Category - Devotionals

8/01   2Timothy 2:12
If we endure hardship, we will reign with him. If we deny him, he will deny us.

SUFFERING
I have a hard time rejoicing when I am suffering.  Too many times I question my spirituality or my strength when I am suffering.  The truth is that when I serve the Lord I will suffer.  The world stands against all that Jesus is doing.

 

8/02   Genesis 19:27
The next morning Abraham was up early and hurried out to the place where he had stood in the Lord’s presence.

PRESENCE
Jesus resides in me.  I am able to constantly be in His presence.  This is a great blessing and an unquenchable joy.  Jesus is alive and I serve Him.

 

8/03  Genesis 24:40
‘You will,’ he told me, ‘for the LORD, in whose presence I have walked, will send his angel with you and will make your mission successful. Yes, you must get a wife for my son from among my relatives, from my father’s family.

MINISTRY
Ministry comes in many different shapes and sizes.  It always involves people.  The result of ministry is that needs are met.  The question that I am to constantly keep before me is “how can I minister in this situation?”  When I am focused on ministry, the opportunities will abound.

 

8/04   Exodus 16:7
In the morning you will see the glorious presence of the LORD. He has heard your complaints, which are against the LORD and not against us.

GLORY
I mistakenly have not spent much time thinking about the glory of the Lord.  Glory is something highly praiseworthy, something worthy of adoration, majestic beauty, splendor and prosperity.  God is indeed glorious and is all of these things and more.  Jesus is His glory and is worthy of all praise and adoration.  Glorious is our Lord.

 

8/05   Exodus 24:11
And though Israel’s leaders saw God, he did not destroy them. In fact, they shared a meal together in God’s presence!

PRESENCE
God can do anything.  I want to know Him more.  I want to serve Him better.  I can do this because Jesus loves me and lives in me.  God can do anything.

8/06   Exodus 29:43
I will meet the people of Israel there, and the Tabernacle will be sanctified by my glorious presence.

POWER
The Lord loves.  Love is His nature.  His presence changes us from being at the mercy of the world to being a lighthouse for the hurting and lost.  What a glorious experience to meet with the Lord.

 

8/07   Deuteronomy 12:7
There you and your families will feast in the presence of the LORD your God, and you will rejoice in all you have accomplished because the LORD your God has blessed you.

PRESENCE
Jesus lives in me.  His residence is established.  He changes me to that individual I know that I was created to be.  Not like someone else but exactly like me.  I can rejoice in my life, in my experiences and thankfully greet each day.  The Lord is God and He loves me.

 

8/08   Judges 5:5
The mountains quaked at the coming of the LORD. Even Mount Sinai shook in the presence of the LORD, the God of Israel.

POWER
Jesus is power.  He created all things and all things exist because of Him.  That is real power.  He knows all things and knows me.  My life and work is important not because of who I am or what I’ve accomplished or even because I might have wealth, but because Jesus is Lord of me.

 

8/09   1Samuel 6:20
“Who is able to stand in the presence of the LORD, this holy God?” they cried out. “Where can we send the Ark from here?”

MANKIND
The world is demanding to be in charge.  It wants to be its own god.  Jesus came and died for our sin that we might be able to change.  We are no longer in bondage to the world.  Jesus sets us free.

 

8/10   1Kings 8:11
The priests could not continue their work because the glorious presence of the LORD filled the Temple.

PRESENCE
The presence of the Lord Jesus is not an emotion.  He works forcefully in our lives.  Jesus will lead, guide and direct us on our journey of discipleship.

 

8/11   1Kings 18:15
But Elijah said, “I swear by the LORD Almighty, in whose presence I stand, that I will present myself to Ahab today.”

JESUS
Jesus is here.  He is not subject to the world, scholars, our failures or any other created thing.    I can choose to let Jesus have control of me.  Jesus is Lord.  He is Lord of all.

 

8/12   1Chronicles 29:10
Then David praised the LORD in the presence of the whole assembly: “O LORD, the God of our ancestor Israel, may you be praised forever and ever!

PRAISE
Jesus is worthy of all honor and glory.  He is due all praise and adoration.  When I praise the Lord I am simply doing what a child of God will do.  Praise is a recognition of the power and majesty of Jesus and blesses me as I praise Him.

 

8/13   2Chronicles 7:2
The priests could not even enter the Temple of the LORD because the glorious presence of the LORD filled it.

HOLY
Holy is the Lord.  He is different than man.  His ways are not our ways.  He saw my need and knew my heart and saved me.  He broke down the wall of barrier and brought me into the inner sanctum.  Jesus is my Lord.

 

8/14   Ezra 9:15
O LORD, God of Israel, you are just. We stand before you in our guilt as nothing but an escaped remnant, though in such a condition none of us can stand in your presence.”

PERFECT
I was dead in my trespasses and sin and Jesus saved me.  Jesus is perfect in every way.  His life, death, and resurrection provided for me exactly what I needed to have access to the Father.  Jesus gives me right standing with the Lord.

 

8/15   Psalm 5:5
Therefore, the proud will not be allowed to stand in your presence, for you hate all who do evil.

HOLY
The Lord is God.  He will not overlook evil.  The Father has provided a way for me in Christ to have access to Him.  Jesus is my righteousness.  He cleanses me of sin and gives me life.  Now I am alive in Christ and dead to the bondage of sin.

 

8/16   Psalm 9:19
Arise, O LORD! Do not let mere mortals defy you! Let the nations be judged in your presence!

JUSTICE
Jesus said for me not to judge.  The Lord is the only righteous judge.  He knows all things and will judge with absolute precision.  One day Jesus will come back.  It will be at a time that the world is in total denial of Christ.  In that day the Lord will exact justice on the world.

 

8/17   Psalm 15:1
Who may worship in your sanctuary, LORD? Who may enter your presence on your holy hill?

WORSHIP
Jesus is alive in every believer.  He equips each one of us to worship the Lord.  In Christ we are ushered into the very presence of the Lord.  Jesus enables us to worship.

 

8/18   Psalm 16:11
You will show me the way of life, granting me the joy of your presence and the pleasures of living with you forever.

IMMORTALITY
In Christ we are immortal.  He has birthed us into the family of God.  We do not have to bemoan our situation.  We must never forget the price that Jesus paid for us and value that He places on us.

 

8/19   Psalm 21:6
You have endowed him with eternal blessings. You have given him the joy of being in your presence.

JESUS
Jesus is eternally blessed and blesses us with eternity.  In Him is life and He is our life.  The coming One was prophesied nine hundred years before His birth.  Jesus is here and He is Lord.

 

8/20   Psalm 22:29
Let the rich of the earth feast and worship. Let all mortals – those born to die – bow down in his presence.

JESUS
People live as though they are immortal.  Life is but a breath.  In the day of death everyone will know who Jesus is and every knee shall bow and every tongue confess that Christ is the Lord.

 

8/21   Psalm 37:7
Be still in the presence of the LORD, and wait patiently for him to act. Don’t worry about evil people who prosper or fret about their wicked schemes.

PEACE
In Jesus we have real life.  The Lord brings peace to our hearts and to our lives.  He will give us strength in our time of need.  Jesus is able.  No matter what I face Jesus is able to take care of me.

 

8/22   Psalm 56:13
For you have rescued me from death; you have kept my feet from slipping. So now I can walk in your presence, O God, in your life-giving light.

LIFE
I can do nothing without Jesus.  He is life.  In Him I can have life, light to live and wisdom to do the next right thing.  When Christ is in control, life has real meaning and lasting value.

 

8/23   Psalm 68:3
But let the godly rejoice. Let them be glad in God’s presence. Let them be filled with joy.

GODLINESS
Jesus gives us eternal life.  That life includes an opportunity to grow in our relationship with Christ and to focus our attention on a Christ like life.  We can rejoice in the presence of the Lord because He is in us.

 

8/24   Psalm 89:15
Happy are those who hear the joyful call to worship, for they will walk in the light of your presence, LORD.

WORSHIP
When I spend time with the Lord I will hear Him as He encourages me to come and worship.  The worship experience is a time for fellowship, renewal and encouragement.  Lord I come to worship You.

 

8/25   Psalm 116:9
And so I walk in the Lord’s presence as I live here on earth!

JESUS
Jesus is with us.  He is alive and lives in each believer.  Today is the day of the Lord’s favor.  He favors us as His grace gift for our life.  Wake up, Jesus is listening.

 

8/26   Matthew 18:10
“Beware that you don’t despise a single one of these little ones. For I tell you that in heaven their angels are always in the presence of my heavenly Father.

SPIRITUALITY
We do what we believe.  The only spiritual truth we ever know is the spiritual truth we do.  What I do today and each day is critically important as a child of God.  Jesus is Lord and I am to follow Him.

 

8/27   Matthew 25:32
All the nations will be gathered in his presence, and he will separate them as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.

RETURN
There will be a day when all things as we know them will cease.  It will be the end of time.  Jesus will return to this world in glory.  He will not be fooled nor ignored.  Jesus is coming back.

8/28   Luke 1:19
Then the angel said, “I am Gabriel! I stand in the very presence of God. It was he who sent me to bring you this good news!

FATHER
Our Father who is in heaven has not put us here by ourselves.  He is intensely involved in our world and is seeking to develop a relationship with us through the Lord Jesus Christ.  Great is His faithfulness.

 

8/29   Luke 15:10
In the same way, there is joy in the presence of God’s angels when even one sinner repents.”

HEAVEN
Heaven knows what is going on.  Heaven is waiting our arrival.  Eternity will be a great place because Jesus will be there.  We can have a great life right now because Jesus is here.

 

8/30   Romans 9:1
In the presence of Christ, I speak with utter truthfulness – I do not lie – and my conscience and the Holy Spirit confirm that what I am saying is true.

JESUS
We live our lives in the presence of the Lord Jesus.  Everything we think and do is done before Him.  We are blessed when we recognize this.  It brings us to a level of spiritual accountability and enables us to grow in our relationship with the Lord.

 

8/31   Ephesians 3:12
Because of Christ and our faith in him, we can now come fearlessly into God’s presence, assured of his glad welcome.

FATHER

We have access to the Father.  Our access is not based on what we can do.  Our access is based on the work that Jesus has done.  His righteousness takes us into the Father’s presence.

7/01   Matthew 5:23-24
“So if you are standing before the altar in the Temple, offering a sacrifice to God, and you suddenly remember that someone has something against you, leave your sacrifice there beside the altar. Go and be reconciled to that person. Then come and offer your sacrifice to God.

RECONCILIATION
Jesus puts the responsibility for healing relationships on me.  Asking for forgiveness is never easy.  Sometimes I can be absolutely correct and spiritually wrong.  People count with Jesus and as I grow in Christ they will count with me.

 

7/02   Matthew 25:46
And they will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous will go into eternal life.”

ETERNITY
Heaven is going to be a great place.  There will be no sorrow, no pain, no death, no poverty, no need for doctors and many other good things.  It will be a place of perfect beauty.  To think about heaven is to permit ones senses to be overloaded.  The sights, the sounds and the smells of heaven will be marvelous.  Not so in the place of eternal punishment.  Everything heaven is it isn’t.

 

7/03   Matthew 6:6
But when you pray, go away by yourself, shut the door behind you, and pray to your Father secretly. Then your Father, who knows all secrets, will reward you.

PRAYER
Jesus loves me and loves to talk with me.  Prayer is so important in my life.  Being able to speak with Jesus honestly and openly is equally as important.  This requires privacy and time.

 

7/04   Matthew 7:23
But I will reply, ‘I never knew you. Go away; the things you did were unauthorized. ‘

SALVATION
Salvation is giving my heart and my life to Jesus.  The Lord is not looking to me to be His consultant.  The Lord doesn’t need me to fix things.  I am to be a servant of the Lord Jesus and do the things that He asks me to do.  There is not shortcut nor is there any other name under heaven by which I might be saved.

 

7/05   Matthew 8:4
Then Jesus said to him, “Go right over to the priest and let him examine you. Don’t talk to anyone along the way. Take along the offering required in the law of Moses for those who have been healed of leprosy, so everyone will have proof of your healing.”

DIRECTIONS
Jesus gives me specific directions on what He would like for me to do.  I get them by reading the Bible and listening as I read.  I get them by praying and sensing the leadership of the Holy Spirit.  And I get directions when I do the wrong thing and am reminded of what the right thing is.  I much prefer to do the right thing first.

 

7/06   Matthew 8:9
I know, because I am under the authority of my superior officers and I have authority over my soldiers. I only need to say, ‘Go,’ and they go, or ‘Come,’ and they come. And if I say to my slaves, ‘Do this or that,’ they do it.”

BELIEVE
A Roman soldier believed Jesus.  He risked his reputation and possibly his life by consulting with Jesus.  I want to have faith like this.  This kind of faith requires that I risk criticism and misunderstanding to follow Jesus.  Christ wants me to serve Him and not the world.

7/07   Matthew 8:13
Then Jesus said to the Roman officer, “Go on home. What you have believed has happened.” And the young servant was healed that same hour.

ACTION
I have power from Jesus when I claim His promise and live based on that promise.  There are 7,000 plus promises in the Word of God written to me.  Hope will carry me to the point of necessity where the Lord will always meet me the resources I need for faithful living.

 

7/08   Matthew 21:22
If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.”

PRAYER
Prayer changes me.  If my prayer to the Lord is simply a laundry list I am not praying.  The Christian life is the activity of the Lord Jesus in me and through me to His children.  The Lord is not a celestial bell boy for me to simply list my wishes and cheerfully wait for them to be filled.  The Lord is God and He is sovereign.  This is a mystery that Jesus will work out for my benefit.

 

7/09   Matthew 21:32
For John the Baptist came and showed you the way to life, and you didn’t believe him, while tax collectors and prostitutes did. And even when you saw this happening, you refused to turn from your sins and believe him.

LIFE
Jesus is the one I am looking for.  I don’t need recognition, or position or authority I simply need Jesus.  He will forgive me of my sins and equip me for Godly living.

 

7/10   Matthew 24:26
“So if someone tells you, ‘Look, the Messiah is out in the desert,’ don’t bother to go and look. Or, ‘Look, he is hiding here,’ don’t believe it!

RETURN
Jesus is coming back.  I’m not up on all of the futuristic ideas that various supposed scholars come up with.  Jesus is coming back.  When He does come back I will be waiting for Him.  Jesus will not forsake me or leave me behind.

 

7/11   Mark 6:3
He’s just the carpenter, the son of Mary and brother of James, Joseph, Judas, and Simon. And his sisters live right here among us.” They were deeply offended and refused to believe in him.

STATUS
My belief affects me but does not change the fact that Jesus is Lord. I am not following a world leader; I am following Jesus Christ the Lord.  He is Lord of my life and I am daily developing a relationship with Him.

 

7/12   Mark 6:52
They still didn’t understand the significance of the miracle of the multiplied loaves, for their hearts were hard and they did not believe.

WISDOM
I ask the Lord every day to give me wisdom to see Him at work in my life.  The Lord is so good and so faithful to me.  He encourages me.  He gives me peace.  He reminds me of His love and His willingness to guide each step of my life.

