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365 Pocket Promises from the Bible

Copyright © 2012 by Ron Beers. All rights reserved.

Photograph on packaging copyright © Mike Harrington/Getty Images. All rights reserved.

Interior pattern from The Complete Pattern Library. Copyright © The Ivy Press. All rights reserved.

Cover illustration copyright © JoeLena/iStockphoto. All rights reserved.

Designed by Ron Kaufmann

Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

ISBN 978-1-4143-6986-0

Build: 2012-09-05 16:23:38

Contents

Introduction

Week 1

Week 2

Week 3

Week 4

Week 5

Week 6

Week 7

Week 8

Week 9

Week 10

Week 11

Week 12

Week 13

Week 14

Week 15

Week 16

Week 17

Week 18

Week 19

Week 20

Week 21

Week 22

Week 23

Week 24

Week 25

Week 26

Week 27

Week 28

Week 29

Week 30

Week 31

Week 32

Week 33

Week 34

Week 35

Week 36

Week 37

Week 38

Week 39

Week 40

Week 41

Week 42

Week 43

Week 44

Week 45

Week 46

Week 47

Week 48

Week 49

Week 50

Week 51

Week 52

Topical Index

Introduction

Why is the Bible full of so many promises? Maybe it’s because God wants you to realize that you can trust him in everything. Maybe it’s because he cares so deeply for you that he wants to show you just how much you have to look forward to as you travel through life. This unique book presents more than 365 of these incredible promises, at least one for every day of the year. All these promises will come true—or have already come true. You simply need to choose to be part of them.

Imagine that every morning you could be inspired by a promise from God’s Word and then live the rest of the day with either the expectation that God would fulfill that promise or the confidence that comes from a promise already fulfilled.

This little book is designed to inspire you in just that way. In it you will find a promise for each day of the year. You can read consecutively through the book, concentrating on one of God’s promises each day. Alternatively, you can search the index for a topic that matches a concern on your heart right now. You’ll find hope as you read the promise from God and then think about it, letting it soak in.

Each promise is paired with a short devotional note to help you look at your day differently through the reality of God’s Word. Each daily reading ends with a question designed to help you trust that this promise is meant for you. On every sixth and seventh day’s reading, you will find the heading “A Moment of Promise.” These are shorter promises to read on the weekends or on days when time is limited.

As you read a new promise, take your time. Claim each promise as your own with the confidence that you can always trust God to keep his word. Our prayer is that you will be blessed and encouraged as you see and experience all that God has in store for you.

Week 1

Day 1   Day 2   Day 3   Day 4   Day 5   Day 6   Day 7

Day 1

A promise about SALVATION

When you are ready to trust Christ

If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by confessing with your mouth that you are saved.

ROMANS 10:9-10

There is only one way to be certain that you will go to heaven instead of hell when you die. You must believe in your heart that Jesus died and rose again to save you from the consequences of your sin, and you must be willing to confess your sin to him as well as confess your faith to others. By taking these steps in faith, you secure your salvation and your place in eternity with God.

Have you confessed Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior?

Day 2

A promise about SIGNIFICANCE

When you wonder if you are valuable to God

What is the price of two sparrows—one copper coin? But not a single sparrow can fall to the ground without your Father knowing it. . . . So don’t be afraid; you are more valuable to God than a whole flock of sparrows.

MATTHEW 10:29, 31

Deep within every human heart lies a hunger for significance. We want our lives to count, to make a difference, to be worth something. Yet many people carry deep feelings of insignificance. Their lives are dominated not by their abilities but by their inabilities. Everywhere they look they see others who are more successful, more gifted, more this or that. The Bible, however, says that every person has great value. You are significant, not because of anything you can accomplish on your own but because God loves you and promises that you are valuable to him.

How does knowing that God values you increase your feelings of significance?

Day 3

A promise about KINDNESS

When you are grateful for God’s mercy and kindness

The LORD is merciful and compassionate, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love. . . . The LORD is righteous in everything he does; he is filled with kindness.

PSALM 145:8, 17

God promises to give you mercy when you don’t deserve it, to be patient and not lash out in anger when you do something wrong. In other words, he promises to love you unconditionally, even if you don’t return his love. God didn’t just create kindness, he is kindness. Everything he does for you is an act of kindness. He wants you to become everything he created you to be and gives you every opportunity to experience the joy of eternity with him.

How can you be aware of God’s kindness toward you today?

Day 4

A promise about ETERNAL LIFE

When you are afraid of death

I am the resurrection and the life. Anyone who believes in me will live, even after dying. Everyone who lives in me and believes in me will never ever die.

JOHN 11:25-26

Why are we so afraid to die? Often it is because we are uncertain about what happens after death. This life is all we know; death represents the unknown. When you die physically, you leave your earthly body and your place in the earthly community. But if you die spiritually, you will miss eternal life in heaven with God and with his people; you will be separated from God forever. When Christians die physically, they continue to live spiritually as they take up residence in heaven. If you believe Jesus is your Savior, death is not the end but only the beginning of an eternity of unspeakable joy in the Lord’s presence.

How can you look at death as the beginning rather than the end?

Day 5

A promise about CONSEQUENCES

When you want your actions to affect others positively

Those who live only to satisfy their own sinful nature will harvest decay and death from that sinful nature. But those who live to please the Spirit will harvest everlasting life from the Spirit.

GALATIANS 6:8

A gun fires, a bullet flies, and a person in its path dies. That death is the consequence of someone’s pulling the trigger of a loaded weapon. Similarly, hurtful words may wound someone else. On the other hand, helpful words may lead a person to Christ. In both cases, the words have consequences. Sin always has negative consequences, but faithfulness to God always has positive consequences. Focus on doing things that have positive consequences, and you will have less time to act in ways that have negative consequences.

Have your actions lately had more negative consequences or more positive consequences?

Day 6: A Moment of Promise

A promise about NEIGHBORS

When you want to love your neighbor as yourself

Be careful to live properly among your unbelieving neighbors. Then even if they accuse you of doing wrong, they will see your honorable behavior, and they will give honor to God when he judges the world.

1 PETER 2:12

Treat your neighbors, especially unbelievers, with love and respect, integrity and graciousness. Be an example of godliness, even if they treat you poorly. See it as an opportunity to win them over through friendship as they see the love of God shining through you.

How can you show God’s love to your neighbor today?

Day 7: A Moment of Promise

A promise about JUSTICE

When life doesn’t seem fair

Then at last everyone will say, “There truly is a reward for those who live for God; surely there is a God who judges justly here on earth.”

PSALM 58:11

In difficult times, it is tempting to think God is not fair or just. How can he allow a Christian to suffer when so many unbelievers are prospering? Justice and fairness are often perverted in this life by selfish people. But true justice will one day prevail in eternity for those who live for God.

Do you trust that God’s justice will one day prevail?

Week 2

Day 8   Day 9   Day 10   Day 11   Day 12   Day 13   Day 14

Day 8

A promise about IDOLS

When you are tempted to trust in anything besides God

Those who trust in idols, who say, “You are our gods,” will be turned away in shame.

ISAIAH 42:17

An idol is anything that takes God’s place in your heart. Money, convenience, hobbies, reputation, beauty, celebrities, success—any of these can be idols if they become more important to you than God. When you stop depending on God, you begin to separate yourself from him. You start to go your own way and neglect his Word and his ways. Neglect leads to disobedience and sin, and God may choose to discipline you in order to lead you back to him. You can’t experience God’s best for you if you depend on anyone or anything besides him.

Are there idols in your life that you have become dependent on?

Day 9

A promise about DISAPPOINTMENT

When life isn’t going the way you expect

They cried out to you and were saved. They trusted in you and were never disgraced.

PSALM 22:5

The truth is that life is full of disappointment for us. On the other hand, we often disappoint God because of our sins. But God doesn’t want us to dwell on what could have been. He is the God of hope and wants us to focus on what can be. That’s why he sent his Son, Jesus, to take the punishment for your disappointing behavior so that you can stand before him as more than good enough. You are actually holy in his eyes. The next time you feel disappointed, remember everything God has done for you. Use this time to grow, and take comfort that you have the approval of the only One who really matters.

Knowing that God loves you and turns bad into good, how can you now move past your disappointment?

