Earlier last month, I highlighted 411God, a free devotional service that sends text messages, emails, and even phone calls to give you a daily devo. I’ve really enjoyed their service, and continue to be signed up for it today. Coming from 411God is a new branch of service geared towards men and women in the military called, “Hope For the Heroes“. It focuses on those serving, and those who may be suffering from Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).

US soldiers are taking their own lives at an alarming rate. Today, five US soldiers will attempt to commit suicide. The 411God Hope For the Heroes Project is an outreach to these troops who may need encouragement or hope. It works much the same as 411God, and is very customizable to your needs. The difference is that these messages pulled straight from the Bible are tailored based on conversations with soldiers and their spouses and families to better suit their needs. You can receive a one minute phone call, email message, Facebook message, or text, or all of them. You pick the time and frequency, and the best part: it’s all free to use.

Here is a sample message that may be used:

“Hey this is 411God.
This will forever be a struggle, how do you go back to normal, how do you make sense of all you’ve seen… where do you go…

Psalm 143:7-9
come quickly, lord, and answer me, for my depression deepens. Don’t turn away from me, or i will die. Let me hear of your unfailing love each morning, for i am trusting you. Show me where to walk, for i give myself to you. Rescue me from my enemies, Lord; I run to you to hide me.

It’s not over, you understand that more than anyone. It won’t just “go away” but neither will He. You’re not alone in this, make him your home. Hide in Him. but don’t give up… o.k. This is 411God.

These words of hope can go a long way, and I think that this is a great ministry. Again, I wouldn’t recommend this replacing your alone time with God, but I think it’s a great start and reminder for those struggling with consistency or who might need a word of encouragement.

Not a soldier but you still want to help out Hope For the Heroes? You can help support them by telling people you know who are in the military, or sharing this service with your church so that they can help. You can also follow them on Facebook and Twitter, and you can donate HERE. Though it is free for those who use the service, it is not free for those who provide it. Just $36 a year will provide enough for a daily call for every day.

Here’s a promotional video for the 411God Hope For the Heroes Project. Just a disclaimer: this video deals with suicide and a soldier with PTSD. It is a strong video.

I always enjoy when when both ministry and tech come together to do something good. With 411God, you can get daily thoughts or devotions by email, phone call, or text message. You can also schedule the time of when to get your phone call or email. They are quick messages of encouragement or reminders of things you should be doing. Here’s a sample from today’s devotional that I received in my inbox this morning:

Click here to listen.

Dear Brett,

A little reminder here on 411God. You know, we got it pretty good here. But that’s not the case around the world. Here’s something from Paul when he was in prison.

Ephesians 6:19-20 (New Living Translation)

19 And pray for me, too. Ask God to give me the right words so I can boldly explain God’s mysterious plan that the Good News is for Jews and Gentiles alike. 20 I am in chains now, still preaching this message as God’s ambassador. So pray that I will keep on speaking boldly for him, as I should.

There are Christians in prison all over the world. Just like Paul, they need us to pray for them.

And this was the txt message I received this morning from SMC (See Me Change):

“The old way…led to death…Now…the Holy Spirit is giving life 2 Cor 3:7,8 How will u exp the new life? Txt us @313131″

One thing that’s interesting and different is that you can text them back (at 313131), and tell them what you got out of the thought or what you plan on striving for that day. You can then check out the forum at SeeMeChange.org to see what others have said.

I’ve been signed up for about a month now, and have enjoyed it. It took a little while before I was able to get text messages, so I signed up for email as well. I also signed up for the phone call just to check it out. It was different and caught me off guard the first time I answered, but if your preference is answering phones, it’s worth a try. They are a fairly new service that just started full throttle in January of this year. It would be cool if they offered the ability to pick your own preference of Bible translation to go along with your devotional, but I just look up the verses on my own.

Should this take the place of a traditional quiet time with God? Probably not. However, I do feel that it’s a nice tool for people who are just starting to do devotions on a regular basis. It’s a helpful reminder and a good start to spending some quality time with God. Feel free to check it out yourself at 411God.net. 411God is a completely free service to use, but do offer the ability to collect donations. They require a username for set up, and it’s only available in the US, Canada, and Jamaica. 411God was developed by Center for Bible Engagement and is a ministry of Back to the Bible.

[411God]