 

7/13   Mark 9:24
The father instantly replied, “I do believe, but help me not to doubt!”

DOUBT
Doubt will always seek to side track me.  I can give my doubt to the Lord.  Denying the presence of doubt will permit it to grow.  Lord indeed every day I process situations where there is some doubt in my heart.  I do believe Lord and ask you to remove any doubt from me.

 

7/14   Mark 11:24
Listen to me! You can pray for anything, and if you believe, you will have it.

PRAYER
I believe Jesus.  I believe that as I speak to Him He listens to me.  I also believe that Christ has a perfect plan for my life.  Answers always come on time from the Lord.  My problem is that I am so time fixated that I sometimes give up listening when the Lord is answering.  Then there are the things I don’t pray about that the Lord provides for me.  The Lord is good.

 

7/15   Mark 16:11
But when she told them that Jesus was alive and she had seen him, they didn’t believe her.

PLANS
I plan everything.  My plans are made based on what I can see.  My problem is that I am limited in my ability to see.  The Lord is able to see all things and functions as the sovereign ruler of existence.  Jesus has a plan for my life.  Sometimes that plan will require that I do as much as I can and then trust the Lord to provide for what comes next.  I am my Father’s child.  He loves me.

 

7/16   Mark 16:16
Anyone who believes and is baptized will be saved. But anyone who refuses to believe will be condemned.

SALVATION
Salvation is a gift from the Lord.  I can accept that gift.  Because the gift is in the spiritual realm unless I believe that I have received that gift it will not change the way I see myself.  My heart condemns me.  My Lord saves me.  Who I believe is important.

 

7/17   Luke 24:25
Then Jesus said to them, “You are such foolish people! You find it so hard to believe all that the prophets wrote in the Scriptures.

PARADOX
My little mind has such a hard time understanding all that the Bible says.  My charge is to believe the Word of God not condemn the Word of God.  When the Word differs from my experience, I need to change not the Word.

 

7/18   John 3:33
Those who believe him discover that God is true.

TRUST
I cannot develop a relationship with the Lord Jesus unless I believe that He exists and is who He says He is.  This is the kind of trust little children have.  When my belief changes my actions I am living a life of trust.  Words mean little.  Actions speak louder than words.  This is why tithing is so important for me.  If I tithe, then I am living the Word of God.  If I trust Jesus then I will change.

 

7/19   John 5:39
“You search the Scriptures because you believe they give you eternal life. But the Scriptures point to me!

JESUS
Jesus is God’s everything.  Without Christ there is no life.  He is the creator and sustainer of all things.  Jesus resides in me and points me to the Word of God and interprets the Word of God in me.  If I have surrendered my life to Jesus and He is in control of me then I will live a life that is in every respect like Jesus’ life.  When I am not living like Jesus I will change.

 

7/20   John 6:29
Jesus told them, “This is what God wants you to do: Believe in the one he has sent.”

CHRIST
Jesus calls me to be His hands and feet.  He will use me to minister to the needs of the world.  If I live like Jesus I will care for people and proclaim the Gospel.  People have value and worth.  People need love.  People need to know that this world is not their home and that the Lord loves them.

 

7/21   John 6:35
Jesus replied, “I am the bread of life. No one who comes to me will ever be hungry again. Those who believe in me will never thirst.

LIFE
Everyone has problems.  No one is exempt.  With very few exceptions would we be willing to swap our problems for someone else’s problems.  Jesus came that we might have life.  The Lord will always help me to deal with my problems.  He will not leave me alone and one day He will take me home.

 

7/22   John 6:64
But some of you don’t believe me.” (For Jesus knew from the beginning who didn’t believe, and he knew who would betray him.)

LOST
I am not called to make someone believe in Jesus.  I am called to be merciful and gracious.  I am called to minister to the needs of those I come into contact with including family members.  I am to live life as though Jesus is in control for indeed He is.

 

7/23   John 7:5
For even his brothers didn’t believe in him.

LOST
It breaks my heart to know someone that will not accept Christ.  Knowing this I must not be overwhelmed or sidetracked.  Jesus calls me to go and tell everyone, not just those that will believe.

 

7/24   John 8:24
That is why I said that you will die in your sins; for unless you believe that I am who I say I am, you will die in your sins.”

SALVATION
Salvation is a grace gift that the Lord offers me.  He will save me if I accept Him.  The world is always trying to complicate salvation.  It puts up roadblocks called works that it says must be done to be saved.  Accepting Jesus is not like that.  If I accept Christ as Lord and savior and ask Him to forgive my sin I am saved.

 

7/25   John 10:26
But you don’t believe me because you are not part of my flock.

BELIEVER
There are no grandchildren in the family of God.  Salvation is a personal experience.  I am saved.  The Spirit of the Lord within me bears testimony that I am saved.  I walk with Jesus and He guides my way.

 

7/26   John 11:25
Jesus told her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Those who believe in me, even though they die like everyone else, will live again.

HEAVEN
Heaven will be a great place because Jesus will be there.  As a child of God I have a claim on heaven.  My life right now can be joyous because of this fact.  Where ever I am and what ever I am facing heaven is waiting for me.

 

7/27   John 12:37
But despite all the miraculous signs he had done, most of the people did not believe in him.

MIRACLES
I did not come to Jesus because of the miracles He works.  I came because He offered me the opportunity to get a handle on my life.  No longer am I at the mercy of the world.  No longer am I without resources.  Christ came into my life and changed me.  He loves me and enables me to deal with daily life.  He saved me.  Salvation is the greatest miracle.

 

 

7/28   John 17:20
“I am praying not only for these disciples but also for all who will ever believe in me because of their testimony.

WITNESS
I am responsible to tell about what Jesus has done in my life.  One way is to verbally share my testimony.  But an equally important and powerful way is to treat others the way I want to be treated.  The early church was known for its love for the brethren.

 

7/29   John 19:35
This report is from an eyewitness giving an accurate account; it is presented so that you also can believe.

WITNESS
Believing is a choice but it is not an unfounded choice.  The Word of God is a valid historical document and gives critical, first hand testimony of Jesus and His ministry.  Jesus is Lord.  What I do about my relationship with Christ is my choice but Jesus is still Lord.

 

7/30   John 20:25
They told him, “We have seen the Lord!” But he replied, “I won’t believe it unless I see the nail wounds in his hands, put my fingers into them, and place my hand into the wound in his side.”

BELIEF
Seeing is believing.  I have seen the Lord.  Jesus is my savior.  He has made me a member of the family of God.  I have a relationship with Christ and talk with Him each day.  Jesus is Lord.

 

7/31   John 20:31
But these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing in him you will have life.

BELIEF
What I think matters.  Life is short and troubles are great.  Every where I look are needy situations.  When I choose Jesus as my savior I am equipped to deal with my life.  Once I begin the process of changing into the image of Christ I am growing in my ability and opportunity to help others.

6/1              Mark 4:18-19
The thorny ground represents those who hear and accept the Good News, but all too quickly the message is crowded out by the cares of this life, the lure of wealth, and the desire for nice things, so no crop is produced.

LIFESTYLE
Christ rules me or I rule myself.  There is no partial rule in the spiritual realm.  This is confusing to many that claim Jesus as Lord.  They attempt to live in the world and unto Jesus.  I can only serve one master.  I choose to serve the Lord.
6/2             Matthew 4:4
But Jesus told him, “No! The Scriptures say, ‘People need more than bread for their life; they must feed on every word of God.’ ”

FOCUS
The real solution for the problems that I face is Jesus.  I need to focus my life on Christ.  I will know Him better by spending time with Him.  The Word of God tells about Jesus.  The more I know the Word and put it to work in my life, the better I will know Jesus.

 

6/ 3            Matthew 6:25
“So I tell you, don’t worry about everyday life – whether you have enough food, drink, and clothes. Doesn’t life consist of more than food and clothing?

FOCUS
This is not a call to laziness.  The Lord wants me to focus my energies on Him as I seek to live the life plan He created for me.  Hard work, faithfulness in relationships and a surrendered life are called for.
6/4     Matthew 6:27
Can all your worries add a single moment to your life? Of course not.

FOCUS
This world is not my home.  I cannot spend my time getting comfortable and ignore the opportunities of service.  People count most with the Lord and all around me are people who need help not worry. What I can do is what needs to be done.  Jesus is my sufficiency.
6/5     Matthew 7:14
But the gateway to life is small, and the road is narrow, and only a few ever find it.

SURRENDER
Life is a gift.  The road that the Lord has called me to travel is a gift.  If I will surrender my life to Jesus and listen to His guidance I will journey on the road of life.  Victory is achieved in surrender.

 

6/6     Luke 9:24
If you try to keep your life for yourself, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for me, you will find true life.

SURRENDER
Jesus said that He brings life to me in abundance.  The Lord is not sharing the stage with me, where I do all I can and then he completes it.  He would that I work together with Him to accomplish His work.  I am the servant.

 

6/7     Luke 10:25
One day an expert in religious law stood up to test Jesus by asking him this question: “Teacher, what must I do to receive eternal life?”

ETERNAL LIFE
The Bible says that “whoever will call on the name of the Lord will be saved” (Rom 10:13).  This is dramatically different than what our culture and the world says.  Salvation is a gift that I can accept.  I have.
6/8    Luke 11:36
If you are filled with light, with no dark corners, then your whole life will be radiant, as though a floodlight is shining on you.”

GENUINE
My faith isn’t something I only exercise when I need something from the Lord.  My faith is central to all that I say and do and think.  Therefore, whatever the situation I am in my faith will shine through.
6/9    Luke 12:15
Then he said, “Beware! Don’t be greedy for what you don’t have. Real life is not measured by how much we own.”

WEALTH
Where will I place my value?  What is important in this world to me?  What I do with my money is a significant indicator of this.  Generosity flows out of the strength of my relationship with the Lord.  What I believe I will practice.

 

6/10  Luke 12:22
Then turning to his disciples, Jesus said, “So I tell you, don’t worry about everyday life – whether you have enough food to eat or clothes to wear.

WORRY
I can choose to live my life as a worried basket case.  But, I can also choose to live my life with focus and confidence in the Lord Jesus.  Christ is my life.  He is concerned about every aspect of me life.  In hard times He will not leave me.  In good times He will keep me from foolishness.

 

6/11   Luke 12:23
For life consists of far more than food and clothing.

LIFE
I am God’s child, His ambassador, a representative of the Lord God and a partner with Jesus in this world.  There is much work to be done.  Everywhere there are people in need.  I need to make sure that everyone I know knows about Jesus.  That is my life.

 

6/12  Mark 3:4
Then he turned to his critics and asked, “Is it legal to do good deeds on the Sabbath, or is it a day for doing harm? Is this a day to save life or to destroy it?” But they wouldn’t answer him.

PEOPLE
People count most with Jesus.  Christ died that all might be saved.  His resurrection from the grave to the right hand of the Father insures that everyone might have the opportunity to accept salvation.  Because Jesus is alive I can have life.

 

6/13  1John 2:9
If anyone says, “I am living in the light,” but hates a Christian brother or sister, that person is still living in darkness.

FORGIVENESS
I am required to develop a forgiving heart.  It does not come natural to anyone although it seems to be easier for some than others.  I forgive others because I am forgiven.

 

6/14  John 1:4
Life itself was in him, and this life gives light to everyone.

LIFE
The Christian life is a call for me to serve the Lord by serving people.  Surrender to service is a natural result of living my life with Jesus.  Jesus in me is easy for others to see.

 

6/15   John 3:6
Humans can reproduce only human life, but the Holy Spirit gives new life from heaven.

LIFE
What I think of as life is just an existence.  The Holy Spirit brings real life.  I am alive in Christ and part of the family of God.  The Father shares his plan for my life with me through Christ.  Jesus resides in me.  I am not alone.  Eternity begins.

 

6/16   John 3:14-15
And as Moses lifted up the bronze snake on a pole in the wilderness, so I, the Son of Man, must be lifted up on a pole, so that everyone who believes in me will have eternal life.

CRUCIFIED
Jesus was crucified for me.  All sin is personal and it was my sin that required His death on the cross.  Jesus atoned for my sin and saved me.  Each one of us is a sinner and Christ died for us individually.  He knows each one of us personally and completely.  He died that you and I might have life.

 

6/17  John 3:16
“For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.

SALVATION
I have no excuse.  God’s gift of life in Christ is for me.  I am responsible.  If I accept Christ as my Lord and Savior then I am saved.  If I refuse Christ I continue to be lost.  No middle ground.  The gift of life is available for me.

 

6/18   John 3:36
And all who believe in God’s Son have eternal life. Those who don’t obey the Son will never experience eternal life, but the wrath of God remains upon them.”

SALVATION
There is no middle ground for me.  All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.  I was a sinner dead in my trespasses and sin.  I asked Jesus to save me.  I accepted God’s gift of eternal life.  If I had refused His gift I would have continued in my sin.  Jesus said that He was the only way to the Father and that there was no other way.

 

6/19  John 4:14
But the water I give them takes away thirst altogether. It becomes a perpetual spring within them, giving them eternal life.”

ETERNITY
I accepted Jesus as Lord and will always be saved.  Christ lives in me.  His life gives me life that is renewed daily forever.  That doesn’t seem big but it is bigger than anything I can think of.  Forever is a wonderful thing.

 

6/20  Matthew 9:18
As Jesus was saying this, the leader of a synagogue came and knelt down before him. “My daughter has just died,” he said, “but you can bring her back to life again if you just come and lay your hand upon her.”

FAITH
Faith is the daily experience of time with Jesus, listening to what He says and then living based upon His direction.  Faith is an action.  It is the way I live in light of the promises of the Lord.  Jesus is able to deal with my life and because of that I can grow each day in Christ.

 

6/21  Matthew 10:39
If you cling to your life, you will lose it; but if you give it up for me, you will find it.

COMMITMENT
Jesus is first.  He is first in all I think and say and do.  When I make Christ first in my life He will take responsibility for my life.  I cause problems by trying to direct my own life.  Jesus makes life work.

 

6/22  Matthew 11:5
the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised to life, and the Good News is being preached to the poor.

GOOD NEWS

Jesus is alive.  He is alive and offers you and me the gift of life.  If I accept His gift I am in the family of God.  Jesus will live in me to equip and enable me to live a Christ like life.

 

6/23  Matthew 13:22
The thorny ground represents those who hear and accept the Good News, but all too quickly the message is crowded out by the cares of this life and the lure of wealth, so no crop is produced.

GOOD NEWS
Life is a choice.  The Lord did not make us robots.  I choose what I will do moment by moment each day.  When I hear the Good News I can accept the gift of eternal life in Christ.  From that moment on I can make the choice to follow Jesus.  If I spend time with Jesus and do what He says I will grow in Christ likeness.  If I don’t spend time with Him I will never develop into the image of Christ.  My choice.

 

6/24   Matthew 14:2
he said to his advisers, “This must be John the Baptist come back to life again! That is why he can do such miracles.”