Day 10

A promise about ANGELS

When you wonder what part angels play in your life

He will order his angels to protect you wherever you go. They will hold you up with their hands so you won’t even hurt your foot on a stone.

PSALM 91:11-12

The Bible does not say whether there is one specific “guardian angel” assigned to each believer. It does say that God uses his angels to counsel, guide, protect, minister to, rescue, fight for, and care for his people. Whether he uses one specific angel or a whole host of angels to help you is his choice and your blessing. Chances are that angels have played a greater role in your life than you realize. Thank God today for the supernatural ways he cares for you.

How will knowing that God sends his angels to be involved in your life affect the way you act today?

Day 11

A promise about TRUSTING GOD

When you need to believe God’s promises

God is not a man, so he does not lie. He is not human, so he does not change his mind. Has he ever spoken and failed to act? Has he ever promised and not carried it through?

NUMBERS 23:19

God’s promises are backed by his divine character and power. If you can’t believe the promises of God, you can’t really believe any of God’s Word. If you can’t believe God’s Word, then you shouldn’t believe in God at all. And if you don’t believe in God at all, your long-term future has no hope, for there is nothing to look forward to beyond the grave. So take comfort in the fact that you can believe—in his promises, in his Word, in his character, in your future, in heaven. You can believe because everything he promises comes to be.

Whether or not you believe in all of God’s promises determines everything else you believe or don’t believe about God.

Day 12

A promise about PURPOSE

When you are trying to carry out God’s plan for your life

She will have a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.

MATTHEW 1:21

Your greatest hope is that because of Jesus, you will live forever in heaven with God. Until that hope is fulfilled, God has a plan for you to carry out in your life here and now. Listen to God and follow him closely so that you can fulfill his plan for you, just as Jesus fulfilled God’s plan for him.

Ask God each day to reveal his plans for you, and never lose hope that he is working out his purposes in your life.

Day 13: A Moment of Promise

A promise about GENEROSITY

When you want to develop a generous spirit

Give freely and become more wealthy; be stingy and lose everything.

PROVERBS 11:24

The more obsessed you are with getting more, the greater the odds that you will wind up with less. Greed is dangerous because left unchecked it can become so powerful that it will control your life. More is never enough when you are seeking things that can’t truly satisfy. Generosity is the opposite of greed. God promises that the more you give, the more you will receive.

How tightly do you hold on to what you have?

Day 14: A Moment of Promise

A promise about GOD’S POWER

When your problems are too big for you

With God’s help we will do mighty things.

PSALM 60:12

Try not to look at the size of your problem but at the size of your God. When there are so many seemingly impossible things to be done, remember that you have a powerful God who will help you accomplish them.

How can you rely on God’s power today?

Week 3

Day 15   Day 16   Day 17   Day 18   Day 19   Day 20   Day 21

Day 15

A promise about PATIENCE

When situations in your life are teaching you patience

God is pleased with you when you do what you know is right and patiently endure unfair treatment. Of course, you get no credit for being patient if you are beaten for doing wrong. But if you suffer for doing good and endure it patiently, God is pleased with you.

1 PETER 2:19-20

God uses your life’s circumstances to develop your patience. You can’t always choose your circumstances, but you can choose how you respond to them. God promises that he is pleased when you are patient in the midst of difficult circumstances. Patience is not a virtue when you are suffering the consequences of doing something wrong, but patience pleases God when you are suffering unfairly or for doing good.

How can you respond to your life’s circumstances with more patience?

Day 16

A promise about POWER

When you want God’s power to work in you

God is awesome in his sanctuary. The God of Israel gives power and strength to his people. Praise be to God!

PSALM 68:35

The God who created the world and who defeats Satan promises to offer his power to you. If you believe that God sent Jesus Christ to save you from sin, and if you ask him to forgive your sin and remove it, he will replace the power of sin over your heart with the power to do good, to accomplish great things, and to resist the forces of evil. Then you will be able to use God’s power for godly purposes.

How can you tap into the power of God today?

Day 17

A promise about the FUTURE

When you need to trust God for your future

The LORD directs our steps, so why try to understand everything along the way?

PROVERBS 20:24

God reveals just enough of the future to increase your dependence on him. God alone knows everything about the future, and he wants you to be a part of his work in it, so you must rely on him to lead you there. That is the essence of what it means to live by faith. Faith is trusting God to lead you into the future he promises you rather than trying to create your own future by yourself.

Are you charting your own future, or are you following God into the future he has for you?

Day 18

A promise about CREATIVITY

When you want to express your creativity

We are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.

EPHESIANS 2:10

Creativity is built into every human being. God created you, so you are a product of his creativity! God wants you to use the unique gifts he fashioned in you to help and serve others. God gives you the gift of creativity so that you can express yourself in potentially millions of different ways—through worship, singing, loving, helping, playing music, crafting things, thinking through problems. You should express your creativity in God-honoring ways because it is an extension of a characteristic of God. As God’s creation, you have a responsibility to reflect God’s creative nature in appropriate ways.

In what areas are you creative? How can you use your creativity to help others?

Day 19

A promise about TRUST

When you need to have faith in God’s promises

No, I will not break my covenant; I will not take back a single word I said. I have sworn an oath to David, and in my holiness I cannot lie.

PSALM 89:34-35

We trust only those who can be counted on to always tell the truth and keep their promises. God is the source of truth; he cannot lie. Therefore, everything he says in his Word, the Bible, is true. All of it must be true, or else we could not fully trust God. As you read the Bible, find God’s promises to you. Discover how much he loves you and wants a close relationship with you. When you trust him with your whole heart, he will make himself known to you in amazing and powerful ways. Then you will experience a breakthrough in your relationship with God.

Do you trust that everything God says is true? How can you develop greater faith in God’s truth?

Day 20: A Moment of Promise

A promise about MERCY

When you are amazed by God’s mercy

The LORD passed in front of Moses, calling out, “Yahweh! The LORD! The God of compassion and mercy! I am slow to anger and filled with unfailing love and faithfulness.”

EXODUS 34:6

Because of God’s love, you are given the free gift of salvation even though you don’t deserve it. Because of God’s mercy, you are forgiven and freed from guilt. Because of God’s kindness, he will give you a place in heaven for all eternity.

How should God’s mercy change how you live today?

Day 21: A Moment of Promise

A promise about HEALING

When you need God’s healing touch

He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever.

REVELATION 21:4

When you pray for healing, you are expressing your trust in Jesus. Although he may not heal all of your illnesses, griefs, or hurts in this life, he performs a great miracle in you every day when he heals your soul from sin. And he promises that one day you will be fully healed and perfect with him.

What kind of healing do you need from God?

Week 4

Day 22   Day 23   Day 24   Day 25   Day 26   Day 27   Day 28

Day 22

A promise about SUCCESS

When you need to define success God’s way

Anyone who listens to my teaching and follows it is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock. Though the rain comes in torrents and the floodwaters rise and the winds beat against that house, it won’t collapse because it is built on bedrock. But anyone who hears my teaching and doesn’t obey it is foolish, like a person who builds a house on sand. When the rains and floods come and the winds beat against that house, it will collapse with a mighty crash.

MATTHEW 7:24-27

Scripture reminds you to define success in terms of faithfulness to God. God will reward your faithfulness even if you fail in the eyes of the world. When you follow God’s wisdom and his ways, your life will rest on a firm foundation that will last forever.

How are you successful in God’s eyes even if you feel like a failure right now?

Day 23

A promise about HAPPINESS

When you wonder where to find happiness that will last

I know the LORD is always with me. . . . He is right beside me. No wonder my heart is glad, and I rejoice.

PSALM 16:8-9

Is happiness merely a passing emotion, or is it a permanent state of being? The Bible says it can be both. There is happiness that is a reaction to happenings, which is temporary and volatile; and there is happiness that is above and beyond happenings, which is strong and lasting. If happiness based on happenings is all we have, we must keep finding good things and good experiences to keep us happy. Those who know the joy that comes from God don’t need experiences to keep them happy. They have inner joy because they know that no matter what happens, God is with them and promises lasting hope and happiness.

Are you looking in the right place for lasting happiness?

