RETURN OF DRIFTING SAINTS: Blessed Assembly, Jesus’ Design
The theme for this week’s Devotional is Return of Drifting Saints. Prior to Covid the American Church saw a drop in attendance. Post Covid and the pandemic has kept a sizeable number of saints away from church. Our Devotional team shares testimonies and encouragement from God’s Word to stir up the return of love and good works.

SCRIPTURE: “And let us watch out for one another to provoke love and good works, not neglecting to gather together as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging each other, and all the more as you see the day approaching.” Hebrews 10:24, 25 (CSB)
Who hasn’t heard the example of fireplace embers which have, for one reason or another, gotten separated from the other logs on the hearth? Their glow is short-lived because of their distance from other logs with which it once shared a common function—i.e., “edification” of the fire, you could call it. For Christ-followers this “fire,” which requires DAILY stoking—not just on Sundays—can be likened to an earnest pursuit of Christlikeness in our thoughts and attitudes, by regularly studying and obeying His word, and purposing to grow in our love toward one another. (2 Peter 3:18; Jn. 14:34) We can all too easily grow cold and lose our fervor for Christ and those in our local fellowship when we put church attendance on the back burner of life.
By now we’ve all heard the arguments (and jokes, too) about worshiping at “Bedside Baptist,” or about the soul that habitually forsakes assembling with other Christ-followers, expressing their preference for worshiping in God’s “nature sanctuary,”[the great outdoors], or by simply being a “good person,” etc.; but these reasons for avoiding in-house assembly are not at all supported in God’s Word. While we know that the church building itself is not the actual church, but that it is defined as the body of believers who have been saved by grace through faith in Christ ALONE, the words of twentieth century theologian Dwight L. Moody state it well:
“Church attendance is as vital to a disciple as a transfusion of rich, healthy blood to a sick man.”
PRAYER: Father God, thank You for ordaining the church as an essential pathway for our regular discipling in this sinful world through regular fellowship with like-minded believers—“iron sharpening iron,” helping one another to grow up to the full stature of Christ Jesus. May we not neglect this blessed privilege. Thank You, Lord, for loving us so fervently! AMEN!
Written By Denise Diggs
By now we’ve all heard the arguments (and jokes, too) about worshiping at “Bedside Baptist,” or about the soul that habitually forsakes assembling with other Christ-followers, expressing their preference for worshiping in God’s “nature sanctuary,”[the great outdoors], or by simply being a “good person,” etc.; but these reasons for avoiding in-house assembly are not at all supported in God’s Word. While we know that the church building itself is not the actual church, but that it is defined as the body of believers who have been saved by grace through faith in Christ ALONE, the words of twentieth century theologian Dwight L. Moody state it well:
“Church attendance is as vital to a disciple as a transfusion of rich, healthy blood to a sick man.”
PRAYER: Father God, thank You for ordaining the church as an essential pathway for our regular discipling in this sinful world through regular fellowship with like-minded believers—“iron sharpening iron,” helping one another to grow up to the full stature of Christ Jesus. May we not neglect this blessed privilege. Thank You, Lord, for loving us so fervently! AMEN!