BELIEVE
I can choose to believe Jesus or deny His power.  The tragedy is that so many Christians listen to the world and by not believing literally stop the miraculous activity of the Lord in their daily life.  Choosing to trust Jesus changes the way you see everything.

 

6/25  Matthew 16:25
If you try to keep your life for yourself, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for me, you will find true life.

DISCIPLESHIP
I need to focus on Jesus everyday.  It will take me all of my life until the day I go to be with Him to be what Jesus wanted me to be.  His plan for me is perfect.  My life lived for Him will be exactly what Jesus wants.

 

6/26  Matthew 19:16
Someone came to Jesus with this question: “Teacher, what good things must I do to have eternal life?”

GIFT
I cannot earn my way into the family of God.  A relationship with Christ is God’s gift to me.  I claim the gift of eternal life in Christ but I cannot earn my way into heaven.

 

6/27  Matthew 19:17
“Why ask me about what is good?” Jesus replied. “Only God is good. But to answer your question, you can receive eternal life if you keep the commandments.”

SALVATION
God loves me.  God is good.  Both of these things are beyond my ability to do or grasp.  God’s love is a miracle.  God’s goodness never changes.  God is good.

 

6/28  Matthew 19:29
And everyone who has given up houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or property, for my sake, will receive a hundred times as much in return and will have eternal life.

SACRIFICE
Living the Christian life involves sacrifice.  I willingly do what the Lord has called me to do and in so doing experience much sacrifice.  Sacrifice includes suffering.  The Lord will stand with me in sacrifice and suffering and will more than make it up to me what I have given up and sacrificed for Him.

 

6/29  Matthew 20:28
For even I, the Son of Man, came here not to be served but to serve others, and to give my life as a ransom for many.”

SERVICE
I was created to serve.  Giving and serving completes me.  Inside of me is an inner mechanism that is only fulfilled by my growing in my ability to serve and my willingness to give.  I will not limit my spiritual growth by being self-centered or stingy.

 

6/30  Matthew 21:32
For John the Baptist came and showed you the way to life, and you didn’t believe him, while tax collectors and prostitutes did. And even when you saw this happening, you refused to turn from your sins and believe him.

REPENTANCE
There are no grandchildren in the family of God.  I must come to Jesus and repent of my sin, ask Him to save me and accept His gift of salvation.  This is a problem for the world.  If I permit the world to control me I will never be saved.

05/01          Psalm 139:2
You know when I sit down or stand up. You know my every thought when far away.

OMNISCIENCE
God knows everything.  He knows everything about me.  His ability is beyond my comprehension.  His care and concern for the details of my life are overwhelming.  I am not alone.  I belong to Jesus.  The Lord is in control of my life.

 

05/02          Isaiah 53:1
Who has believed our message? To whom will the LORD reveal his saving power?

SALVATION
Jesus said that whoever would like to be saved can be saved.  He has come for me.  I asked Him to save me and He did.  I did nothing to be worthy of His forgiveness except ask.  Salvation is a gift from Jesus to me.  You can ask too.  If you are struggling about your salvation, struggle no more.  When you ask Christ to save you He will.  Do it now.  Trust Him forever.

 

05/03          Jeremiah 2:19
“Go and shout in Jerusalem’s streets: ‘This is what the LORD says: I remember how eager you were to please me as a young bride long ago, how you loved me and followed me even through the barren wilderness.

FAITHFULNESS
I want to always be faithful.  The tragedy of life is that I have to always guard against being lulled into a daily rut.  The world, the flesh and the devil are always trying to push me into their mold.  Apathy is the easiest way for them to conquer me.  I am to be alert and constantly fanning the flames of a faithful relationship with the Lord.

 

05/04          Psalm 139:3
You chart the path ahead of me and tell me where to stop and rest. Every moment you know where I am.

PLANNING
Jesus has a plan for my life.  I am not just careening through space and time at the mercy of the world.  My life has meaning and value and Jesus is using me to further His work in this world.  I am partnering with the Lord.

 

05/05          Isaiah 53:6-7
All of us have strayed away like sheep. We have left God’s paths to follow our own. Yet the LORD laid on him the guilt and sins of us all.   He was oppressed and treated harshly, yet he never said a word. He was led as a lamb to the slaughter. And as a sheep is silent before the shearers, he did not open his mouth.

SIN
The magnitude of my sin and the disastrous impact that it has on me and those around me is difficult to comprehend.  At times I have an awareness of how horrible sin is.  Jesus knew my sin and willingly paid the price for my forgiveness.  What a Savior.

 

05/06          Psalm 139:4
You know what I am going to say even before I say it, LORD.

LOVE
God loves me.  He loves me with a full understanding of all my faults, shortcomings, sin and imperfections.  Christ completes me.  He is equipping and enabling me to have fellowship with himself and the Father.  Jesus is Lord and He is Lord in me.

 

05/07          1 Timothy 1:15
This is a true saying, and everyone should believe it: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners – and I was the worst of them all.

SIN
Sin separates me from the Father.  I don’t measure sin in comparison with others.  My sin condemns me.  I cannot do what must be done to overcome my sin.  Salvation is a grace gift from the Lord and His salvation completely saves me.

 

05/08          1 Timothy 2:1-2
I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. As you make your requests, plead for God’s mercy upon them, and give thanks.   Pray this way for kings and all others who are in authority, so that we can live in peace and quietness, in godliness and dignity.

INTERCESSION
I am called to pray for leaders.  Not just the leaders I like but for all leaders.  It is important for me and my community that we have good leaders.  It is critical for the spread of the Gospel that we have peace.  I will pray every week for world leaders.  I am a partner with the Lord.

 

05/09          Psalm 139:5-6
You both precede and follow me. You place your hand of blessing on my head.  Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too great for me to know!

SAFETY
Jesus saved me.  His salvation is a once and forever event.  The Lord is active in my life.  His activity is effective and capable.  I can live each day with the confidence of a beloved child.  The Lord knows what I am doing and is providing me with what I need today.

 

05/10          1 Timothy 2:5-6
For there is only one God and one Mediator who can reconcile God and people. He is the man Christ Jesus.   He gave his life to purchase freedom for everyone. This is the message that God gave to the world at the proper  time.

MESSAGE
Jesus saves is the message that I have for the world.  Jesus saves people.  Jesus makes normal, ordinary lives valuable and eternal.  Jesus loves me and He loves you.

 

05/11          Psalm 139:13-14
You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit me together in my mother’s womb.   Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvelous – and how well I know it.

COMPLETE
I am not a mistake.  The Lord created me with a purpose and value.  His work is accomplished by my surrender to Him.  It isn’t about what I can do.  It is all about what the Lord can do through me.

 

05/12          1 Timothy 3:16
Without question, this is the great mystery of our faith: Christ appeared in the flesh and was shown to be righteous by the Spirit.  He was seen by angels and was announced to the nations. He was believed on in the world and was taken up into heaven.

BELIEVE
I am the only one that can believe in Jesus for me.  Faith in Christ is personal; there are no grandchildren in the kingdom of God.  Jesus has come and He is coming back.

 

05/13          Psalm 139:7
I can never escape from your spirit! I can never get away from your presence!

BELIEVE
The Lord is here.  He is alive and active in the world.  He will become Lord of my life if I will permit it.  When I have asked Jesus to save me He does.  It is a once forever gift.  I live day by day under His rule and ownership.  The focus of life is on Him and not me.  He is Lord.

 

05/14          1 Timothy 4:1-2
Now the Holy Spirit tells us clearly that in the last times some will turn away from what we believe; they will follow lying spirits and teachings that come from demons.   These teachers are hypocrites and liars. They pretend to be religious, but their consciences are dead.

UNBELIEF
It is the spirit of the anti-Christ that blinds those that deny the faith.  If I do not believe I have been deceived but tragically am still lost.  Believe in Jesus.  Ignore foolish men.  Ask Christ to save you and He will.

 

05/15          1 Timothy 6:10
For the love of money is at the root of all kinds of evil. And some people, craving money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many sorrows.

TITHE
The tithe belongs to the Lord.  What I have is a resource the Lord has given me to further the kingdom.  The first ten percent belongs to Jesus.  My giving begins after the tithe.  When I steal from the Lord I am hurting myself.  The tithe belongs to Jesus.

 

05/16          1 Timothy 6:15
For at the right time Christ will be revealed from heaven by the blessed and only almighty God, the King of kings and Lord of lords.

DECEPTION
The great deceiver would have me believe that I am in control of my world.  I am not.  The world, the flesh and the devil are terribly out of control.  Surrender to Jesus brings real strength.  His control of me enables me to see how evil sin really is.  Jesus is Lord and He is in control.

 

05/17          Psalm 139:15-16
You watched me as I was being formed in utter seclusion, as I was woven together in the dark of the womb.   You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed.

LIFE

Every single life is precious including mine.  When I look at others with respect and honor it bestows more respect and honor upon me.  Life really works that way.  I get out of life what I put into life.  When I sow joy I will reap rejoicing.

 

05/18          2 Timothy 2:8-9
Never forget that Jesus Christ was a man born into King David’s family and that he was raised from the dead. This is the Good News I preach.  And because I preach this Good News, I am suffering and have been chained like a criminal. But the word of God cannot be chained.

JESUS
Jesus is able to make my life valuable and usable.  He will change me if I let Him.  He is seeking to equip me to accomplish His plan for my life.

05/19          2 Timothy 2:19
But God’s truth stands firm like a foundation stone with this inscription: “The Lord knows those who are his,” and “Those who claim they belong to the Lord must turn away from all wickedness.”

CHANGE
Jesus saves me.  I will spend the rest of my life applying His victory to every facet of my life.  There is great victory in surrender.  Jesus is Lord.

 

05/20          2 Timothy 2:24
The Lord’s servants must not quarrel but must be kind to everyone. They must be able to teach effectively and be patient with difficult people.

PATIENCE
I am not naturally patient.  I am discovering that for me patience is never easy but it is always an available choice.  I am the one that chooses to be patient.  I am the one that disciplines my heart and attitude.  Jesus calls me to be patient.

 

05/21          Psalm 139:17-18
How precious are your thoughts about me,  O God! They are innumerable!   I can’t even count them; they outnumber the grains of sand! And when I wake up in the morning, you are still with me!

LOVE
God loves me.  He thinks about me and cares for me all of the time.  I am never away from the Lord.  I want to know Him better.  Jesus is my constant companion.

 

05/22          2 Timothy 3:2
For people will love only themselves and their money. They will be boastful and proud, scoffing at God, disobedient to their parents, and ungrateful. They will consider nothing sacred.

SALVATION
What others think has no bearing on my relationship with Jesus.  Jesus promised and I believe.  The world is always against God.  I am not trying to get the world to agree with what I have done because it will not.  Jesus is Lord of me.

 

05/23          2 Timothy 3:12-13
Yes, and everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.   But evil people and impostors will flourish. They will go on deceiving others, and they themselves will be deceived.

WEALTH
Wealth can be a dangerous thing.  Not a bad thing but potentially a dangerous thing.  Its danger comes from our sense of security when we have wealth.  We feel important and enabled.  Our only security is in Jesus.  Jesus and Jesus alone is the one who saves us.

 

05/24          2 Timothy 3:16-17
All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It straightens us out and teaches us to do what is right.   It is God’s way of preparing us in every way, fully equipped for every good thing God wants us to do.

BIBLE
The Bible is the Word of God.  It is a personal letter written to me.  It contains more than 7,000 promises and I can claim them.  Scripture is important because it reveals what the Lord is thinking about us, how He thinks about His universe and how we can be saved.

05/25          2 Timothy 4:18
Yes, and the Lord will deliver me from every evil attack and will bring me safely to his heavenly Kingdom. To God be the glory forever and ever. Amen.

SECURITY
I want to be safe.  Jesus guarantees that I will have an eternal relationship with the Father and that I will be safe.  I will not be left behind nor will I be set aside.  I belong to Him and He belongs to me.  Nothing can separate me from the love of Jesus.

 

05/26          Psalm 139:23-24
Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my thoughts.   Point out anything in me that offends you, and lead me along the path of everlasting life.

CONFIDENCE
If I ask Jesus into my life to save me, then I am saved.  From that moment on Jesus will guide me through life.  Sometimes I will need discipline, and sometimes I will need support.  Jesus will meet my needs.

 

05/27          Habakkuk 2:20
But the LORD is in his holy Temple. Let all the earth be silent before him.”

HOLINESS
The Lord is a Holy God.  There is none other like Him.  When I come face to face with the living Lord I will be silent.  The Lord is awesome and majestic and wonderful to behold.  Mighty is our God.

 

05/28          Habakkuk 3:2
I have heard all about you, LORD, and I am filled with awe by the amazing things you have done. In this time of our deep need, begin again to help us, as you did in years gone by. Show us your power to save us. And in your anger, remember your mercy.

AWESOME
The Lord knows all about me, even to the minutest detail.  He has a plan for my life and is faithful in guiding me to accomplish that plan. This is indeed awesome.  What is even more awesome is that He has a plan for your life and is at work in each person to fulfill His plan in their life.  What an awesome God.

 

05/29          Habakkuk 3:19
The Sovereign LORD is my strength! He will make me as surefooted as a deer and bring me safely over the mountains.

LIFE
My life has many twists and turns.  My emotions often betray me.  My resolve sometimes deserts me.  Jesus never quits.  Jesus never changes.  Jesus is in me to enable me to live from birth to death.  I belong to Jesus and He will see that I make it home to the Father.

 

05/30          Zechariah 1:3
Therefore, say to the people, ‘This is what the LORD Almighty says: Return to me, and I will return to you, says the LORD Almighty.’

CALL
The Lord is calling me to a Christ like lifestyle.  Living a Christ focused life isn’t an option nor is it required only on certain days.  As a child of God I have a call upon my life to follow Jesus in everything I say and do.

 

05/31          Zechariah 1:4
Do not be like your ancestors who would not listen when the earlier prophets said to them, ‘This is what the LORD Almighty says: Turn from your evil ways and stop all your evil practices.’

LIFESTYLE
I am a child of God.  Christ lives in me.  This affects everything I say and do.  If I am living like the world, then I am not living like I am called to live.  I must surrender my life and my heart to Jesus and let Him guide me day by day.

04/01               Genesis 1:26-27
Then God said, “Let us make people in our image, to be like ourselves. They will be masters over all life – the fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, and all the livestock, wild animals, and small animals.”   So God created people in his own image; God patterned them after himself; male and female he created them.

VALUE
I must learn to balance my life.  Sin is a problem but I must also see the value that God places on me.  Christ died for me.   Balance comes when I spend time with Jesus.

 

04/02               Genesis 2:15
The LORD God placed the man in the Garden of Eden to tend and care for it.

WORK
Hard work is important.  I have within me a need to excel.  Again, balance is required but I must be about using the skills the Lord has given me.  Hard work is an essential element in successful Christian living.

 

04/03               Genesis 3:1
Now the serpent was the shrewdest of all the creatures the LORD God had made. “Really?” he asked the woman. “Did God really say you must not eat any of the fruit in the garden?”