Day 24

A promise about SALVATION

When you want to celebrate the salvation that comes through Christ

The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David! And you will recognize him by this sign: You will find a baby wrapped snugly in strips of cloth, lying in a manger.

LUKE 2:11-12

God often accomplishes his plans in unexpected ways. God used the census of a Roman emperor to bring Joseph and Mary to Bethlehem. He chose to have Jesus born in a stable rather than a palace; he chose tiny Bethlehem rather than the capital, Jerusalem; and he chose to proclaim the news of Jesus’ birth first to shepherds rather than to kings. Perhaps God did all this to show that life’s greatest treasure—salvation through Jesus—is available to everyone, no matter what their status.

Have you accepted the salvation that Jesus brought to all people?

Day 25

A promise about MEANING

When you are searching for purpose in life

You will show me the way of life, granting me the joy of your presence and the pleasures of living with you forever.

PSALM 16:11

A primary cause of despair is the feeling that life is ultimately meaningless. Why keep going if nothing really matters? Conversely, the sense that life has meaning gives a person energy, purpose, and resilience, even in the midst of trials. The Bible reveals the deepest reasons for your existence, supplying compelling incentives to persevere and overcome your despair to reach a glorious future that will be well worth the effort. God’s Word is full of his promises to reveal to you the purpose for which you were created.

Where do you find the meaning of your life?

Day 26

A promise about OPPORTUNITIES

When you want to act on the opportunities God provides you

Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days.

EPHESIANS 5:16

We must quickly carry out the tasks assigned us by the one who sent us. The night is coming, and then no one can work.

JOHN 9:4

God regularly places divine appointments right in front of you—opportunities to do good, to help someone in need, or to share what you know about God. Always be on the lookout for these opportunities to give witness of your faith in words or actions. God will put the opportunities in front of you, but you need to act on them. God promises that he will make the most of your act of faith.

How can you be more aware of the opportunities for witnessing that God will put in front of you today?

Day 27: A Moment of Promise

A promise about HELP

When you are in crisis

He lifted me out of the pit of despair, out of the mud and the mire. He set my feet on solid ground and steadied me as I walked along.

PSALM 40:2

You need not pray for the Lord to be with you in times of crisis—he already is. God promises to carry you through the crisis, give you firm footing on the other side, and continue to walk with you as you wade through the aftermath.

In a crisis, is God the first one you look to for help?

Day 28: A Moment of Promise

A promise about REPENTANCE

When you need God’s forgiveness and restoration

Now repent of your sins and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped away.

ACTS 3:19

The first step in repentance is confession. You must be humbly honest with God and sincerely sorry for your sins—both the ones you know about and the ones you are unaware you have committed. A genuinely repentant heart truly longs for change. Repentance brings forgiveness and restores your relationship with God, which renews your strength and spirit. When you repent, God removes your guilt, heals your broken soul, and restores your joy.

Have you asked God to forgive you for your sins?

Week 5

Day 29   Day 30   Day 31   Day 32   Day 33   Day 34   Day 35

Day 29

A promise about ENDURANCE

When you are suffering persecution

Of course, you get no credit for being patient if you are beaten for doing wrong. But if you suffer for doing good and endure it patiently, God is pleased with you.

1 PETER 2:20

Almost every Christian is persecuted in some way at some point along life’s journey. In many countries, Christians suffer torture and death for their faith. When you feel like quitting, you are focusing too much on this life and not enough on the life you will have for eternity if you endure. Not only is endurance through suffering and ridicule necessary to receive the prize of eternal life, but those who endure have a special place in God’s heart.

When you feel like quitting your walk of faith, what motivates you to endure?

Day 30

A promise about GOALS

When you want to grow in your faith

God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns. . . . Looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.

PHILIPPIANS 1:6; 3:13-14

The Bible describes spiritual maturity as completing a task or reaching the finish line. We should mature in character to become exemplary and productive people. We should mature in faith, striving for and reaching the spiritual goals God sets for us. Maturity is reaching the finish lines of life and finishing well.

Have you set any goals for spiritual maturity? If not, study the Bible to discover what you should be striving for.

Day 31

A promise about CHOICE

When you need to choose between your way and God’s way

The LORD God placed the man in the Garden of Eden to tend and watch over it. But the LORD God warned him, “You may freely eat the fruit of every tree in the garden—except the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. If you eat its fruit, you are sure to die.”

GENESIS 2:15-17

Genuine love requires the freedom to choose. From the beginning, God desired a loving relationship with you, so he gave you this freedom. If he hadn’t given us the freedom to choose, he would have created robots, not humans. But with the ability to make choices comes the possibility that you will choose your own way instead of God’s way. Your own way always leads to sin, which breaks God’s heart. But you can choose to do right by choosing to follow God’s way. When you do so, God is greatly pleased.

With your God-given freedom to choose, have you chosen God and his ways?

Day 32

A promise about COURAGE

When you are facing frightening circumstances

Be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.

JOSHUA 1:9

Throughout your life, you will find yourself in scary situations—mortal danger, extreme stress, major illness, financial troubles, or any number of problems. True courage comes from understanding that God is stronger than your biggest problem or fiercest enemy, and he uses his power to help you. Instead of misplaced confidence in your own strength, courage is well-placed confidence in God’s strength. While fear comes from feeling alone against a great threat, courage comes from knowing that God is beside you, helping you fight the threat. To have more courage, focus more on God’s presence and less on the problem.

What scary situation are you facing today? Where can you get the courage to overcome it?

Day 33

A promise about CHALLENGES

When you are overwhelmed by the task in front of you

Be strong and courageous, and do the work. Don’t be afraid or discouraged, for the LORD God, my God, is with you. He will not fail you or forsake you. He will see to it that all the work . . . is finished correctly.

1 CHRONICLES 28:20

Regardless of the size of the challenge, you have God working in you. That is sufficient to help you finish and finish well any work you have before you. God doesn’t call you to a task without helping you see it through to completion. He promises to provide everything you need.

If you’re facing a particular challenge, how does it help to know that God is working to help you accomplish your task?

Day 34: A Moment of Promise

A promise about LOVING GOD

When you want to love God with your words and actions

Those who accept my commandments and obey them are the ones who love me. And because they love me, my Father will love them. And I will love them and reveal myself to each of them.

JOHN 14:21

Like a father with his child, God is delighted when you love him with all your heart and soul. He loves it when you imitate his character by displaying integrity, honesty, and purity of heart. When you obey God, it shows him that you love him enough to trust him with your life.

Do you show your love for God by obeying him?

Day 35: A Moment of Promise

A promise about GOD’S PRESENCE

When you want to be aware that God is with you

You go before me and follow me. You place your hand of blessing on my head. . . . I can never escape from your Spirit! I can never get away from your presence!

PSALM 139:5, 7

The Bible promises that when you have a relationship with God, he is always with you. When you believe this promise, you will start to see evidence of his presence with you. You will experience his love and receive his blessing.

How often are you seeing God’s presence in your life?

Week 6

Day 36   Day 37   Day 38   Day 39   Day 40   Day 41   Day 42

Day 36

A promise about HEAVEN

When you wonder what heaven is really like

We are looking forward to the new heavens and new earth he has promised, a world filled with God’s righteousness.

2 PETER 3:13

God originally created earth to be heaven—the place where he would live side by side with humankind and walk and talk with them. Sin changed all that. It separated us from God and corrupted the earth. But God’s original plan for a heavenly paradise that is a very physical place—with trees and plants, mountains and waterfalls, fruits and vegetables—will still be accomplished someday. The Bible refers to this as the new earth—the place where we will be reunited with God. The new earth where we will live forever with God will be very similar to the earth we live on now. God said that the earth he created was “very good,” so we can be sure that the new earth he is preparing for us will be familiar but even better.

What are some ideas you have about heaven that might actually be misconceptions?

Day 37

A promise about SHOWING GOD’S LOVE

When you want the love of Christ to shine through you

You are a chosen people. You are royal priests, a holy nation, God’s very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light.

1 PETER 2:9

Have you ever searched through drawers and closets for a flashlight, only to discover when you finally found it that the batteries were dead? Although the flashlight had the potential to provide light, without new batteries it was useless. You, like every believer, have within you the light of Christ and therefore the potential to shine upon others in such a way as to draw them to God. God promises that you will do amazing things if you only let him work through you.