Written By Denise Diggs
Archive
2025
January
Prayer For A New Year 2025Prayer for A Heart Like Christ’sA PRAYER FOR HELP WITH OUR FAITHA Prayer of RepentanceA Prayer to Press OnPrayer For a Fragile Next GenerationPrayer For an Open HeartA Prayer For EndurancePrayer of Praise From the RedeemedPrayer For True EnlightenmentA Prayer: God is Waiting in the New YearSUNDAY MORNING PRAYERS with Pastor Wayne CockrellPrayer That Celebrates God’s WorkPrayer To See Things God’s WayPrayer of Thanks for God’s Keeping PowerPrayer When Faith is Tested: Accepting God’s WillPrayer of Dedication to Our LordA Prayer of Appreciation and WorshipSUNDAY MORNING PRAYERS with Pastor Wayne CockrellPrayer For Humble LivingPrayer for Greater Faith to Live for GodPrayer Against Our FeelingsPrayer to the ONE Who Knows All ThingsPrayer For Sight in the Midst of LossPrayer to be Better Lovers of All Kinds of PeopleSUNDAY MORNING PRAYERS with Pastor Wayne CockrellPrayer of Rekindled PraisePrayer According to Your WillPrayer for the Generations to ComePrayer For the Benefits of PrayerPrayer For a Fresh Awareness of the HOLY SPIRIT
February
The Celebration of Jerusalem’s Deliverance: The Festival of LightsSUNDAY MORNING PRAYERS WITH Pastor Wayne CockrellThe Gift of ForgivenessGreat Love Requires DisciplineFrom The 2024 Vault: We Must VoteHow Does God Love?Running Our RaceA Prayer of Thanksgiving to GodSUNDAY MORNING PRAYER with Pastor Wayne CockrellHeart to Heart with GodWill You Be Mine?Birthday Gifts for Pastor Wayne Cockrell.The Discipline of GodStop In the Name of LoveSUNDAY MORNING PRAYERS with Pastor Wayne CockrellApple of God’s EyeOne Thing NeededStriving Side by SideWhat’s Love Got to Do With It?An Unshakable LoveHis Love and Our WorkSUNDAY MORNING PRAYERS with Pastor Wayne CockrellAnchored in a Storm by the WordRenewing Your MindI’m Delighted in the LordWe are FamilyFAITH, ALIVE
March
Where is Your Faith?SUNDAY MORNING PRAYERS with Pastor Wayne CockrellGod’s Prayer for MePraise to God in His Holiness and MajestyThank You, But Lord, I Got ThisSound the AlarmBEAUTIFULLY, POWERFULLY, GRATEFULLY RENEWEDThe Imperative to Obey and WorkSUNDAY MORNING PRAYERS with Pastor Wayne CockrellWeapons for SinBeware the Ides of MarchAn Expectation that Won’t DisappointWhere Does Jesus Say in Your Bible, 'I am God. Worship Me’?Given GiftAre You My Enemy?SUNDAY MORNING PRAYERS with Pastor Wayne CockrellListening for God’s Voice and DirectionsA Good Faith SystemThe Road Not TakenBelieving God’s PromisesLOVE LOVEPraise God for WitnessesSUNDAY MORNING PRAYERS with Pastor Wayne CockrellIn Captivity, But Still In His PlansYour Will Be DoneTHE WAY TO THE FATHERLife LessonsI Never Knew YouWhere do You Stand?SUNDAY MORNING PRAYER with Pastor Wayne CockrellCaregiver, Doulos, Friend
April
FIVE YEARS LATER: Believe and ObeyFIVE YEARS LATER: - More Of HimFIVE YEARS LATER: - Idle WordsAnchored in the Storm by the WordInevitable ChangeSUNDAY MORNING PRAYERS with Pastor Wayne CockrellLet the Redeemed Say SoAre We 'DONE' Yet?You Better Shop AroundGear Up for The JourneyReviving My Spiritual Temple
Recent
HIS Rest
May 22nd, 2025
To Serve Like Jesus
May 21st, 2025
Won’t You Thank Him
May 20th, 2025
Attitude of Your Heart
May 19th, 2025
SUNDAY MORNING PRAYER with Pastor Wayne Cockrell Copy
May 18th, 2025
A Lot Can Happen in Three Days (Never Give Up)
May 17th, 2025
DESIGNED FOR HIM
May 16th, 2025
Going Through for God’s Glory
May 15th, 2025
In a Pit?
May 14th, 2025
Cancel Culture
May 13th, 2025
7 Comments
Amen sister Denise!! An encouraging and convicting devotional!!ðŸ™
AmenðŸ™ðŸ½ So beautifully stated Sis. Denise. Since COVID's softening,we have come to appreciate being in the Lord's presence with other saints. It is such a blessing to gather together in the name of Jesus.
Blessings for an encouraging reminder of God's desire for HIS church!
AMEN!!! Sister Diggs, this is a well stated message to us who remain steadfast in Christ's Word. We can't grow and produce a field of corn, unless each stalk grows up next to one another, and is nourished by the same soil. If there is a substantial distance between each seed, then the produce develops stunted, undeveloped or produce nothing at all. Thanks for this inspiring devotional.
Amen Sister Denise! Praise God very compelling Devotional..
Amen 🙌ðŸ½
Oh the fellowship, spiritual gifts, ministries , 'one another mindsets that are not operating to its fullest. Lord please move on the hearts of Your people who are called by Your name. Thanks for this encouragement.