QUESTIONS
Asking the right question is important.  Too quickly we want to cover up our sin and blame someone else or something else for our own actions.  What I do counts.  Do the next right thing.

 

04/04               Romans 5:12
When Adam sinned, sin entered the entire human race. Adam’s sin brought death, so death spread to everyone, for everyone sinned.

SIN
I will not excuse my sin.  Sin separates me from the Father.  The daily Christian walk involves dealing with my sin.  Each day I will seek the Lord’s wisdom on sin in my life.  As Jesus reveals my sin I will seek forgiveness and change my ways.

 

04/05               Galatians 5:17
The old sinful nature loves to do evil, which is just opposite from what the Holy Spirit wants. And the Spirit gives us desires that are opposite from what the sinful nature desires. These two forces are constantly fighting each other, and your choices are never free from this conflict.

CONFLICT
Sin is always at the door.  I am responsible for what I think and do.  Without the power of God in my life I will not be able to combat sin.  Spending time each day in the Word of God and submitting myself to the control of Christ will sensitize me to sin and enable me to change.  When I focus on Jesus I can effectively fight sin in my life.

 

04/06               Colossians 3:5-8
So put to death the sinful, earthly things lurking within you. Have nothing to do with sexual sin, impurity, lust, and shameful desires. Don’t be greedy for the good things of this life, for that is idolatry.  God’s terrible anger will come upon those who do such things.  You used to do them when your life was still part of this world. But now is the time to get rid of anger, rage, malicious behavior, slander, and dirty language.

RESPONSIBILITY
I am responsible for the way I live.  The Christian life is a journey of change.  I am to change the way I am and become more like Jesus.  If I am the same today that I was last year I am not a growing Christian.  The more I know Jesus, the more willing I am to change.  Yes change is difficult but Christ died for me therefore I must be willing to live for Him.

 

04/07               John 3:6
Humans can reproduce only human life, but the Holy Spirit gives new life from heaven.

LIFE
I was dead in trespasses and sin and Christ saved me.  He gave me life.  This life is the power of God living in me.  I am no longer a slave to sin.  I have a choice.  I can willingly choose to grow and become like Jesus.  I know this: when the power of God came into me and gave me new life I was a changed person.

 

04/08               1 Peter 2:9-10
But you are not like that, for you are a chosen people. You are a kingdom of priests, God’s holy nation, his very own possession. This is so you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light.   “Once you were not a people; now you are the people of God. Once you received none of God’s mercy; now you have received his mercy.”

CHRISTIAN
I am a member of the family of God.  He is my Father and Jesus has saved me.  I will never be excluded from the family of God.  Jesus is God’s everything and He has completely and eternally saved me.

 

04/09               1 Corinthians 1:2
We are writing to the church of God in Corinth, you who have been called by God to be his own holy people. He made you holy by means of Christ Jesus, just as he did all Christians everywhere – whoever calls upon the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord and theirs.

SALVATION
Salvation is a choice.  I chose to accept Christ as Lord and Savior of my life and Jesus saved me.  Two significant points here, one is that a person can refuse salvation.  I don’t understand this but it is true.  Second, if you ask Jesus to save you He will.

 

 

04/10               Colossians 3:12
Since God chose you to be the holy people whom he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.

CHANGE
I must change.  I am not permitted to remain the same.  As I live with my focus on Jesus I will become more like Jesus.  The world and the world’s attitudes will try to mold me into its shape.  That is why I need to spend time with Jesus every day.  Christ is my master.

 

04/11               Hebrews 10:10, 14
And what God wants is for us to be made holy by the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all time.

For by that one offering he perfected forever all those whom he is making holy.

SALVATION
What Jesus did for me gives me value and worth and the ability to live a life of inestimable importance.  People count most with Jesus and the process of growing in Christ will change me into a person that loves people.  I will care for those with whom I live.  I will care for those that I meet at work and play.  I will begin to see people the way Jesus sees them.  Every single person I meet is an object of the love and mercy of the Lord.  In Christ I will develop this attitude also.

 

04/12               Ephesians 4:7
However, he has given each one of us a special gift according to the generosity of Christ.

GIFTS
The world only values certain gifts.  The Lord values the gift or gifts that He gives each one of us.  Jesus has a plan for my life and He has given me the gifts that I need to accomplish His plan.  I must be careful that I do not permit sin to get my eyes off of the Master’s plan.

 

04/13               Romans 12:6-8
God has given each of us the ability to do certain things well. So if God has given you the ability to prophesy, speak out when you have faith that God is speaking through you.  If your gift is that of serving others, serve them well. If you are a teacher, do a good job of teaching.  If your gift is to encourage others, do it! If you have money, share it generously. If God has given you leadership ability, take the responsibility seriously. And if you have a gift for showing kindness to others, do it gladly.

LIFE
I live my Christian faith before a watching world.  I must be real and must be willing to be myself.  People know when I am a fake.  I am valuable in God’s family when I am myself and do the things that only I can do.  Additionally, I want to cultivate the willingness to bless all of those I come into contact with.

 

04/14               Isaiah 43:1
But now, O Israel, the LORD who created you says: “Do not be afraid, for I have ransomed you. I have called you by name; you are mine.

OWNERSHIP
I belong to the Lord.  I am under His watch care.  The Lord will equip and train me to serve Him.  His presence will bring peace and joy into my life.

 

04/15               Romans 5:8
But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.

LOVE
It is hard for me to comprehend the love that the Lord has for me.  Jesus knew all about me and still He died for me.  He knew my past, present and future and still He called me.  I am striving each day to know Jesus more.  The more I know Him the more I realize how much Jesus loves me.  We are miracles of God’s creation and are created to have companionship with a Holy God.  WOW.

 

04/16               John 15:9-10
“I have loved you even as the Father has loved me. Remain in my love.  When you obey me, you remain in my love, just as I obey my Father and remain in his love.

OBEDIENCE
My growth, my strength, my joy depend upon my willingness to obey the Lord.  I cannot grow in Christ if I seek to hide things from God.  Trying to figure out how to live on the edge or how to hide that secret sin totally destroys my strength.  Failing to listen to Jesus with an obedient heart removes my joy.  It is important that I surrender my heart and obey the Lord each day.  Jesus is Lord.

 

04/17               John 17:21-23
My prayer for all of them is that they will be one, just as you and I are one, Father – that just as you are in me and I am in you, so they will be in us, and the world will believe you sent me.  “I have given them the glory you gave me, so that they may be one, as we are – I in them and you in me, all being perfected into one. Then the world will know that you sent me and will understand that you love them as much as you love me.

FAITH
My responsibility is to believe that the Lord will be active in my life.  Pleasing Christ is a result of my recognizing His promises, living my daily life based upon His revealed will and being obedient to what Jesus says.  I can only do this by living by faith.

 

04/18               1 Peter 2:5
And now God is building you, as living stones, into his spiritual temple. What’s more, you are God’s holy priests, who offer the spiritual sacrifices that please him because of Jesus Christ.

SACRIFICE
I am called to sacrifice.  I must be a tither.  Tithing is a first step of obedience.  I can control what I spend and the Lord looks to me to control this.  I must pray.  I must spend time with Jesus.  I must read God’s Word.  I must learn how to love the unlovely and this is a lifetime journey.  So many things are involved in our spiritual sacrifices but Jesus will guide us if we will obey.

 

04/19               John 6:37-40
However, those the Father has given me will come to me, and I will never reject them.  For I have come down from heaven to do the will of God who sent me, not to do what I want.  And this is the will of God, that I should not lose even one of all those he has given me, but that I should raise them to eternal life at the last day.  For it is my Father’s will that all who see his Son and believe in him should have eternal life – that I should raise them at the last day.”

JESUS
Satan will do all he can to get my attention.  He will work on my emotions and seek to destroy balance in my life.  I am a child of God.  I need to avoid filling my life with the world and instead fill it up with Jesus.

 

04/20               Ephesians 2:1-2
Once you were dead, doomed forever because of your many sins.  You used to live just like the rest of the world, full of sin, obeying Satan, the mighty prince of the power of the air. He is the spirit at work in the hearts of those who refuse to obey God.

SALVATION
I have been saved by the work of the Lord Jesus in my life.  He died for me.  He called me.  I accepted.  What others do about salvation does not affect my relationship with the Lord.  I am only responsible to tell what Jesus has done in my life.  I am not responsible for how another person responds to Christ.

 

04/21               James 4:7-10
So humble yourselves before God. Resist the Devil, and he will flee from you. Draw close to God, and God will draw close to you. Wash your hands, you sinners; purify your hearts, you hypocrites.  Let there be tears for the wrong things you have done. Let there be sorrow and deep grief. Let there be sadness instead of laughter, and gloom instead of joy.  When you bow down before the Lord and admit your dependence on him, he will lift you up and give you honor.

SIN
I do not have to sin.  Every time I sin it is my choice.  This is a great tragedy and underscores the magnitude of the sin issue.  When I sin I can go to Jesus for forgiveness and reconciliation.  In Jesus I have the power and strength of God alive in me to resist sin.  He will put me back on the right path.

 

04/22               Psalm 92:11
With my own eyes I have seen the downfall of my enemies; with my own ears I have heard the defeat of my wicked opponents.

SECURITY
Jesus in you I have success, sustenance and security.  You have provided me with everything that I have.  Nothing can come between me and You.  You give me the grace and strength that I need to survive and thrive.

 

04/23               Jude 1:24
And now, all glory to God, who is able to keep you from stumbling, and who will bring you into his glorious presence innocent of sin and with great joy.

JOY
I choose joy.  The Lord Jesus lives in me and He will give me joy.  He will refresh me and encourage me.  When I am discouraged or distraught the Lord will change my emotions from despair to delight.  The Lord is my Shepherd.

 

04/24               Ephesians 1:19-20
I pray that you will begin to understand the incredible greatness of his power for us who believe him. This is the same mighty power that raised Christ from the dead and seated him in the place of honor at God’s right hand in the heavenly realms.

POWER
I serve a risen Savior who knows all about me.  Jesus knows my needs and my weaknesses.  He is ready to work with me to help me grow.  Jesus is waiting for me to spend time with Him and let Him have control of me.  When I give Jesus control He gives me what I need so that I can live victoriously.  Jesus is the lover of my soul.

 

04/25               Ecclesiastes 8:6-7
Yes, there is a time and a way for everything, even as people’s troubles lie heavily upon them.  Indeed, how can people avoid what they don’t know is going to happen?

KNOWLEDGE
Jesus knows what is going to happen in my life.  He will equip me to face life with joy in my heart and victory in my soul.  I can trust Christ for everything in my life and He will never fail me.

 

04/26               1 Corinthians 2:15-16
We who have the Spirit understand these things, but others can’t understand us at all.  How could they? For, “Who can know what the Lord is thinking? Who can give him counsel?”  But we can understand these things, for we have the mind of Christ.

JESUS
Jesus is God’s everything.  I can trust Him to lead me in the right direction.  When trouble comes Jesus will lead me through it.  His counsel is wise and His course is correct.  Jesus is Lord of all things including me.

 

04/27               2 Corinthians 10:3-5
We are human, but we don’t wage war with human plans and methods.  We use God’s mighty weapons, not mere worldly weapons, to knock down the Devil’s strongholds.  With these weapons we break down every proud argument that keeps people from knowing God. With these weapons we conquer their rebellious ideas, and we teach them to obey Christ.

WAR
The evil one is always looking to cause me trouble.  I cannot see into the spiritual realm and do not know what he is planning next.  Jesus knows exactly what is going on and will give me the guidance and strength I need to engage in spiritual warfare.  The enemy is unrelenting and Jesus is all powerful.  In Christ the spiritual battle is a battle I can win.

 

04/28               Jeremiah 17:9
“The human heart is most deceitful and desperately wicked. Who really knows how bad it is?

HEART
I wish I was not so easily deceived.  The flesh is always pushing me to demand my way, feel insecure, take offense, be rude, and sin in many other ways.  I am not at the mercy of my own weakness.  The Lord is a strong tower and He will enable me to deal with my own weaknesses every day.  I need to spend time with Jesus.  Time with Christ is a habit that will strengthen me to face real life.

04/29               1 Corinthians 10:31
Whatever you eat or drink or whatever you do, you must do all for the glory of God.

LIFE
I belong to the Lord.  Jesus is my master.  He is in charge of everything.  All that I say and do should come under His authority.  The problem is that I think I can do some things and then in the flesh bull my way through a situation.  When I thoroughly mess up the situation only then do I call for help.  It would have been much better if I had sought help and guidance first.  Jesus is Lord.

 

04/30               Galatians 5:22-23
But when the Holy Spirit controls our lives, he will produce this kind of fruit in us: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Here there is no conflict with the law.

FRUIT
I have to remind myself that the fruit of the Spirit is singular.  It isn’t a pick and choose what I like best it is an all in one mindset.  When Jesus is in control I respond with the fruit of the spirit.  This is the evidence of His control not the individual aspects of my own spiritual maturity.

3/1     Mark 8:35
If you try to keep your life for yourself, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake and for the sake of the Good News, you will find true life.

SACRIFICE
People are important to Jesus.  When we make people important in our lives we are following in the footsteps of Christ.  Jesus loves people most of all.

 

3/2     Mark 10:45
For even I, the Son of Man, came here not to be served but to serve others, and to give my life as a ransom for many.”

EXAMPLE
Jesus is our example for living.  If we will pattern our lives after Christ we will find ourselves becoming more Christ like.  The Lord has called us to be His hands and feet.

 

3/3               Matthew 27:64
So we request that you seal the tomb until the third day. This will prevent his disciples from coming and stealing his body and then telling everyone he came back to life! If that happens, we’ll be worse off than we were at first.”

WORLD
The world is always trying to control God.  People waste time and their life trying to do things that will short circuit the Lord’s work in the world.  Jesus is in control.  He has a plan.  What people do will not stop the Lord’s plan nor will it cause Jesus to jump to a plan b.

 

3/4              Mark 10:17
As he was starting out on a trip, a man came running up to Jesus, knelt down, and asked, “Good Teacher, what should I do to get eternal life?”

SALVATION
Jesus wants you.  He doesn’t want your best effort, significant skills, or wealth, He wants you.  His gift is salvation by His grace and our belief.  When we accept the gift of salvation and believe that Jesus has saved us we are saved.  Salvation is a remarkable gift.

 

3/5               Mark 10:29-31
And Jesus replied, “I assure you that everyone who has given up house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or property, for my sake and for the Good News, will receive now in return, a hundred times over, houses, brothers, sisters, mothers, children, and property – with persecutions. And in the world to come they will have eternal life.  But many who seem to be important now will be the least important then, and those who are considered least here will be the greatest then.

VALUE
Jesus measures value differently than the world.  Every person we meet has value and worth to Jesus.  It is their choice as to whether they claim their value.  It is our responsibility to treat them as valuable.

 

3/6               Mark 6:14
Herod Antipas, the king, soon heard about Jesus, because people everywhere were talking about him. Some were saying, “This must be John the Baptist come back to life again. That is why he can do such miracles.”