How can you let God’s love shine through you more brightly?

Day 38

A promise about RIGHTEOUSNESS

When you want to be considered righteous before God

The LORD . . . hears the prayers of the righteous. . . . The godly run to him and are safe. . . . The godly are as bold as lions.

PROVERBS 15:29; 18:10; 28:1

The righteous will shine like the sun in their Father’s Kingdom.

MATTHEW 13:43

Those who are righteous, or godly, in God’s eyes are: safe in his care—their souls cannot be snatched away by Satan; bold in his work—they have the courage to do the right thing and are not ashamed of their faith; persistent in prayer—they enjoy close fellowship with God; and outwardly radiant from inner beauty—others can see they are different and are attracted to what they see in them. God promises all these things to you when you are righteous before him through faith in his Son, Jesus.

Does God consider you to be righteous?

Day 39

A promise about FOCUS

When you want to keep your eyes on Jesus

Jesus told him, “Anyone who puts a hand to the plow and then looks back is not fit for the Kingdom of God.”

LUKE 9:62

Distractions take your focus off Jesus. You might be doing great things, but if you take your eyes off Jesus, even for a moment, you could stumble. God’s enemies work hard to distract you. They will try everything to get your mind off of God and onto sin. If temptation can turn your head even for a minute, it puts you in danger of swerving off the path of righteousness. Many other things can distract you from your walk with God—busyness, material things, problems, even good things. If you are aware of these distractions, you can try to minimize them so you stay on course in following God.

How can you minimize the distractions that keep you from focusing on the road God wants you to take?

Day 40

A promise about EMOTIONS

When you need to guard your heart

Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life.

PROVERBS 4:23

The Bible says that “the human heart is the most deceitful of all things, and desperately wicked” (Jeremiah 17:9). It is the center of the battle between your sinful nature and your new nature in Christ. The heart is also the center of your emotions; your emotions are constantly influenced by your sinful nature. This should make you cautious about trusting your feelings. Guarding your heart means not allowing the influences of sin and Satan to touch your emotional life. If you look at pornography, the good and right emotions of love and respect turn into lust and convince you to enjoy those sinful pleasures. To effectively guard your heart, you must fill it with God’s Word. God’s words come from his heart, which is good and perfect.

Have your emotions lately been influenced more by your sinful nature or by God’s Word?

Day 41: A Moment of Promise

A promise about PLEASING GOD

When you want to know how to please God

Anyone who does what pleases God will live forever.

1 JOHN 2:17

When you obey God, you are able to enjoy life the way he meant it to be enjoyed. Your relationships are more fulfilling, your life is full of integrity, and your conscience is clear. More important, you will be able to enjoy life with God in a perfect world for all eternity.

How often do you obey God because of his promises for eternity?

Day 42: A Moment of Promise

A promise about LOVE

When you need to express God’s love to others

Love your neighbor as yourself.

MATTHEW 22:39

Jesus said that loving your neighbor as yourself is the second greatest commandment, after loving God wholeheartedly. God knows that your first instinct is to take care of yourself. If you can learn to meet the needs of others in the same way you meet your own needs, then you will be fulfilling Jesus’ command. Love directed inward goes nowhere, but love directed outward changes the world one person at a time.

How can you show greater love to those around you?

Week 7

Day 43   Day 44   Day 45   Day 46   Day 47   Day 48   Day 49

Day 43

A promise about GOALS

When you’re ready to make some changes

Sympathize with each other. Love each other as brothers and sisters. Be tenderhearted, and keep a humble attitude. Don’t repay evil for evil. Don’t retaliate with insults when people insult you. Instead, pay them back with a blessing. That is what God has called you to do, and he will bless you for it.

1 PETER 3:8-9

While it’s good to set big goals for family, career, or personal achievements, it’s also important to set smaller daily goals. You can determine today to be kind toward others, to be humble, to respond gracefully even when someone takes advantage of you, to read your Bible, to say an encouraging word—these are small goals that bring great rewards when practiced over a lifetime. God promises to bless you for such small goals of obedience to him, for they become the essential building blocks of all the things God wants you to accomplish.

What small goals can you set for yourself today?

Day 44

A promise about GOD’S FAITHFULNESS

When you want to be confident in God’s promises

The LORD rewarded me for doing right. He has seen my innocence. To the faithful you show yourself faithful; to those with integrity you show integrity. To the pure you show yourself pure, but to the wicked you show yourself hostile.

2 SAMUEL 22:25-27

Faithfulness says, “You can count on me—I will never let you down.” Husbands and wives vow on their wedding day to be faithful to one another, to be devoted and committed to each other, to stay together no matter what. Throughout the Bible, God shows that faithfulness is one of his foundational qualities. There is nothing like the faithfulness of another to build your sense of security in your relationship with that person. And there is nothing like the faithfulness of God to build your confidence in your eternal security.

How can you experience the rewards of faithfulness?

Day 45

A promise about the FUTURE

When you are facing disaster

The LORD himself, the King of Israel, will live among you! At last your troubles will be over, and you will never again fear disaster.

ZEPHANIAH 3:15

When disaster strikes, do not doubt God’s good intentions for you. The wonder of creation, the evidence of God’s constant care in your life, and the priceless gift of Jesus Christ to save you can give you confidence that God will help and guide you when you trust in him. Even in the face of disaster, you can take comfort in God’s promise that one day you will never have to fear disaster again.

What would it be like to never experience the fear of disaster?

Day 46

A promise about ENEMIES

When you need to show love to your enemies

Don’t repay evil for evil. Don’t retaliate with insults when people insult you. Instead, pay them back with a blessing. That is what God has called you to do, and he will bless you for it.

1 PETER 3:9

Showing love to your enemies seems completely unreasonable—unless you realize that you were once an enemy of God until he forgave you. When you love your enemy, you see that person as Christ does—someone in need of grace and forgiveness. Getting to that point takes prayer. When you pray for someone, you can’t help but feel compassion for them. When you respond with prayer and blessing instead of retaliation when someone hurts you, God promises to bless you. God can even turn your enemy into your friend.

How can you show God’s grace to someone you consider an enemy?

Day 47

A promise about HOPE

When you want to bless others through your hope in Christ

Blessed are those who trust in the LORD and have made the LORD their hope and confidence. They are like trees planted along a riverbank, with roots that reach deep into the water. Such trees are not bothered by the heat or worried by long months of drought. Their leaves stay green, and they never stop producing fruit.

JEREMIAH 17:7-8

God uses your circumstances, good or bad, to help you—and others—to grow. It’s easy to be joyful and faithful when life is going well, but when life gets tough, believers have a unique opportunity to show how a relationship with God brings comfort, confidence, and hope. When you glorify God in the most difficult of circumstances, two wonderful things happen: you learn to rely on God instead of yourself, and others are blessed by seeing your faith and hope in action.

In what ways do you rely on God’s help when bad circumstances come along?

Day 48: A Moment of Promise

A promise about ADVICE

When you want to avoid mistakes

Fools think their own way is right, but the wise listen to others.

PROVERBS 12:15

The Bible promises that rejecting wise advice will lead to mistakes. Good words and actions are the result of good thoughts and character. When you spend time meditating on what is good and right and listening to those who are good and wise, your words and actions will be good, right, and wise, and you will avoid many mistakes.

What good advice has helped you avoid mistakes?

Day 49: A Moment of Promise

A promise about GOD’S PROTECTION

When you are afraid

The LORD is my light and my salvation—so why should I be afraid? The LORD is my fortress, protecting me from danger, so why should I tremble?

PSALM 27:1

Fear turns your focus away from God and toward the troubles that intimidate you. Look at your fears as opportunities to rely on God for his help, his guidance, and his saving power. No problem is too big for the God who promises to save and protect you.

What are you afraid of? How can a heavenly perspective help you overcome those fears?

Week 8

Day 50   Day 51   Day 52   Day 53   Day 54   Day 55   Day 56

Day 50

A promise about KINDNESS

When you want to show kindness to others

If you give even a cup of cold water to one of the least of my followers, you will surely be rewarded.

