Prayer

Father, thank You for Your faithfulness and for never abandoning Your work in us. Thank You for hearing my prayers and for the gift of healing You have given my sweet girl. Teach me to be faithful to what You have entrusted to me. Give me the dedication to keep watching, praying, loving, and serving even when it is difficult. And when I need healing, remind me to come first to You, trusting You as my ultimate source of help while recognizing the people and means You may choose to use. May my life reflect even a fraction of the love and faithfulness You have shown me. In Jesus’ beloved and powerful name I pray, amen.

To read more 5 Minutes with God devotionals click here.