WORLD
The world never recognizes Jesus.  Once we become a child of God we know Jesus.  The Lord resides in our heart, equips us to live a spiritual life and have fellowship with the Father.  Jesus frees us from the chaos and tribulation of this world.  He guides us as we grow in Christ likeness.  When we know Jesus it is first hand knowledge.

 

3/7               Mark 16:8
The women fled from the tomb, trembling and bewildered, saying nothing to anyone because they were too frightened to talk. Then they reported all these instructions briefly to Peter and his companions. Afterward Jesus himself sent them out from east to west with the sacred and unfailing message of salvation that gives eternal life.

NEW LIFE
We have new life in Jesus Christ.  We have a new heart and a new destination.  We are part of the family of God and have an important ministry to perform.  We are loved and valuable.

 

3/8               Luke 4:4
But Jesus told him, “No! The Scriptures say, ‘People need more than bread for their life.’ ”

LIFE
Jesus brings life.  When he comes into our heart and saves us one of the things Jesus does is give us life.  We are able to have fellowship with the Father and a friendship with Jesus.  He guides us step by step so that we can have an abundant life and equips us for eternal life.  Jesus will never leave us.

 

3/9               Luke 6:9
Then Jesus said to his critics, “I have a question for you. Is it legal to do good deeds on the Sabbath, or is it a day for doing harm? Is this a day to save life or to destroy it?”

LIFE
Our Father loves us.  Jesus came that we might have a relationship with the Father, real life now and eternal life in Christ.  This is a significant change of anything ever imagined by man.  Our relationship is dependant on Jesus and not us.  What a wonderful gift salvation is.

 

3/10   Luke 7:22
Then he told John’s disciples, “Go back to John and tell him what you have seen and heard – the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised to life, and the Good News is being preached to the poor.

PROOF
John said that when we ask Christ into our hearts we know it.  Jesus ministers his love to us.  He changes the way we think and live.  I am saved and I know it.  The Lord gives me His promise, His protection and His presence as I live my life with Him day by day.

 

3/11   Luke 8:14
The thorny ground represents those who hear and accept the message, but all too quickly the message is crowded out by the cares and riches and pleasures of this life. And so they never grow into maturity.

IMMATURITY
Jesus is in control of the world.  I get into trouble when I take my eyes off of Jesus and look at my own situation as unique or beyond His reach.  We belong to the Lord and our circumstances are not out of His reach or sight.

 

3/12   Luke 8:55
And at that moment her life returned, and she immediately stood up! Then Jesus told them to give her something to eat.

LIFE
Jesus is involved in each one of our lives.  His presence brings life to what might otherwise be a hopeless situation.  The Lord will not forsake you nor will He fail you.  Look to Jesus for real life.

 

3/13   Luke 9:7
When reports of Jesus’ miracles reached Herod Antipas, he was worried and puzzled because some were saying, “This is John the Baptist come back to life again.”

LIFE
A relationship with Jesus is a first-hand relationship.  His presence and power are available to me when I ask Him into my life.  I am responsible for my choices.  I am the only one who can choose Jesus for my life.  When I choose Jesus I will know Jesus.

 

3/14   1 Timothy 1:14
Oh, how kind and gracious the Lord was! He filled me completely with faith and the love of Christ Jesus.

EMOTIONS
Our emotions try to run away with us.  We can claim Christ as the ruler of our emotions.  When the world pours heartache and pain on us ask the Lord to cleanse you of those emotions of failure and ruin and fill you with the faith and love that comes from the presence of Christ.

 

3/15   Luke 14:26
“If you want to be my follower you must love me more than your own father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters – yes, more than your own life. Otherwise, you cannot be my disciple.

DISCIPLESHIP
Discipleship requires me to give my heart and my life to Jesus.  He is first and foremost in my life.  When Jesus is first all of my relationships will be in proper perspective.  People count with Jesus.

 

3/16   Luke 15:22-24
“But his father said to the servants, ‘Quick! Bring the finest robe in the house and put it on him. Get a ring for his finger, and sandals for his feet.  And kill the calf we have been fattening in the pen. We must celebrate with a feast, for this son of mine was dead and has now returned to life. He was lost, but now he is found.’ So the party began.

FORGIVENESS
Real forgiveness forgives and forgets.  People count with the Lord and when the Lord is first in my life people will count with me.  The amazing thing about forgiveness is that when I forgive I am the primary beneficiary of that forgiveness.  My heart is right with the Lord and my life is balanced and in the proper relationship with the person I forgave.  When I forgive others it blesses me.

 

3/17   Luke 15:32
We had to celebrate this happy day. For your brother was dead and has come back to life! He was lost, but now he is found!'”

SALVATION
Jesus loves me.  When I accepted Christ as Lord and Savior of my life there was joy in heaven.  When I share what Christ has done for me and a person accepts Jesus as Lord there is joy in my heart and a great celebration in heaven.  When a lost child comes home the Father rejoices.

 

3/18   Luke 17:33
Whoever clings to this life will lose it, and whoever loses this life will save it.

GIVING
We are made to give.  When we learn to give our life to Jesus we are blessed with eternal life and an abundant life right now.  When we learn to give our resources, money, and time, to the work of the kingdom we are blessed beyond our ability to comprehend.  When we give is when we are most like Jesus.

 

3/19   Luke 18:18
Once a religious leader asked Jesus this question: “Good teacher, what should I do to get eternal life?”

ETERNAL LIFE
Christ brings eternal life to us.  It is a gift from God.  And in addition to eternal life Jesus equips us to have real life right now.  The Lord is a part of everything we do when we are His child.

 

3/20   Luke 18:29-30
“Yes,” Jesus replied, “and I assure you, everyone who has given up house or wife or brothers or parents or children, for the sake of the Kingdom of God, will be repaid many times over in this life, as well as receiving eternal life in the world to come.”

LIFE
All around us we see the masquerade of life.  So many things claiming to equip us for living, giving us joy, helping us to understand and on and on and yet they cannot give life.  The only one who can give us life is the one who made us.  Jesus is Lord and gives us life.

 

3/21   Luke 20:36
And they will never die again. In these respects they are like angels. They are children of God raised up to new life.

LIFE
In Christ we have new life.  This life is not cancelled by our circumstances and is not overrun by trouble or tribulation.  Life in Christ equips us for living here and accomplishing God’s plan for our life.

 

3/22   Luke 21:34
“Watch out! Don’t let me find you living in careless ease and drunkenness, and filled with the worries of this life. Don’t let that day catch you unaware,

READY
I am called to be ready.  I don’t know the day or the hour that I will be required to give an account of my ministry or life.  Every day I am charged with the responsibility to prepare.  The only way I can properly prepare is to make Jesus first.  Christ is the answer and way.

 

3/23   John 4:36
The harvesters are paid good wages, and the fruit they harvest is people brought to eternal life. What joy awaits both the planter and the harvester alike!

SALVATION
We are partners with Christ in sharing the Gospel.  I am called to speak.  I am called to live a Christ-like life.  I am not responsible for what others do but I am responsible for me.  I am responsible to Jesus to make sure that everyone I know hears the Gospel.  Jesus is Lord.

 

3/24   John 5:24
“I assure you, those who listen to my message and believe in God who sent me have eternal life. They will never be condemned for their sins, but they have already passed from death into life.

SALVATION
Salvation is now.  It applies to my life, my experience from this moment on until forever.  Salvation is life and this life gives me an opportunity to get to know Jesus and the Father.  In Christ we have life.

 

3/25   John 5:26
The Father has life in himself, and he has granted his Son to have life in himself.

NEW LIFE
I was dead in my trespasses and sin and Jesus saved me.  He gave me life.  Jesus has made me whole.  Now I can do what I was created to do-serve the Lord.  Each one of us is responsible where we are to be about the Lord’s business.  God’s business is giving new life to people who are dead in their trespasses and sin.  In the Lord’s work, people count most of all.

 

3/26   John 5:28-29
Don’t be so surprised! Indeed, the time is coming when all the dead in their graves will hear the voice of God’s Son, and they will rise again. Those who have done good will rise to eternal life, and those who have continued in evil will rise to judgment.

PLAN
God has a plan.  It includes you.  But, it is your choice.  We are given the opportunity to choose the Lord.  He will not force us.  The choice is yours.  Choose Jesus.

 

3/27   John 5:39
“You search the Scriptures because you believe they give you eternal life. But the Scriptures point to me!

JESUS
We cannot know God unless we know Jesus.  Jesus is the way to the Father.  By His own words, Jesus is the way, the truth and the life; no one comes to the Father except through Christ.  Any other way to the Lord is simply man trying to control God.

 

3/28   John 5:40
Yet you refuse to come to me so that I can give you this eternal life.

JESUS
Man is dead in his trespasses and sin.  Man wants to do things his way.  Man is not willing to recognize his limitations.  Lost people always think that things will happen some way that will favor them.  The reason for this is the deceit of the evil one.  The only way to the Father is through Jesus.

 

3/29   John 6:27
But you shouldn’t be so concerned about perishable things like food. Spend your energy seeking the eternal life that I, the Son of Man, can give you. For God the Father has sent me for that very purpose.”

LIFE
Real life is found in service to others.  We will discover as we serve that the Lord is constantly equipping and providing.  Today we live in a consumer society.  Everything that is important is passing away.  Jesus never leaves us and eternal life is eternal.  Seek the Lord and serve Him as you grow in Christ.

 

3/30   Mark 7:20
And then he added, “It is the thought-life that defiles you.

THOUGHTS
The real battle for maturity in Christ takes place in our minds.  We must discipline ourselves to read the Bible, hide the words in our hearts and permit Jesus to use those very words to teach us as we go.  Each one of us has a ministry skill.  There is no junk in the Family of God.  It is important that you discover your ministry and be about the Lord’s business.

 

3/31   Luke 12:25
Can all your worries add a single moment to your life? Of course not!

WORRY
Worry robs us of life.  The future cannot hurt us.  Jesus is with us.  As we live our lives we are given the privilege of trusting our lives moment by moment to the Lord.  He will not fail us.  He knows what is going on in our lives.  He will give us the courage and strength to face the future when it arrives.  Do not fear, the Lord is with us.

2/01   Eph 1:1-2
This letter is from Paul, chosen by God to be an apostle of Christ Jesus.  It is written to God’s holy people in Ephesus, who are faithful followers of Christ Jesus. 2 May grace and peace be yours, sent to you from God our Father and Jesus Christ our Lord.

PEACE
Today, peace is a rare commodity.  One of the things so many people face is the chaos of the world that robs their peace.  In Jesus we can claim peace.  We know who we belong to, how He feels towards us and how we are going to wind up.

 

2/02   Ephesians 1:3
How we praise God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms because we belong to Christ.

JESUS
Jesus is God’s everything.  We start with Jesus and we will wind up standing face to face with Christ in Glory.  The Lord is good and Jesus equips and enables you and me to live a Godly life.

 

2/03   Galatians 1:3-5
May grace and peace be yours from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ. He died for our sins, just as God our Father planned, in order to rescue us from this evil world in which we live.  That is why all glory belongs to God through all the ages of eternity. Amen.

PEACE
Peace is an important commodity.  Life wants to run away from us.  The Lord is in control and will not let our life get away from us.  As we face the reality of our life this is a truth we can live by, the Lord will not let us be destroyed.  Jesus gives us peace.

 

2/04   Galatians 2:19-20
For when I tried to keep the law, I realized I could never earn God’s approval. So I died to the law so that I might live for God. I have been crucified with Christ.  I myself no longer live, but Christ lives in me. So I live my life in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

FAITH
We seek to serve the Lord and be like Jesus.  Sometimes we fall short.  We don’t do it on purpose but we are simply human.  Our humanity pulls on us everyday.  Jesus knows this and will equip us to follow Him.  The Lord will not turn His back on us.  Therefore, I can have faith that the Lord will be faithful.

 

2/05   Galatians 2:21
I am not one of those who treats the grace of God as meaningless. For if we could be saved by keeping the law, then there was no need for Christ to die.

SALVATION
Salvation is a work of grace that the Lord has done so that you and I might have the opportunity to be saved.  It is a gift of God.  We can accept that gift and live our lives with the full confidence that what the Lord gives He will not take away.

 

2/06   Galatians 3:6
In the same way, “Abraham believed God, so God declared him righteous because of his faith.”

FAITH
Faith is based on trust.  We can trust the Lord to do what He says.  Our faith is reflected by our actions.  The more we act like Jesus the greater our faith in the Lord.

 

2/07   Galatians 3:9
And so it is: All who put their faith in Christ share the same blessing Abraham received because of his faith.

FAITH
We believe and we receive.  It is a simple truth from the Word of God.  What the Lord says we internalize and live our lives based upon it.  The Lord is God and He is worthy of our faithful living.

 

2/08   Galatians 3:13-14
But Christ has rescued us from the curse pronounced by the law. When he was hung on the cross, he took upon himself the curse for our wrongdoing. For it is written in the Scriptures, “Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree.” Through the work of Christ Jesus, God has blessed the Gentiles with the same blessing he promised to Abraham, and we Christians receive the promised Holy Spirit through faith.

FORGIVENESS

The Father has done for us what we cannot do for ourselves.  Jesus has paid the price for our sin and we are now at peace with God.  The Lord lives in each one of us that asks Him into our heart.

 

2/09   Galatians 3:22
But the Scriptures have declared that we are all prisoners of sin, so the only way to receive God’s promise is to believe in Jesus Christ.

SIN
Sin is real and really is evil.  It is aggressively seeking to condemn man to eternal separation from the Father.  Jesus brings us into the family of God and cleanses us from our sin.

 

2/10   Galatians 3:26-27
So you are all children of God through faith in Christ Jesus.  And all who have been united with Christ in baptism have been made like him.

CHRIST-LIKENESS
We come to the Father through Jesus.  We do not have to worry about whether we are becoming like Jesus or not because the Father shapes us into the image of Jesus when we come into His family.  It is a gift of God and is the result of our daily following Christ.

 

2/11   Galatians 4:4-5
But when the right time came, God sent his Son, born of a woman, subject to the law.  God sent him to buy freedom for us who were slaves to the law, so that he could adopt us as his very own children.

SALVATION
Jesus dying on the cross was not a plan B in the Lord’s creation process.  Before anything began, the Father, Son and Holy Ghost knew that for man to be saved Jesus would have to pay the price for man’s sin.  Yes this is a complex idea.  I cannot explain it beyond what John tells us in his account but I do believe and appropriate this gift for me into my life.  Jesus died that each one of us might have an opportunity to receive His free gift of life.

 

2/12   Galatians 4:6-7
And because you Gentiles have become his children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, and now you can call God your dear Father.   Now you are no longer a slave but God’s own child.  And since you are his child, everything he has belongs to you.

FAMILY
You and I are part of the family of God when we accept Christ as our Lord and Savior.  It is a work that Christ has done and is an amazing thing.  The Lord loves us so much that He wants us to be in His family.

 

2/13   Galatians 5:1
So Christ has really set us free. Now make sure that you stay free, and don’t get tied up again in slavery to the law.