MATTHEW 10:42

God rewards kindness because it demonstrates unconditional love, the supreme character trait of a Christian. True kindness is not a single random act but a lifestyle. Begin by showing kindness in the little things you do and say, and strive to be truly kind in all situations. Kindness should not be motivated by the promise of reward, but God promises that you will be rewarded for your kindness.

What small act of kindness can you do for someone today? How can you show kindness to someone you don’t know, or even to someone you don’t like?

Day 51

A promise about REFUGE

When you need to feel the comfort of God’s presence in fearful times

God is our refuge and strength, always ready to help in times of trouble. So we will not fear when earthquakes come and the mountains crumble into the sea.

PSALM 46:1-2

God is greater than the most severe threats to your life. When you recognize that sin has corrupted this world, you will no longer be surprised or overcome by the troubles you see. Ask God to stay close by your side. He promises to comfort you and give you the confident assurance that he is with you in every circumstance. He promises that he will always be ready to help you when you are afraid.

When you are overcome with fear, how do you draw closer to God?

Day 52

A promise about YOUR HEART

When you want God to make your heart responsive to him

I will give you a new heart, and I will put a new spirit in you. I will take out your stony, stubborn heart and give you a tender, responsive heart.

EZEKIEL 36:26

When you give God control of your life, he gives you a new heart, a new nature, and a new desire to please him. God renews your heart when you humble yourself before him, turn away from sinful habits, and make a daily effort to connect with him. As you do these things, your love for God will grow. He can change even the hardest heart of stone into an obedient and loving heart. Are you willing to let him change you?

Have you asked God to change your heart?

Day 53

A promise about BELONGING

When you don’t fit in

What blessings await you when people hate you and exclude you and mock you and curse you as evil because you follow the Son of Man.

LUKE 6:22

Consider your status as an outsider here on earth to be a blessing rather than a curse. You can look forward to receiving God’s eternal blessing for the ridicule you endure today. As a Christian, you do not belong in this world—your real home is in heaven. Other believers are outsiders like you. Their friendship and accountability can encourage you to humbly and faithfully obey God. Then God promises you will reach the place where you truly belong.

Where can you turn for comfort when you feel you don’t belong here?

Day 54

A promise about SPIRITUAL MATURITY

When you want to grow in the knowledge of God

Let your roots grow down into him, and let your lives be built on him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness.

COLOSSIANS 2:7

Spiritual growth is like physical growth—you start small and grow one day at a time. As you grow, however, you need more nourishment. You get spiritual nourishment by challenging your mind in the study of God’s Word, asking questions about it, and seeking answers through prayer and the counsel and experience of other believers. Look at each day as a stepping-stone, and before you know it, you will be on your way to spiritual maturity.

What small step can you take today toward spiritual maturity?

Day 55: A Moment of Promise

A promise about BLESSINGS

When you want to spread God’s blessings to others

As a result of your ministry, they will give glory to God. For your generosity to them and to all believers will prove that you are obedient to the Good News of Christ. And they will pray for you with deep affection because of the overflowing grace God has given to you.

2 CORINTHIANS 9:13-14

As a river flows freely through an unblocked channel, so God’s grace and blessing flow through you when you follow his ways. Then your life becomes an open channel through which his love and mercy can flow to others.

Are God’s love and mercy flowing freely through you?

Day 56: A Moment of Promise

A promise about HEALING

When you need God’s healing touch

For you who fear my name, the Sun of Righteousness will rise with healing in his wings. And you will go free, leaping with joy like calves let out to pasture.

MALACHI 4:2

He who created your body, mind, and soul can certainly repair and restore them. Having a relationship with God gives you access to his healing power. God loves you so much that he allowed his Son to suffer and die in your place. He promises that in eternity you will be fully healed.

What kind of healing do you need today?

Week 9

Day 57   Day 58   Day 59   Day 60   Day 61   Day 62   Day 63

Day 57

A promise about LISTENING TO GOD

When you need God’s direction

Come and listen to my counsel. I’ll share my heart with you and make you wise.

PROVERBS 1:23

God promises that if you listen to him, you will become wise. There are three ways you can listen to God: (1) Pray. Prayer is not just talking to God; it is also listening to him talk to you. (2) Read the Bible. God’s Word is your instruction manual for living. In it you will find advice and wisdom about how the world works and how to apply this knowledge to life. (3) Listen to godly advice. Those who have gone before you and gained wisdom can share it with you, saving you much pain and heartache.

What can you do this week to listen to God?

Day 58

A promise about the IMPOSSIBLE

When you don’t see the solution to a problem

Nothing is impossible with God.

LUKE 1:37

Are you facing a problem or situation that seems impossible? Trust that God can do the impossible and that he wants to work in your life. But if he chooses not to take away this particular obstacle, trust that he knows what is best for you. While impossible situations seem to limit you and exhaust your resources, they set the stage for God to do what is humanly unimaginable—such as using his supernatural power to work miracles, demonstrate his love, give salvation, meet needs, and change lives.

What seems impossible in your life today? Have you asked God to work the impossible in you?

Day 59

A promise about FAITH

When you want to trust God with your life

Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved.

ACTS 16:31

Faith is more than just believing; it is entrusting your very life to what you believe. For example, you may believe that someone can cross a deep gorge on a tightrope. But would you trust that person to carry you across? If you truly had faith, you would say yes. Faith in God means that you are willing to trust him with your whole life. You are willing to follow his guidelines for living, as outlined in the Bible, because you have the conviction that his will is best for you. You are even willing to endure ridicule and persecution for your faith because you are sure that God is who he says he is and he will keep his promises about salvation and eternal life in heaven.

How strong is your faith?

Day 60

A promise about PRODUCTIVITY

When you want to bear fruit for God’s Kingdom

Oh, the joys of those who do not follow the advice of the wicked, or stand around with sinners, or join in with mockers. But they delight in the law of the LORD, meditating on it day and night. They are like trees planted along the riverbank, bearing fruit each season. Their leaves never wither, and they prosper in all they do.

PSALM 1:1-3

The Bible uses metaphors of trees and vines to paint a picture of how people should be useful and productive. As a follower of God, you are to live a life that bears the fruit of righteousness, justice, kindness, love, and truth. These are the important and productive means of growing the Kingdom of God on earth. When you cultivate this kind of productivity, others will be drawn to the beauty of God and his way of living.

How can you be more productive for the Kingdom of God today?

Day 61

A promise about HARMONY

When you need to get along with those who are different from you

Live in harmony and peace. Then the God of love and peace will be with you.

2 CORINTHIANS 13:11

One of our greatest challenges is remembering that God made us different and then focusing on how those differences can help us work together. We must not allow our differences to set us against each other. Instead, our differences should bring us together to accomplish more than we ever thought possible. When you and other Christians use your differences in harmony, God promises to live among you and bless you with peace.

Do you know someone who is so different from you that you can’t seem to get along? How might those differences help bring you together, with God’s help?

Day 62: A Moment of Promise

A promise about BLESSINGS

When you want to experience God’s blessings

Blessed are those who trust in the LORD and have made the LORD their hope and confidence.

JEREMIAH 17:7

What does it mean to be blessed by God? Receiving God’s blessing means not only enjoying many gifts—such as life, joy, peace, abundance, children, home, reputation, health, freedom, work, food—but being welcomed into a rich and satisfying relationship with him. Your blessings from God can in turn be used to bless others.

Are you fully experiencing God’s blessings?

Day 63: A Moment of Promise

A promise about GOD’S PROTECTION

When you need God’s help to resist Satan’s attacks

Put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm.

EPHESIANS 6:13

Satan always strikes at your weak spots, those areas you refuse to give over to God. These weaknesses are the joints in your spiritual armor at which the enemy takes aim. God promises to give you the strength to overcome the attacks of sin and Satan. Ask God to cover your weaknesses with his strength.

In what area are you most spiritually vulnerable?

Week 10

Day 64   Day 65   Day 66   Day 67   Day 68   Day 69   Day 70

Day 64

A promise about ADVICE

When you want to follow Jesus’ perfect counsel

A child is born to us, a son is given to us. The government will rest on his shoulders. And he will be called: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

ISAIAH 9:6

If you are fortunate, you have someone you can always depend on for good advice. You are even more blessed when that person is not only wise and godly but loving and caring as well, and always willing to give you as much time as you need. Jesus can be that kind of counselor in your life. He came for the purpose of giving you loving, caring, perfect counsel that will carry you through life into eternity.

Do you seek the counsel of Jesus when you need wisdom?

Day 65

A promise about FAITH

When you wonder if you can enter into God’s presence

Because of Christ and our faith in him, we can now come boldly and confidently into God’s presence.

EPHESIANS 3:12

A holy God cannot be in the presence of sin, so how can a sinful person go boldly into God’s presence? Only through Jesus Christ’s life, death, and resurrection, and your faith in him. If you have asked Jesus to forgive your sins, you are now holy and blameless, as far as God is concerned. He sees you as if you had never sinned, and he welcomes you into a relationship with him. You can come into his presence with boldness and confidence.

Do you have what it takes—faith in Jesus—to be in God’s presence?

Day 66

A promise about COMFORT

When you are walking through the valley

Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me. Your rod and your staff protect and comfort me.

PSALM 23:4

Intimacy with God helps you see his personal touch in your life every day. He is your creator and shepherd. He wants to communicate with you, watch out for you, care for you, advise you, and give you his joy and blessings. You must walk with him as he guides you step-by-step. When you stay close to him, he will comfort and protect you. Look for him in your life today, and you will see him right there beside you.

In what way can you draw closer to God and experience his comfort?

Day 67

A promise about ADVERSITY

When you are enduring trials

There is wonderful joy ahead, even though you have to endure many trials for a little while. These trials will show that your faith is genuine. . . . So when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world.

1 PETER 1:6-7

Avoiding adversity may not always be best. Though adversity may be painful at the time, it can build you up and strengthen your faith. The lives of God’s people that we read about throughout the Bible testify that being faithful to God does not eliminate adversity. But these heroes of the faith also testify that adversity molds and shapes you into a stronger, better, spiritually richer person—and that is cause for joy.

How can you be truly glad despite today’s hard circumstances?

Day 68

A promise about ASSURANCE

When you need to be assured of your salvation

If we are faithful to the end, trusting God just as firmly as when we first believed, we will share in all that belongs to Christ.

HEBREWS 3:14

If you believe that Jesus died on the cross to save you, if you confess your sins to him, and if you acknowledge that he is Lord of all, then you are saved from God’s judgment. Jesus is your Savior and Lord. How can you be sure of this? Because God promised, and God always keeps his promises. Although your relationship with Jesus as the Savior and Lord of your life began at a particular moment in time, you should have an active, growing friendship with him that continues throughout your daily life. This assures you that you will enjoy eternal life in heaven and receive eternal rewards as well.

How can you be as sure of your salvation today as when you first believed?

Day 69: A Moment of Promise

A promise about SUCCESS

When you aren’t sure what success really means

All glory to God, who is able to keep you from falling away and will bring you with great joy into his glorious presence without a single fault.

JUDE 1:24

The world defines success as having an abundance of achievements and possessions, and failure as lacking them. God defines success as obedience to him, which results in love, godly character, righteous living, salvation, and eternal life in heaven. God defines failure as rejecting him. When you live according to God’s definition of success, your failures will be only temporary.

How can you focus today on God’s definition of success?

Day 70: A Moment of Promise

A promise about COMMITMENT

When you want to grow closer to God

Commit everything you do to the LORD. Trust him, and he will help you.

PSALM 37:5

Being committed to God means that you trust him to lead you and do what is best for you. It means resolving to do your best to obey all of God’s Word in all areas of your life. When you commit to following God, he commits to leading you.

How can you live out a stronger commitment to God?

Week 11

Day 71   Day 72   Day 73   Day 74   Day 75   Day 76   Day 77

Day 71

A promise about SORROW

When you need to find hope in the midst of loss

You keep track of all my sorrows. You have collected all my tears in your bottle. You have recorded each one in your book.

PSALM 56:8

Even people who have a relationship with God through Jesus Christ grieve during times of loss. But Christians can grieve with hope. You grieve because you experience the real pain of the loss, but you can grieve with hope because you know that God notices your sorrow and will redeem your tragedy. God does not waste your sorrows but brings something good out of them if you let him do his transforming work in you.

Even in the midst of sorrow, are you able to grieve with hope?

Day 72

A promise about FAITH

When you want to rely on God’s strength, not your own

He takes no pleasure in the strength of a horse or in human might. No, the LORD’s delight is in those who fear him, those who put their hope in his unfailing love.

PSALM 147:10-11

God is more impressed by your faith than your abilities. He uses your abilities in proportion to your faith. If you want to delight God, say yes to him, step out in faith, and watch him accomplish great things through you. Abilities give you the potential to do good; faith gives you the power to do good. Neither potential nor power alone is sufficient—they must work in harmony.

Do you have more faith in your own abilities than you do in God? Try putting your limited abilities to work with an unlimited faith in God.

Day 73

A promise about the CHURCH

When you are ready to serve other believers

Just as our bodies have many parts and each part has a special function, so it is with Christ’s body. We are many parts of one body, and we all belong to each other. In his grace, God has given us different gifts for doing certain things well. So if God has given you the ability to prophesy, speak out with as much faith as God has given you.

ROMANS 12:4-6

Church isn’t about you and what you can get out of it. God intended the church to be a place where believers can worship him together and serve one another. If you’re bored with church, it may be because you’re not contributing your gifts to the body of believers or worshiping God for his sake. God promises that everyone has a special gift and thus a special role in the church. The church needs you, for the body of Christ is not complete unless you are an active part of it.

How can you begin using your gifts in the church today?

Day 74

A promise about EXAMPLE

When you want to influence others for good

Take a new grip with your tired hands and strengthen your weak knees. Mark out a straight path for your feet so that those who are weak and lame will not fall but become strong.

HEBREWS 12:12-13

Everyone models something to someone. At times we all follow the example of someone else, and likewise we all set an example for others. The Bible promises that the way you live will influence others, and not just in matters of daily living. You can influence others for good or evil, for Christ or Satan. What kind of example have you been setting for others lately?

How can your daily life set an example for others that will make them want to believe in Jesus?

Day 75

A promise about LIMITATIONS

When you wonder how God can use you

Each one of you will put to flight a thousand of the enemy, for the LORD your God fights for you, just as he has promised.

JOSHUA 23:10

You can take courage from the fact that God fights for you, regardless of the odds against you. The Bible gives us many examples: God used the young boy David to overcome the giant Goliath; God used Gideon’s three hundred soldiers to defeat the countless thousands of Midianite soldiers; and God used the twelve disciples to establish the whole church. You don’t have to be above average for God to do great things through you. Knowing that God works through you despite your limitations is a great encouragement.

What limitations seem to be holding you back today?

Day 76: A Moment of Promise

A promise about ENDURANCE

When you are tired and facing spiritual struggles

Patient endurance is what you need now, so that you will continue to do God’s will. Then you will receive all that he has promised.

HEBREWS 10:36

Endurance is an essential quality of Jesus’ followers. Though you have the promise of eternal life, you also live here and now in a fallen world where the powers of sin and Satan are out to destroy your faith. God promises that if you endure in your faith, not only will you survive but you will reign with Christ forever!

How can you increase your spiritual endurance today?

Day 77: A Moment of Promise

A promise about DESIRES

When your heart longs for God

Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be.

LUKE 12:34

When God is at the center of your life, you will make your relationship with him your highest priority. You will long to spend time with him. You will talk to him, listen to him, think about him often, please him, and obey his Word. Your heart will yearn for him. And it’s your heart that really matters to God.

How can you make God your top priority?

Week 12

Day 78   Day 79   Day 80   Day 81   Day 82   Day 83   Day 84

Day 78

A promise about BELIEF

When your faith is weak

He said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and look at my hands. Put your hand into the wound in my side. Don’t be faithless any longer. Believe!” “My Lord and my God!” Thomas exclaimed. Then Jesus told him, “You believe because you have seen me. Blessed are those who believe without seeing me.”

JOHN 20:27-29

The strongest faith is based not on physical proof but on spiritual conviction. There is a spiritual element to this world that you cannot see but that is very real. Your faith becomes stronger as the Holy Spirit sharpens your “spiritual vision” so that you can see and experience the results of God working in your own life and in the lives of those around you. God promises to bless those who believe even when their spiritual vision is weak.