FREEDOM
Freedom is a gift.  When I accept that gift I am no longer in bondage to sin.  I can by the power of God in me refuse to be bound by sin any longer.  Freedom is a gift.  Sin is a choice.

 

2/14   Galatians 5:5
But we who live by the Spirit eagerly wait to receive everything promised to us who are right with God through faith.

WAITING
You may be impatient like I am.  The unknown, will it be ten minutes or ten days, is always a frustration for me.  One of the Christian’s basic responsibilities is to learn to wait on Jesus.  The Lord knows the future better than we know the past and is working things out for our best good.  Wait on the Lord.

 

2/15   Galatians 5:13-14
For you have been called to live in freedom – not freedom to satisfy your sinful nature, but freedom to serve one another in love.   For the whole law can be summed up in this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”

LOVE
Love requires us to act like Jesus.  We represent the Lord here on earth.  We must learn to discipline ourselves and serve others whether we like them or not.

 

2/16   Galatians 5:16-17
So I advise you to live according to your new life in the Holy Spirit. Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves. The old sinful nature loves to do evil, which is just opposite from what the Holy Spirit wants. And the Spirit gives us desires that are opposite from what the sinful nature desires. These two forces are constantly fighting each other, and your choices are never free from this conflict.

CHOICES
We always have choices.  Spiritual growth is evident when we learn to make right choices.  Do the next right thing.  Then you will be acting like Jesus.

 

2/17   Galatians 5:19-21
When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, your lives will produce these evil results: sexual immorality, impure thoughts, eagerness for lustful pleasure, idolatry, participation in demonic activities, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, divisions, the feeling that everyone is wrong except those in your own little group, envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other kinds of sin. Let me tell you again, as I have before, that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God.

SIN
We cannot excuse sin.  When we act like the devil we are not serving the Lord.  We must submit ourselves to Jesus, discipline our daily actions and change from the way we used to do things before we were a child of God.

 

2/18   Galatians 5:22-24
But when the Holy Spirit controls our lives, he will produce this kind of fruit in us: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Here there is no conflict with the law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to his cross and crucified them there.

CHANGED
When we become a child of God we are changed.  We see life differently.  We have learned to review our actions with the Lord.  We ask for wisdom, mercy and grace to meet each day.  We no longer have a void in our lives because we are filled with Jesus.

 

2/19   Galatians 5:25-26
If we are living now by the Holy Spirit, let us follow the Holy Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives.  Let us not become conceited, or irritate one another, or be jealous of one another.

SERVICE
We are servants of the Lord Jesus Christ.  We are not CEO’s nor are we in charge.  We follow Christ, forgive others and stop seeking to have our way.  We live our lives as a devoted servant.

 

2/20   Galatians 6:2
Share each other’s troubles and problems, and in this way obey the law of Christ.

PROBLEMS
Everyone has problems.  You or I may have few problems this moment but just wait because problems will find us.  Listen to others as they share their problems and remember that but for the grace of God there go you.  Be kind and of gentle spirit as you help others work through their problems and you will receive the help you need when problems swamp your life.

 

2/21   Galatians 6:4-5
Be sure to do what you should, for then you will enjoy the personal satisfaction of having done your work well, and you won’t need to compare yourself to anyone else.  For we are each responsible for our own conduct.

WORK
Work is honorable.  Each one of us has important responsibilities in God’s economy.  Do your work as unto the Lord.  Remember who you represent.  Don’t forget how important you are and how important those around you are.  Do the next right thing.

 

2/22   Galatians 6:7
Don’t be misled. Remember that you can’t ignore God and get away with it. You will always reap what you sow!

REWARDS
We live with a clouded vision that is obscured by time and place.  We will not escape God’s judgment if we live wasted lives.  Do what you can.  Do it well.  Be kind and forgiving.  Pray for others.  Right actions result in good crops in life and in the life to come.

 

2/23   Galatians 6:8
Those who live only to satisfy their own sinful desires will harvest the consequences of decay and death. But those who live to please the Spirit will harvest everlasting life from the Spirit.

LIFE
Life is a treasure.  Each one of us can approach that treasure with the full knowledge that the Lord will see us through whatever we face.  The presence of Jesus brings value and worth to any life.  Jesus reaches through the limitations of time and equips us to see the value of this life and eternal life to come.

 

2/24   Galatians 6:9-10
So don’t get tired of doing what is good. Don’t get discouraged and give up, for we will reap a harvest of blessing at the appropriate time.  Whenever we have the opportunity, we should do good to everyone, especially to our Christian brothers and sisters.

ACTIONS
Our actions should be controlled by Jesus.  We are His hands and feet.  Additionally, we should speak only those things that honor and glorify Him.  Doing good and being good require that I am in a growing relationship with Jesus and that the Lord is in control of my life.

 

2/25   Galatians 6:18
My dear brothers and sisters, may the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.

GRACE
I need grace.  Life is just too complex and my humanity is too adamant for me to ignore my need for grace.  The Lord giving me what I need and cannot earn is a significant blessing and a reason for joy each day.

 

2/26   Col 4:2
Devote yourselves to prayer with an alert mind and a thankful heart.

PRAYER
Prayer is work.  The spiritual forces of evil line themselves up and come against anyone that is devoted to prayer.  Prayer wears us out and puts many otherwise devoted Christians to sleep.  I must be earnest and passionate in my prayer.  I must discipline myself to pray every day.

 

2/27   Col 4:5
Live wisely among those who are not Christians, and make the most of every opportunity.

EVANGELISM
People are more interested in our caring for them than they are in knowing what we care about.  When we love the lost and help them in their every day life, they will listen to us tell them about what the Lord has done for us and can do for them.

 

2/28   Ephesians 1:4
Long ago, even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes.

CHOSEN
The Lord has chosen you and me to be in His family.  It is our responsibility to decide if we will accept the Father’s offer.  Jesus died for our sin and lives today so that we might be saved.  When we accept the Lord’s offer of life in Christ we are saved by God’s precious grace.

1/01   Ephesians 1:2
May grace and peace be yours, sent to you from God our Father and Jesus Christ our Lord.

GRACE
I am so grateful for God’s grace.  He is always looking for my best good.  Life can get very chaotic and out of control and in the midst of the turmoil I can sense God’s grace coming to me.  What I need every day is the presence of the Living Lord and His grace which sustains me.

 

1/02   Ephesians 2:1-2
Once you were dead, doomed forever because of your many sins.  You used to live just like the rest of the world, full of sin, obeying Satan, the mighty prince of the power of the air. He is the spirit at work in the hearts of those who refuse to obey God.

LIFE
As I survey the cross of Christ I realize the wonderful forgiveness of God that has ushered me into His presence.  Life often times passes so quickly it begins to seem ordinary.  In Jesus we are no longer on our own and doomed to death.  We are alive in Christ and living in the very presence of Jesus. We know this because we have become obedient to the Lord and are seeking to become more like Jesus.

 

1/03   Ephesians 2:4-5
But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so very much, that even while we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God’s special favor that you have been saved!)

GIFT
God has given us life in Jesus Christ.  We belong to the Lord Jesus.  No more am I on my own, alone and at the mercy of the world, I am a child of God.  The Lord has gifted me with this new life.  I did not earn it.  The Father was looking for me when He resurrected Jesus from the cross.  Praise the Lord Jesus is alive and has saved me.

 

1/04   Ephesians 2:8-9
God saved you by his special favor when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God.  Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it.

SALVATION
I am in debt to the Lord.  He came looking for me when I as blind and could not see.  Everything I did and thought was the foolishness of the world and yet the Lord loved me and offered me life.  I chose Jesus because He had chosen me.

 

1/05   Ephesians 3:12
Because of Christ and our faith in him, we can now come fearlessly into God’s presence, assured of his glad welcome.

RELATIONSHIP
Life is messy.  Things happen that surprise me.  Sometimes my response when I am under pressure is disappointing.  My performance because of health or a multitude of other reasons may even embarrass me.  One thing I know, I can always go to Jesus.  He will hear me out and guide me to where I should be.  As I read His Word I find myself being helped into the very presence of the Father.  The Lord loves me and is able to deal with my life.

 

1/06   Ephesians 3:14
When I think of the wisdom and scope of God’s plan, I fall to my knees and pray to the Father, the Creator of everything in heaven and on earth.

PRAISE
The Lord is good and able to equip me to face the realities of my life.  If today is a tough day, the Lord will equip me to be tougher.  If tomorrow I fail, the Lord will carry me through my failure.  What a wonderful Father I have.  I can live my life knowing that whatever I must do the Father will enable me to do it.  Nothing is too hard for the Lord.

 

1/07   Ephesians 3:17
And I pray that Christ will be more and more at home in your hearts as you trust in him. May your roots go down deep into the soil of God’s marvelous love.

LOVE
God’s actions towards me are out of His love.  The Father will do what is necessary to equip, guide and enable me to accomplish His purpose in my life.  He will make my life a life of possibility and not a life of dead ends.  His plan for me is a good plan and exactly fits my life.  The Lord is good and He loves me.

 

1/08   Ephesians 3:18|
And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love really is.

LOVE
I know God’s love out of the reality of my life.  He has pulled me out of the fire of sin, foolishness and failure.  He is equipping me to face the challenges of my life today.  The Lord is never late and is always available for me.  I have never gotten a busy signal when I approached Jesus.

 

1/09   Ephesians 3:19
May you experience the love of Christ, though it is so great you will never fully understand it. Then you will be filled with the fullness of life and power that comes from God.

LIFE
My life is valuable.  God has a plan for me.  As I work out His plan for me each day I am overwhelmed by the magnitude of His love and the consistency of His guidance.  I cannot explain it I can only proclaim it.  The Lord is good and He loves me.

 

1/10   Ephesians 3:20
Now glory be to God! By his mighty power at work within us, he is able to accomplish infinitely more than we would ever dare to ask or hope.

LIFE
I have spent a great deal of my life in laboring to accomplish the things I wanted.  Then one day I realized that what I needed to do was find out what Jesus wanted me to accomplish.  When I walk with Jesus and follow His plan, the world is a different place.  I discover the joy of knowing that the Lord will do what He says.  My anxiety disappears.  Trust equips me for the abundant life that Jesus talks about.  My life is refocused.  I grow in my relationship with the Father.

 

1/11   Ephesians 4:1
Therefore I, a prisoner for serving the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of your calling, for you have been called by God.

CALLING
I am called of God to lead a normal Christian life.  That means that first and foremost each day begins with Jesus.  My responsibility is to stay attuned to what Jesus wants.  I find that when all of my heart, mind and body is focused on Him life is joyous.

 

1/12   Ephesians 4:16
Under his direction, the whole body is fitted together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love.

LIFE
My life should evidence the life of Jesus.  When I am Christ controlled I am growing.  When I am in control I am always in trouble.  Jesus knows the future and He knows exactly what I need.  I strain and anguish trying to anticipate the future.  Jesus already knows the future and competently guides me to meet the future equipped and able to serve.

 

1/13   Ephesians 1:6
His unchanging plan has always been to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. And this gave him great pleasure.

LOVE
The Lord loves mankind.  He cares about me and my life.  He has demonstrated His love in Jesus and is even this very moment giving His love to me.  God’s wondrous love is something that cannot be explained.  His love is something for me to accept and I have.

 

1/14   Ephesians 1:7
He is so rich in kindness that he purchased our freedom through the blood of his Son, and our sins are forgiven.

FORGIVENESS
Jesus forgave me.  Before I was born, before I first sinned Christ had provided a solution to my sin problem.  The Lord provides the forgiveness that exactly fits me.

 

1/15   Ephesians 1:8
He has showered his kindness on us, along with all wisdom and understanding.

LIFE
The solution to real life issues is found in Jesus.  He will equip me to face my life.  He will guide me through the heartache and pain of growth and comfort me through my failures.  Real wisdom begins with Jesus and is available for me to use to build an abundant life.

 

1/16   Ephesians 1:9
God’s secret plan has now been revealed to us; it is a plan centered on Christ, designed long ago according to his good pleasure.

PLAN
God’s plan for man’s problem is Christ.  He provides forgiveness and access to the Father.  He lives in me.  He creates life in me in every situation.  Jesus will never leave me.  Christ will escort me from this life into the next where I will inherit a life like His.

 

1/17   Ephesians 1:10-11
And this is his plan: At the right time he will bring everything together under the authority of Christ – everything in heaven and on earth.  Furthermore, because of Christ, we have received an inheritance from God, for he chose us from the beginning, and all things happen just as he decided long ago.

PLAN
Jesus is God’s everything.  He is the only way to the Father.  He is the solution to finding a cure for a wayward life.  Jesus equips me to grow into His likeness.  Everything I need for righteousness is found in Christ.

 

1/18   Colossians 1:3-4
We always pray for you, and we give thanks to God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, for we have heard that you trust in Christ Jesus and that you love all of God’s people.

PRAYER
I have learned the importance of praying for brothers and sisters in Christ.  We are all part of the family of God.  Together we can help those we cannot see by remembering them before the Father.  I pray for you each day knowing that you are facing problems and issues that I will never have to face.  I pray for your family members, work and safety.  I pray that Jesus will be real in your life and that you will continue in the upward call of Christ.

 

1/19   Ephesians 1:2
May grace and peace be yours, sent to you from God our Father and Jesus Christ our Lord.

PEACE
In Jesus I am complete and whole.  I am no longer tossed by every wind or doctrine nor am I overrun by sin.  I am equipped to deal with the issues of my life and in Christ am able to overcome.  God will give me exactly what I need if I will ask and obey.

 

1/20   Ephesians 1:3
How we praise God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms because we belong to Christ.

PRAISE
Jesus is worthy of all of our praise, honor and glory.  He is the image of the Father and provides us access to the Father. In Him is everything that you and I need to lead a Godly life.  Jesus is Lord.  Let us honor Him with the way we think, act and worship.  Jesus is God’s everything.

 

1/21   Philippians 1:6
And I am sure that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on that day when Christ Jesus comes back again.

SALVATION
God bought us with the life of Christ and rightfully owns us but the Lord lets us decide if we will accept His offer of salvation.  He saves us forever.  The activity of God in our lives will be exactly what we need to make it to the finish line of this life.  God is able.

 

1/22   Philippians 1:9-10
I pray that your love for each other will overflow more and more, and that you will keep on growing in your knowledge and understanding.  For I want you to understand what really matters, so that you may live pure and blameless lives until Christ returns.

LOVE
People count with God.  When I am filled with His presence and living for Him I will love those around me.  The presence of God brings peace, joy and love for the brethren.  I am responsible for learning to love those I am with.

 

1/23   Philippians 1:21-22a
For to me, living is for Christ, and dying is even better.  Yet if I live, that means fruitful service for Christ.

SERVANTHOOD
I am to be about my master’s business.  The Lord has a plan for my life and that plan includes work.  My work in the Father’s business requires me to learn how to be a servant.  A portion of my service is to care for those I am with.  This includes family, neighbors; fellow workers where I am employed, and people that I meet during the course of a day.  A servant serves.