Is your faith based on seeing or believing?

Day 79

A promise about LIMITATIONS

When you are discouraged by your weaknesses

All glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think.

EPHESIANS 3:20

In God’s unlimited knowledge, he created humans with limitations. He did not do this to discourage you but to help you realize your utter need for him. It is in your weakness that God’s strength shines the brightest. When you accomplish something great despite your limitations, it is obvious that God was working through you and he deserves the credit. Jesus says, “What is impossible for people is possible with God” (Luke 18:27). The next time life makes you aware of your limitations, see it as an opportunity for God’s power to overcome your human limitations. Eagerly anticipate how God will work through you to accomplish more than you ever could have dreamed.

Which of your limitations frustrate you the most? How can you let God’s power work through you in those areas of weakness?

Day 80

A promise about DISCERNMENT

When you want to develop good judgment

Let those who are wise understand these things. Let those with discernment listen carefully. The paths of the LORD are true and right, and righteous people live by walking in them. But in those paths sinners stumble and fall.

HOSEA 14:9

Discernment is the ability to distinguish between right and wrong by training and disciplining your conscience, mind, senses, and body. The Bible says that discernment is necessary for you to mature in your faith. When you develop discernment, you are able to recognize temptation before it has engulfed you. You learn to recognize the difference between truth and lies, between God’s voice and the voices of sin and Satan. When you practice discernment, you avoid the pitfalls and confusion that so many people fall into. You walk in God’s ways, which are true and right and lead you to a better life.

How can you practice discernment today?

Day 81

A promise about TRUTH

When you want to make honesty a hallmark of your character

Truthful words stand the test of time, but lies are soon exposed.

PROVERBS 12:19

Lies are usually exposed because even the dishonest don’t like to be deceived. Dishonesty can ruin your reputation. It can make you untrustworthy and cause you to lose your friends, your spouse, your home, or your job. It can even land you in jail. Ultimately, a lifestyle of dishonesty pits you against the God of truth, who doesn’t allow dishonest people into his eternal Kingdom. That is why practicing honesty is so important.

How are you tempted to be dishonest in your everyday life? What are some ways you can be honest in those situations instead?

Day 82

A promise about ATTITUDE

When you need to develop a positive attitude

Be strong and immovable. Always work enthusiastically for the Lord, for you know that nothing you do for the Lord is ever useless.

1 CORINTHIANS 15:58

Attitude is important because it affects your thoughts, motives, and actions. As a believer, you can maintain a positive attitude that is based on the fact that the God of the universe created you, loves you, and promises you salvation and eternal life. God is working for you, not against you. Remind yourself of these truths every day. It will positively affect your attitude, which will positively affect the way you live and serve God.

On a scale of one to ten, how is your attitude? How can you bring it up a few notches today?

Day 83: A Moment of Promise

A promise about the BIBLE

When you wonder if the Bible is still meaningful

The grass withers and the flowers fade, but the word of our God stands forever.

ISAIAH 40:8

Because the Bible contains the very words of the almighty God, it is the only document that is “living.” In other words, it is relevant for all people in all places in all times. It is as contemporary as the latest trend yet as lasting as eternity.

How is the Bible as relevant for you today as it has been for God’s people in the past?

Day 84: A Moment of Promise

A promise about PURPOSE

When you wonder how you can serve God

I cry out to God Most High, to God who will fulfill his purpose for me.

PSALM 57:2

God has both a general purpose and a specific purpose for you. In a general sense, you have been chosen by God to let the love of Jesus shine through you to make an impact on others. More specifically, God has given you unique spiritual gifts and wants you to use them to make a worthwhile contribution within your sphere of influence. The more you fulfill God’s general purpose for you, the more clear your specific purpose will become.

Are you letting Jesus’ love shine through you?

Week 13

Day 85   Day 86   Day 87   Day 88   Day 89   Day 90   Day 91

Day 85

A promise about FAITH

When you feel your faith is too small

[Jesus said,] “I tell you the truth, if you had faith even as small as a mustard seed, you could say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it would move. Nothing would be impossible.”

MATTHEW 17:20

The mustard seed was one of the smallest seeds people knew of, so it was often used to illustrate something of the tiniest size. Jesus says that faith is not a matter of size or quantity. It is not the size of your faith but the size of the One in whom you put your faith that makes the difference. You do not have to have great faith in God; rather, you have faith in a great God.

Are you trying too hard to achieve great faith, or are you relying on a great God?

Day 86

A promise about HEAVEN

When you wonder what eternity will be like

There is more than enough room in my Father’s home. If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you?

JOHN 14:2

When you travel, it’s comforting to know you have a place to stay at the end of the day. You can have this same comfort for the end of your life’s journey. Not only is there a heaven, but Jesus is making preparations there for your arrival. Heaven is not just a paradise you will visit only on vacation. It is an eternal dwelling place where you will live in joyful fellowship with your heavenly Father and your heavenly family. Though death is a great unknown, Jesus Christ has gone before you, and he is preparing a glorious place for you to stay. If you know and love Jesus, you can be confident that your room is ready and waiting.

How do you envision the place Jesus is preparing for you in heaven?

Day 87

A promise about MONEY

When you want to make good choices with your money

Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be.

MATTHEW 6:21

The Bible gives us many examples of wealthy people who loved God—Abraham, David, Joseph of Arimathea, Lydia. And it doesn’t condemn them for their wealth. Scripture doesn’t focus on how much money you have but on what you do with it. Jesus made one thing clear: wherever your money goes, your heart will follow after it. It’s fine for you to work hard and succeed without guilt. But make sure you work just as hard at finding ways to please God with your money. Otherwise your money might lead your heart away from God.

Are you pleasing God by the way you spend your money?

Day 88

A promise about JOY

When you want to experience delight in serving God

I will be filled with joy because of you. I will sing praises to your name, O Most High.

PSALM 9:2

Some aspects of the Christian life we view with appropriate seriousness—sin and its consequences, church discipline, fighting against evil. But the Christian life also holds great delights—the knowledge that the God of the universe loves you, has a plan for you, and has made this wonderful world for you to live in. In fact, God wants you to serve him enthusiastically, joyfully, and with great delight. God promises to fill you with the joy he delights to see in his followers.

What aspects of your faith give you joy? What can you do today to make sure that those around you see your joy?

Day 89

A promise about MEDITATION

When you want to focus on God without distractions

I wait quietly before God, for my victory comes from him. . . . Let all that I am wait quietly before God, for my hope is in him.

PSALM 62:1, 5

Meditation is setting aside time to intentionally think about God, talk to him, and listen to him. When you make time to meditate on God, you distance yourself from the distractions and noise of the world and move within range of his voice. You prepare your mind to be taught and your desires to be molded into what God desires. As a result, God promises to change you, and your thoughts and actions will fall in line with his will. Meditation is more than just the study of God. It is intimate communion with him, which ultimately leads to godly living.

How can you make it a daily habit to meditate on God?

Day 90: A Moment of Promise

A promise about LOVE

When you want your love for others to heal past hurts

Hatred stirs up quarrels, but love makes up for all offenses.

PROVERBS 10:12

Relationships that are built on love—the kind of unconditional love God has for us—are characterized by complete and undivided devotion, forgiveness, patience, kindness, love for truth, love for justice, looking for the best in others, loyalty at any cost, and believing in the other person, no matter what. God promises that unconditionally loving others will bring healing to your relationships.

Do you have any relationships that need to be healed?

Day 91: A Moment of Promise

A promise about GIVING

When you want to become a cheerful giver

You must each decide in your heart how much to give. And don’t give reluctantly or in response to pressure. “For God loves a person who gives cheerfully.”

2 CORINTHIANS 9:7

Giving gifts to God glorifies him. It enriches your life and the lives of others. You will experience God’s generosity and be fulfilled by God’s blessings. Those who benefit from your gifts will thank God and honor him as their needs are met, and they will be encouraged to continue the cycle of giving.

How can you initiate a cycle of giving today?

Week 14

Day 92   Day 93   Day 94   Day 95   Day 96   Day 97   Day 98

Day 92

A promise about OVERCOMING FEAR

When you are fearful and seeking peace

I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid.