 

1/24   Col 1:6
This same Good News that came to you is going out all over the world. It is changing lives everywhere, just as it changed yours that very first day you heard and understood the truth about God’s great kindness to sinners.

CALL
God is seeking to save every single person on this earth.  Many seek to refute this but the Lord continues with His call for salvation.  When we accept God’s saving grace we become part of His seeking the lost.  We do what the Father calls us to do.  God loves people and our ministry in Christ is to people.  We tell the story, and the Father gives the call.  We don’t save people we simple tell them what the Father has done for us.

 

1/25   Col 2:3
In him lie hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.

JESUS
Jesus is Lord.  He is Lord of all things.  In Him all things that were created exist.  Christ is as necessary for a Godly life as oxygen is for living on earth.  Without Jesus all of our spirituality is just a foolish exercise.  Christ is all and in all and is available for you and me to live the normal Christian life.  The normal life of a Christian is to be totally focused on Christ and what He has for us to do.

 

1/26   Col 2:8-10
Don’t let anyone lead you astray with empty philosophy and high-sounding nonsense that come from human thinking and from the evil powers of this world, and not from Christ.  For in Christ the fullness of God lives in a human body, and you are complete through your union with Christ. He is the Lord over every ruler and authority in the universe.

JESUS
You and I have everything we need in Jesus.  When we ask Christ into our heart we are saved.  We don’t need to go on to higher things because Christ is the highest.  When we see Jesus we have seen the Father.  Christ is God’s everything.  Know Jesus and you will know how to live a righteous, Godly life.

 

1/27   Philippians 2:3
Don’t be selfish; don’t live to make a good impression on others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourself.

HUMILITY
I owe everything to Jesus.  Christ is the foundation and substance of my life.  I can do nothing outside of Jesus.  Knowing this I can live with the full understanding that without the grace of the Lord Jesus I too would be lost.  Where I am weak Jesus is strong.

 

1/28   Philippians 2:14-15
In everything you do, stay away from complaining and arguing, so that no one can speak a word of blame against you. You are to live clean, innocent lives as children of God in a dark world full of crooked and perverse people. Let your lives shine brightly before them.

LIVING
Love, real love, is alien to this world.  Our light is light of help.  We are called to help those we live among.  A joyous life that is focused on serving is a life that will be totally different than anything the world does.  When I care about people I will draw people to the Lord.

 

1/29   Philippians 3:1-2
Whatever happens, dear brothers and sisters, may the Lord give you joy. I never get tired of telling you this. I am doing this for your own good.

JOY
Joy is a result of being with the Lord.  It is not a restless exuberance or wild raving.  Joy is given to us by Jesus so that we can live a productive and confident Christian life.  In the face of all the challenges and unknowns of life I can know this, Jesus loves me.  His love gives me great joy.

1/30   Ephesians 1:4
Long ago, even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes.

CHOSEN
My mind cannot comprehend the magnitude of God’s love for me.  He has loved, he does love and he always will love me.  I want to love the Lord.  Therefore, I want to do what He says.  Today, this moment I will focus my heart on the Lord.  Today and every today I will place the Lord Jesus first in my life.

 

1/31   Ephesians 1:5
His unchanging plan has always been to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. And this gave him great pleasure.

PLAN
God has a plan that includes me.  The Lord places great value on our lives.  Each one of us is an important part of His plan.  We can look at our lives and rejoice in whatever circumstance we find ourselves in because the Lord has a plan for our lives.  When we get off course, He will bring us back on course.  When we taste failure it is always with victory in the background.  Jesus is Lord.

12/01               Mark 6:31
Then Jesus said, “Let’s get away from the crowds for a while and rest.”

REST
The Christmas season is beginning and most of us will have very activity filled days and weeks.  Remember to set aside some time to rest so that you don’t miss the reason for the season.  Jesus is alive.  He is alive in you therefore you can rejoice.

 

12/02               John 3:3
Jesus replied, “I assure you, unless you are born again, you can never see the Kingdom of God.”

NEW BIRTH
The Father has no grandchildren.  Our salvation is a personal decision that is between us and Jesus.  Make sure that you have asked Jesus to forgive you of your sin and take control of your life.  A child of God is always growing in Christ likeness.

 

12/03               John 12:20-21
Some Greeks who had come to Jerusalem to attend the Passover paid a visit to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee. They said, “Sir, we want to meet Jesus.”

EVANGELISM
Telling about Jesus is simple.  When Christ is the center of my life people will come asking me about my life.  Jesus makes a difference in everything I do.

 

12/04               John 17:25-26
“O righteous Father, the world doesn’t know you, but I do; and these disciples know you sent me.  And I have revealed you to them and will keep on revealing you. I will do this so that your love for me may be in them and I in them.”

CHRIST-LIKENESS
If I want to grow in Christ-likeness I will need to spend time with Jesus.  I do this by reading His Word, meditating on His Word and putting His Word to work in my life.  The Word of God reveals Jesus and God’s directions for my daily life.

 

12/05               Acts 9:3-6
As he was nearing Damascus on this mission, a brilliant light from heaven suddenly beamed down upon him!  He fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul! Saul! Why are you persecuting me?”  “Who are you, sir?” Saul asked. And the voice replied, “I am Jesus, the one you are persecuting!  Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you are to do.”

EXPERIENCE
My salvation experience was totally different from Paul’s.  Yours may be too.  My salvation experience was a point in time where I knew that I was lost and that Jesus was the only way.  I asked Christ into my heart and surrendered my life to Him.  Jesus saved me and bears witness to His salvation every day of my life.

 

12/06               Acts 10:19-20
Meanwhile, as Peter was puzzling over the vision, the Holy Spirit said to him, “Three men have come looking for you. Go down and go with them without hesitation. All is well, for I have sent them.”

ACTIVITY OF GOD
The Lord is active in our lives.  Sometimes we don’t realize the Lord’s activity until afterwards.  There are times that we know without any doubt that we are specifically being directed by the Lord.  My life belongs to Jesus.  I want to know Him more and to see His activity in my life more clearly.  A growing relationship with Jesus will reveal His activity more each day.

 

12/07               Eph 1:4
Long ago, even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes.

SALVATION
Our relationship with Jesus is not an accident.  Christ came looking for us.  Jesus loves you and me and is seeking the best for our lives.  Eternity beckons but life right now is very important.  I want to be what the Lord planned for me to be.  I want to be used by Jesus.

 

12/08               Eph 2:4-5
But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so very much, that even while we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God’s special favor that you have been saved!)

MERCY
I never get what I deserve.  My life is so rich in Christ.  Everything that happens to me can be used to develop my relationship with the Lord.  I belong.  I am loved.  Jesus is alive in me and active in my life.

12/09          Ephesians 3:6
And this is the secret plan: The Gentiles have an equal share with the Jews in all the riches inherited by God’s children. Both groups have believed the Good News, and both are part of the same body and enjoy together the promise of blessings through Christ Jesus.

Plan
Jesus loves me and you.  His concern for us is much greater than the human mind can comprehend.  I am His.  As I face the struggles and uncertainties of life I can live with the absolute confidence that Jesus loves me.

 

12/10          Ephesians 4:1-2
Therefore I, a prisoner for serving the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of your calling, for you have been called by God.  Be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love.

LOVE
Love is shown by the way I act.  My actions towards the unlovely and uncaring are a significant indicator of the way that I feel about Jesus.

 

12/11          Ephesians 5:2
Live a life filled with love for others, following the example of Christ, who loved you and gave himself as a sacrifice to take away your sins. And God was pleased, because that sacrifice was like sweet perfume to him.

LOVE
Love is an action that is always combined with sacrifice.  I cannot make anyone love me.  No one can stop me from loving them, it is always my choice.  When I love like Jesus loves, heaven knows and the Father is pleased and it will hurt.

 

12/12          Ephesians 6:11-12
Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies and tricks of the Devil.  For we are not fighting against people made of flesh and blood, but against the evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against those mighty powers of darkness who rule this world, and against wicked spirits in the heavenly realms.

EVIL
Evil is an aggressive force seeking to devour us.  Do not let evil control you or sidetrack you from what the Lord has called you to do simply turn back to Jesus.  The solutions to our problems, especially when we make bad choices take time to materialize and always require the presence of our loving Lord Jesus.

 

12/13          Philippians 1:3-6
Every time I think of you, I give thanks to my God.  I always pray for you, and I make my requests with a heart full of joy because you have been my partners in spreading the Good News about Christ from the time you first heard it until now.  And I am sure that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on that day when Christ Jesus comes back again.

THANKS
You are always in my prayers.  I write these devotions to you so that you may know that someone is praying for you.  Pouring out my heart gives me a chance to be encouraged and to share what the Lord can do in any Christian’s life.  I too must confess that I am chief of sinners but Jesus loves me and the Lord is in control.  Be blessed and be a blessing today.

 

12/14          Philippians 2:8
And in human form he obediently humbled himself even further by dying a criminal’s death on a cross.

SACRIFICE
As we stood in Jerusalem in the place where Christ was imprisoned we were overwhelmed by the realization of the magnitude of His suffering.  He gave me more than I can comprehend.  He gave me more than I could give.  Jesus is Lord.  He is Lord of my life.

 

12/15           Philippians 3:1
Whatever happens, dear brothers and sisters, may the Lord give you joy. I never get tired of telling you this. I am doing this for your own good.

JOY
The Lord makes us whole.  I make bad choices and am a sinner.  Yet the Lord continues to work in my life every day helping me to grow, to change and to survive.  His presence equips me in the face of fear or failure or frustration to say that I can have joy.  Life is an opportunity for me to be what the Lord planned for me to be.  Joy in the Lord is my choice.

 

12/16          Philippians 4:4-5
Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again – rejoice!  Let everyone see that you are considerate in all you do. Remember, the Lord is coming soon.

JOY
Joy is something that enables me to break through the barriers of separation that sin has caused in the world.  I can meet people where they are and not be overwhelmed by a sense of hopelessness or frustration.  Joy equips me to love others no matter how they treat me.

 

12/17          Colossians 1:6
This same Good News that came to you is going out all over the world. It is changing lives everywhere, just as it changed yours that very first day you heard and understood the truth about God’s great kindness to sinners.

SALVATION
When Jesus came into my heart I was never the same again.  I can truthfully say that the Lord has consistently and aggressively intervened in my life to guide me, to discipline me and to equip me to grow.  Sometimes things looked dim but then the day came when I realized the presence of His joy.  Jesus loves me and you.

 

12/18 Colossians 2:3
In him lie hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.

LIFE
Everything I need to live an abundant Christian life is found in Jesus.  Whatever I need, if I stay close to Jesus and submit my way to Him He will direct me in the right way.

 

12/19          Colossians 3:1
Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits at God’s right hand in the place of honor and power.

REALITY
What we see, feel and touch is passing away.  Heaven is an eternal reality.  I want to spend my life growing in an awareness of the presence of Jesus and the reality of heaven.  Indeed I have an eternal reward but I also have a present help when I can realize that I am not alone and that the resources of the Father are used to equip me to accomplish His plan for my life.  Jesus is alive and is alive in me.

 

12/20          Colossians 4:2
Devote yourselves to prayer with an alert mind and a thankful heart.

PRAYER
Prayer is work.  Prayer is challenging.  Time works against us.  It seeks to veil the activity of the Lord Jesus in our lives.  Work hard at prayer remembering that the time is short and that all around us people need strengthening.  Christian spiritual growth involves all of us and our prayers are a major contributor to the maturing of a fellow believer.  Prayer is also important as we seek to work out what the Lord has called us to do.  Prayer is work.

 

12/21          Luke 2:1-4
At that time the Roman emperor, Augustus, decreed that a census should be taken throughout the Roman Empire.   (This was the first census taken when Quirinius was governor of Syria.) All returned to their own towns to register for this census.  And because Joseph was a descendant of King David, he had to go to Bethlehem in Judea, David’s ancient home. He traveled there from the village of Nazareth in Galilee.

CONTROL
God is able to accomplish His purpose in our life.  He knows what is going on.  He will provide us with a solution.  Every thought that Jesus has towards you or me is a thought for good.  The key for me is to make sure that my life is Christ focused.  Jesus loves me and you.

 

12/22          Luke 2:5-7
He took with him Mary, his fiancé, who was obviously pregnant by this time. And while they were there, the time came for her baby to be born. She gave birth to her first child, a son. She wrapped him snugly in strips of cloth and laid him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the village inn.

WISDOM
What the world saw as defeat was a victory for God.  So many times in my own life when I see a situation that is discouraging I can take heart because the Lord turns defeat into victory.  My life is in Christ and He has saved me.  That alone is a great victory of the Lord.

 

12/23           Luke 2:8-14
That night some shepherds were in the fields outside the village, guarding their flocks of sheep.  Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared among them, and the radiance of the Lord’s glory surrounded them. They were terribly frightened, but the angel reassured them. “Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I bring you good news of great joy for everyone!  The Savior – yes, the Messiah, the Lord – has been born tonight in Bethlehem, the city of David!  And this is how you will recognize him: You will find a baby lying in a manger, wrapped snugly in strips of cloth!”  Suddenly, the angel was joined by a vast host of others – the armies of heaven – praising God: “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and peace on earth to all whom God favors.

PEACE
Jesus brings peace.  Though my world is upside down the Lord brings peace into my heart.  The Lord of life is also the Lord of my circumstances.

 

12/24           Luke 2:15-20
When the angels had returned to heaven, the shepherds said to each other, “Come on, let’s go to Bethlehem! Let’s see this wonderful thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”  They ran to the village and found Mary and Joseph. And there was the baby, lying in the manger.  Then the shepherds told everyone what had happened and what the angel had said to them about this child.  All who heard the shepherds’ story were astonished, but Mary quietly treasured these things in her heart and thought about them often.  The shepherds went back to their fields and flocks, glorifying and praising God for what the angels had told them, and because they had seen the child, just as the angel had said.

PRAISE
Jesus is born.  Immanuel has come.  The Messiah is with us.  Praise God from whom all blessings flow, Jesus is Lord of all.

12/25           Matthew 2:1-6
Jesus was born in the town of Bethlehem in Judea, during the reign of King Herod. About that time some wise men from eastern lands arrived in Jerusalem, asking,  “Where is the newborn king of the Jews? We have seen his star as it arose, and we have come to worship him.”  Herod was deeply disturbed by their question, as was all of Jerusalem.  He called a meeting of the leading priests and teachers of religious law. “Where did the prophets say the Messiah would be born?” he asked them.  “In Bethlehem,” they said, “for this is what the prophet wrote:   ‘O Bethlehem of Judah, you are not just a lowly village in Judah, for a ruler will come from you who will be the shepherd for my people Israel.’

KING
Shiloh has come.  Jesus is alive.  The King came as one of the lowliest so that He could identify with anyone of us.  He saw my need before I was born and came into this world for me.  I love Jesus and He loves me.

 

12/26           Matthew 2:7-12
Then Herod sent a private message to the wise men, asking them to come see him. At this meeting he learned the exact time when they first saw the star.  Then he told them, “Go to Bethlehem and search carefully for the child. And when you find him, come back and tell me so that I can go and worship him, too!”

After this interview the wise men went their way. Once again the star appeared to them, guiding them to Bethlehem. It went ahead of them and stopped over the place where the child was.  When they saw the star, they were filled with joy!  They entered the house where the child and his mother, Mary, were, and they fell down before him and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasure chests and gave him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.  But when it was time to leave, they went home another way, because God had warned them in a dream not to return to Herod.

CONTROL
When my world is tumbling out of control I can remember that nothing surprises the Lord.  He is able to guide me and equip me to face the chaos of this world.  I am not alone and the Lord is seeking that I know Him.  If I will obey He will equip.  And when I do something foolish, I can have absolute confidence that the Lord will forgive me and help me correct my actions.  Jesus loves me.

 

12/27 John 3:16
“For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.

CHOICE
I choose Jesus.  My life is His.  I cannot control the events of my life nor can I change who I am.  I can choose the One I will follow and it is Jesus.  He is Lord and He is interested in me having a growing relationship with Him.

 

12/28 John 12:26
All those who want to be my disciples must come and follow me, because my servants must be where I am. And if they follow me, the Father will honor them.

DISCIPLESHIP
I can be a disciple.  Discipleship requires that I spend time with Jesus, let Him have the concerns of my life, obey Him and trust Him to use me.  I have value and worth and the Lord loves me.  Jesus is Lord.

 

12/29 John 17:9
“My prayer is not for the world, but for those you have given me, because they belong to you.

CHILDREN
I asked Jesus to come into my heart and save me.  He did.  Not everyone that prays to the Lord or seeks to get Him to do things for them is His child.  A child of God knows that he/she belongs to Jesus and that the Lord is their Father.  Jesus is praying for you at this very moment.  Choose Jesus as your Lord.

 

12/30 Acts 9:27
Then Barnabas brought him to the apostles and told them how Saul had seen the Lord on the way to Damascus. Barnabas also told them what the Lord had said to Saul and how he boldly preached in the name of Jesus in Damascus.

FRIENDSHIP
People count with Jesus.  Everyone I meet is important to the Lord.  I need to develop myself as an encourager.  The way I treat others will change the way I feel about myself.  If everyone I know and meet is important to me, my self esteem will grow and the way I see my life will change.  Life will be full of opportunities.  My troubles will become smaller and my victories will increase.  Jesus loves me.

 

12/31 Acts 10:34-35
Then Peter replied, “I see very clearly that God doesn’t show partiality.  In every nation he accepts those who fear him and do what is right.

 

LOVE
I show love by the way I act towards others.  Love will cause me to reach out to people I know and help them deal with their life.  I will not patronize people nor will I preach at them.  I will be a helper.  I will meet the needs of the people that I can.  What I do counts and it changes me.

 

11/01 1Sam 7:3
Then Samuel said to all the people of Israel, “If you are really serious about wanting to return to the LORD, get rid of your foreign gods and your images of Ashtoreth. Determine to obey only the LORD; then he will rescue you from the Philistines.”

OBEDIENCE
Obedience is an action. We choose to obey the Lord. I must determine in my heart that I will do exactly what the Lord says. This affects everything I do. I will stop sinning. I will start doing the things that the Lord has called me to do. Obedience is the foundation for growth and maturity.

 

11/02 1 Sam 17:31-32
Then David’s question was reported to King Saul, and the king sent for him. “Don’t worry about a thing,” David told Saul. “I’ll go fight this Philistine!”

TRUST
I can do what the Lord calls me to do. Serving the Lord requires that I focus my life on Him and not on the world. The world view only sees obstacles. A Godly view only sees obedience. When I am serving the Lord, I will see the opportunity and serve Jesus by obeying Him.

 

11/03 1 Sam 31:7
When the Israelites on the other side of the Jezreel Valley and beyond the Jordan saw that their army had been routed and that Saul and his sons were dead, they abandoned their towns and fled. So the Philistines moved in and occupied their towns.

TRUST
Trust in Jesus. Trusting in people, wealth, or strength will always disappoint you. When you trust in things that are passing away you will suffer the consequences of your error. When you trust in the Lord you will have eternal life and wisdom, mercy and grace for daily living.

 

11/04           2 Samuel 5:10
And David became more and more powerful, because the LORD God Almighty was with him.

STRENGTH

The Lord is our strength.  He fills us with His power so that we can live in this world.  We need to remember that this place is not our home.  We are simply passing through.  We will live for eternity in the presence of the Living Lord.  It will strengthen us if we claim that promise right now.  The Lord is with us.

 

11/05           1 Kings 3:3
Solomon loved the LORD and followed all the instructions of his father, David, except that Solomon, too, offered sacrifices and burned incense at the local altars.

SIN

Paul’s confession of his sinfulness is a good warning for each one of us.  Sin is never far away.  Sin is always seeking to usurp the Lord’s authority in our lives.  Sin causes me to quit evaluating myself and blame others.  Our sin problem is real and must be dealt with.  Only Jesus can forgive our sin.

 

11/06           II Kings 18:16
Hezekiah even stripped the gold from the doors of the LORD’s Temple and from the doorposts he had overlaid with gold, and he gave it all to the Assyrian king.

COURAGE

The Lord gave Israel its wealth.  The Lord called Israel His people.  Hezekiah forgot who owned him.  Fear can cause any of us to make hasty, wrong choices.  It is in our daily time with the Lord that we fortify our souls to deal with each day’s challenge.  Time with Jesus is always time well spent.

 

11/07             I Chronicles 11:3
So there at Hebron David made a covenant with the leaders of Israel before the LORD. They anointed him king of Israel, just as the LORD had promised through Samuel.

COMMITMENT

The Christian life requires commitment.  Jesus loves me and He forgives my sin.  I am committed to serving Him and Him alone every day of my life.  Every thing I do and say is to be tempered by the Lord’s hand.  Jesus is Lord.  My covenant in life is with Jesus Christ.

 

11/08                    I Chronicles 15:25
Then David and the leaders of Israel and the generals of the army went to the home of Obed-edom to bring the Ark of the LORD’s covenant up to Jerusalem with a great celebration.

COMMITMENT

Jesus is the only way to the Father.  The Lord did not need our council to create anything nor does He accept our council on developing a relationship with Him.  As much as man would like to make a relationship with God something anyone can do any way they choose, Jesus is the only way to the Father.

 

11/09                    I Chronicles 17:4
“Go and tell my servant David, ‘This is what the LORD says: You are not the one to build me a temple to live in.

GUIDANCE

The Lord will not hide His will from you.  A tragedy in the life of many Christians is that for much of their life they are trying to tell God what they are going to do.  When they arrive at the end of their days, they often discover that they have simply wasted much of their life.  Ask Jesus what to do and He will tell you.  The key when Christ leads is for you to follow.

 

11/10                    I Chronicles 17:20
“O LORD, there is no one like you – there is no other God. We have never even heard of another god like you!

GOD

God is unique and one of a kind.  No other God has ever existed.  He is and always will be.  The miracle of miracles is that He desires a relationship with me.  Through Christ I have direct access to the throne room of our majestic creator.  Thank you Lord Jesus, for loving me and forgiving me of my sin.

 

11/11                    II Chronicles 3:1-2
So Solomon began to build the Temple of the LORD in Jerusalem on Mount Moriah, where the LORD had appeared to Solomon’s father, King David. The Temple was built on the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite, the site that David had selected.  The construction began in mid-spring, during the fourth year of Solomon’s reign.

WORK

The Lord is involved in our work.  His plan for our lives includes the work that we do.  It is important that we do our work as unto the Lord.  Everything we do is important to our Father.  Rejoice and work.  The Lord is good.

 

11/12 Ezra 3:11
With praise and thanks, they sang this song to the LORD: “He is so good! His faithful love for Israel endures forever!” Then all the people gave a great shout, praising the LORD because the foundation of the LORD’s Temple had been laid.

PRAISE

We can always praise the Lord.  He is perfect and His view is eternal.  We are imperfect and have a very limited view.  Therefore, because I trust and love the Lord I can always praise Him.

 

11/13                    Nehemiah 1:10-11a
“We are your servants, the people you rescued by your great power and might.  O Lord, please hear my prayer!

SECURITY

Jesus came for me.  He paid my price.  My life is bound up in Jesus.  I am a part of His work in this world.  When I am in trouble Jesus hears my plea.  When my world is overrun and I am sinking fast Jesus will not ignore my need.

 

11/14                    I Corinthians 13:7
Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.

LOVE

Jesus loves me.  Every thought that the Lord Jesus has towards me is a thought for good.  My life was created for good and serving Jesus results in good.  Life is good.

 

11/15                    Esther 4:13-14
Mordecai sent back this reply to Esther: “Don’t think for a moment that you will escape there in the palace when all other Jews are killed.  If you keep quiet at a time like this, deliverance for the Jews will arise from some other place, but you and your relatives will die. What’s more, who can say but that you have been elevated to the palace for just such a time as this?”

SERVICE

There are no small places in the Kingdom of God.  Jesus uses each one of us in a place that we can be successful and useable.  We serve the Lord.  Service to Jesus is caring for those around us.  People count with the Lord.

 

11/16                    Job 42:1-2
Then Job replied to the LORD:  “I know that you can do anything, and no one can stop you.

STRENGTH

We are not at the mercy of the world.  Jesus is Lord and is Lord of all.  We are part of His work in this world.  Nothing can stop the Lord.

 

11/17                    Psalm 6:9
The LORD has heard my plea; the LORD will answer my prayer.

CONFIDENCE

I can live my life with the knowledge that the Lord is on my side.  He loves me.  He desires for me to talk with Him and put my burden upon Him.  When I am walking with Jesus the burdens of life will be light.

 

11/18                    Psalm 10:11
The wicked say to themselves, “God isn’t watching! He will never notice!”

CONTROL

The Lord is in control.  The wicked live as if there is no God.  Their evil lifestyle does not affect the reality of the Lord.  Our lives in this world are only a tiny speck on eternity.  The Lord is giving us an opportunity to develop a relationship with Him.  Jesus would that no one be lost.  His patience is not an indication of weakness only a sign of His love.

 

11/19                    Psalm 11:5
The LORD examines both the righteous and the wicked. He hates everyone who loves violence.

STRENGTH

Violence is destructive and divisive.  The Lord calls each one of us to a life of love.  Love is an action and in many cases is the direct opposite of violence.  Love calls us to sacrifice, service and submission.  The Lord is in control.

 

11/20                    Psalm 15:1
Who may worship in your sanctuary, LORD? Who may enter your presence on your holy hill?

WORSHIP

Jesus equips us to worship the Lord.  Christ cleanses us from our sin, and gives us His righteousness.  On the basis of our salvation in Christ, we can come before the Lord and worship Him.  Jesus is God’s everything.

 

11/21                    Psalm 16:1
Keep me safe, O God, for I have come to you for refuge.

SAFETY

There is safety with the Lord.  In Jesus we live and move and exist.  Without Jesus we are dead in our trespasses and sin.  Man on His own does not acknowledge God nor does he follow God.  In Christ we have a Shepherd that will see us through life and at death take us into the physical presence of the Father.  Jesus is Lord.

 

11/22                    Psalm 19:8
The commandments of the LORD are right, bringing joy to the heart. The commands of the LORD are clear, giving insight to life.

OBEDIENCE

Jesus requires that I obey Him.  His directions to me are clear and detailed.  He calls me to obedience because He knows what is best for me.  I always see the future as uncertain.  Jesus knows the future and equips me to deal with the future.  Obedience is the pathway to an abundant life.

 

11/23                    Psalm 20:7
Some nations boast of their armies and weapons, but we boast in the LORD our God.

PRAISE

I want to be praised.  I enjoy praise.  But in my heart I know that when I receive praise it is often times not warranted.  However, the Lord is worthy of all my praise.  He is great and wonderful.  Praise the Lord.

 

11/24                    Psalm 23:1
The LORD is my shepherd; I have everything I need.

NEED

In a nation with great abundance it is difficult to realize how effectively the Lord meets my need.  He knows the future and I don’t.  Whistling through the unknown of the future with confidence is not the way to deal with my need.  Growing in my relationship with Jesus is the only way I can have my needs met.

 

11/25                    Psalm 27:1
The LORD is my light and my salvation – so why should I be afraid? The LORD protects me from danger – so why should I tremble?

SECURITY

This world is passing away.  In Jesus I have present and eternal security.  Jesus has a plan for my life.  I can live each day knowing that the Lord will not desert me nor will He let me down.  The Lord is good.  His plans for me are good.  I can live confidently with that knowledge.

 

11/26                    Psalm 30:1
I will praise you, LORD, for you have rescued me. You refused to let my enemies triumph over me.

JOY

Whatever I do, whatever I face I can live with a joyous heart.  Joy comes out of my relationship with the Lord and not as a result of what is happening to me at the moment.  The Lord loves me, has a good plan for my life and one day will escort me into the presence of the Father.  This is real joy worthy of all praise and honor to God.

 

11/27                    Psalm 51:1-4
Have mercy on me, O God, because of your unfailing love. Because of your great compassion, blot out the stain of my sins.  Wash me clean from my guilt. Purify me from my sin.  For I recognize my shameful deeds – they haunt me day and night.  Against you, and you alone, have I sinned; I have done what is evil in your sight. You will be proved right in what you say, and your judgment against me is just.

SIN

Sin is a destructive force in life.  It is prolific and aggressive.  You and I must recognize our need for cleansing and forgiveness.  I want to make sure that my heart is sensitive and that my sin is forgiven.  One thing I am aware of is that when I condemn and criticize others in my heart sin is crouching at my door.  Forgive me Lord for my sin and help me change my ways.

 

11/28                    Psalm 70:4-5
But may all who search for you be filled with joy and gladness. May those who love your salvation repeatedly shout, “God is great!”  But I am poor and needy; please hurry to my aid, O God. You are my helper and my savior; O LORD, do not delay!

FAITH

This world is a tough and difficult place.  Sin seeks to masquerade as good and I must be on the alert.  Time with Jesus is the very thing I need each day to help me live a Godly life.  The faster my pace the more I need time with Jesus.

 

11/29                    Psalm 94:12
Happy are those whom you discipline, LORD, and those whom you teach from your law.

FAITH

I belong to Jesus.  I spend time with Jesus.  I am trusting Jesus with my soul and eternity.  His correction is a confidence builder as I grow in my faith.

11/30                    Psalm 100:1-5
Shout with joy to the LORD, O earth!  Worship the LORD with gladness. Come before him, singing with joy.  Acknowledge that the LORD is God! He made us, and we are his. We are his people, the sheep of his pasture.  Enter his gates with thanksgiving; go into his courts with praise. Give thanks to him and bless his name.  For the LORD is good. His unfailing love continues forever, and his faithfulness continues to each generation.

WORSHIP

God is good.  Everything about the Lord is positive and glorious.  He is worthy of my praise and my attention.  I can praise the Lord and worship Him.  Great is the Lord.