JOHN 14:27

When you feel afraid, remember that no enemy, no adversity, can take away your most important blessings—your relationship with God, his forgiveness of your sins, and your eternal salvation. These remain secure even when your world falls apart. Your situation may be genuinely threatening, but God has not abandoned you. He promises to stay with you. Even if your troubles should end in death, God has not left you. He has instead ushered you into his very presence.

What are you afraid of today? How can you remember that God is still with you?

Day 93

A promise about SACRIFICE

When you want to remember Christ’s sacrifice

Just as each person is destined to die once and after that comes judgment, so also Christ died once for all time as a sacrifice to take away the sins of many people. He will come again, not to deal with our sins, but to bring salvation to all who are eagerly waiting for him.

HEBREWS 9:27-28

In the Old Testament, God’s people offered sacrifices to him as part of their worship. The blood of an animal was shed as a substitute for the punishment the people deserved for their sin. All the sacrifices of the Old Testament anticipated the ultimate sacrifice of God’s own Son, Jesus, on the cross for the sins of the world. Whenever you must sacrifice or give up something, you can be reminded in some small way of God’s greatest sacrifice and his promise of eternal life in heaven because of it.

What can you sacrifice today to remind you of God’s greatest sacrifice?

Day 94

A promise about NEEDS

When you realize how deeply you need God

God blesses those who are poor and realize their need for him, for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs.

MATTHEW 5:3

All people have basic needs that must be met in order to survive, including food, water, shelter, and love. When your needs are met, you can be content and satisfied. Wants, even when fulfilled, often leave you unsatisfied, discontent, and desiring more. Wants are not always negative, but sometimes they are contrary to what God desires for you. Wants can lead you into sin if you become obsessed with pursuing them. Having your needs met often allows God to show his power and provision through you and to teach you that he is sufficient. Learning the difference between your needs and your wants allows you to find contentment in God’s sustaining power and provision.

How often do you acknowledge that your greatest need is for God?

Day 95

A promise about GOD’S CHARACTER

When you need to be reminded of God’s loving character

The LORD is compassionate and merciful, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love.

PSALM 103:8

Your beliefs about God are more important than any other beliefs you have. If you believe that God is always angry with you, you will likely be defensive, fearful, or antagonistic toward him. But when you believe that God shows you deep love and grace, you can live in the joy of being forgiven and knowing you will live forever in heaven with him. You will no longer fear God’s retribution but will thank him for his grace.

Do you believe in a God who is full of anger or a God who is full of grace?

Day 96

A promise about DOING GOOD

When you want to please God by doing what is right

Remember that the heavenly Father to whom you pray has no favorites. He will judge or reward you according to what you do. So you must live in reverent fear of him during your time as “foreigners in the land.”

1 PETER 1:17

Doing good deeds doesn’t get you into heaven; faith in Jesus does. That’s equally true for everyone. God does promise, however, that your good deeds here on earth will bring rewards in heaven. You may not know what those rewards will be, but you can be sure they will be wonderful and are worth working toward. God doesn’t play favorites. You have just as much opportunity as everyone else to do good deeds that will bring you heavenly rewards.

How can you go out of your way today to do something good for someone who isn’t expecting it?

Day 97: A Moment of Promise

A promise about GOD’S CHARACTER

When you need to rely on God

Whatever is good and perfect comes down to us from God our Father, who created all the lights in the heavens. He never changes or casts a shifting shadow.

JAMES 1:17

The character of God never changes, thus it is completely reliable. What great comfort! No matter how your life changes, no matter what new situation you face, God is with you. You can always count on his unchanging promises to help, guide, and take care of you.

How can you take comfort in God’s unchanging character in your life today?

Day 98: A Moment of Promise

A promise about PROVISION

When you remember that God knows your needs

Don’t be like them, for your Father knows exactly what you need even before you ask him!

MATTHEW 6:8

God promises to supply your needs, not your wants. You will never be content if you focus on your wants, because you will always want more. The more you focus on what God values, the more you will be able to distinguish your wants from your needs.

How does knowing that God takes care of all your needs influence what you want?

Week 15

Day 99   Day 100   Day 101   Day 102   Day 103   Day 104   Day 105

Day 99

A promise about DELIVERANCE

When you wonder if God will protect you

The angel of the LORD is a guard; he surrounds and defends all who fear him.

PSALM 34:7

The God who has already defeated evil is always with you. Because you have his presence in your life, you can be sure he will deliver you from evil. Sometimes God will step into a situation to rescue you. Sometimes he will send supernatural help through angels, his warriors who are in constant battle against Satan and the powers of evil. No matter how God chooses to work, he is always with you and promises to deliver you.

How can you make a daily habit of seeing God’s hand of deliverance working on your behalf through the events in your life?

Day 100

A promise about PRAYER

When you want to know God better through prayer

Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened.

MATTHEW 7:7-8

There’s more to prayer than just getting an answer to a question or a solution for a problem. God often does more in your heart through your act of prayer than he does in the actual answer to your prayer. As you persist in talking and listening to God, he promises that you will gain greater understanding of yourself and your situation as well as God’s purpose for you and his direction for your life.

How can you make your prayer life more of a conversation with God?

Day 101

A promise about ABILITIES

When you aren’t sure you have what it takes to do a task

The LORD asked Moses, “Who makes a person’s mouth? Who decides whether people speak or do not speak, hear or do not hear, see or do not see? Is it not I, the LORD? Now go! I will be with you as you speak, and I will instruct you in what to say.”

EXODUS 4:11-12

When God asks you to do something, he gives you the abilities and the extra resources you need to get the job done. Moses didn’t think he had the power of persuasion to confront Pharaoh on behalf of God’s people, but God promised to be with him and to give him the words to say. Even when you think you cannot accomplish the task God has put before you, remember that he is with you and he will give you what you need to carry out his will.

What is God asking you to do for him? What specific abilities has he given you to fulfill that purpose?

Day 102

A promise about PURITY

When you need God to purify your heart from sin

God blesses those whose hearts are pure, for they will see God.

MATTHEW 5:8

Doctors urge us to exercise and eat nutritious food to keep our hearts fit and healthy. In the Bible, the heart is considered to be the center of thought and feeling. It is so important that God cautions you to guard it above all else (see Proverbs 4:23) because your heart filters everything that happens to you and around you. When you neglect your heart, it becomes filthy and clogged with all kinds of foulness—bitterness, jealousy, impure thoughts. A dirty heart can no longer distinguish the good and healthy from the harmful, so it allows hurt and heartache to enter. But when you keep your heart pure and clean, it blocks the toxins of sinful thoughts and desires that could destroy you. A pure heart is the best prescription for a long, happy, and healthy life.

When the Great Physician looks at your heart, in what condition will he find it?

Day 103

A promise about ABIDING IN CHRIST

When you want to be fully connected with Jesus

[Jesus said,] “Remain in me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful unless you remain in me. Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing.”

JOHN 15:4-5

When you are connected to Jesus, he turns your simple acts of service into something profound and purposeful. For example, he can turn your simple act of singing into a profound chorus of praise that ministers to an entire congregation. He can turn your simple act of telling others your testimony of faith into a profound moment in the heart of a friend who suddenly realizes his need for salvation. Stay connected to Jesus, and let him turn your simple acts of service into profound works for the Kingdom of God.

What simple act of service can you do for Jesus today?

Day 104: A Moment of Promise

A promise about ENCOURAGEMENT

When you want to be a blessing to others

Don’t use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them.

EPHESIANS 4:29

When others encourage us, they help us regain commitment, courage, and hope. They help us love and live again. Encouragement is a beautiful gift, often a spiritual gift, that brings renewal. When you encourage others, you will bring them a divine blessing as well as receive a blessing yourself.

How can you encourage someone today?

Day 105: A Moment of Promise

A promise about GUIDANCE

When you need God’s direction for your life

Your word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path.

PSALM 119:105

God’s guidance is not so much like a searchlight that brightens a large area as it is like a flashlight that illuminates just enough of the path ahead to show you where to take the next few steps. God has a definite plan for you, but usually he doesn’t reveal it all at once. He wants you to learn to trust him each step of the way.

In what one area of your life can you trust God’s guidance by taking just a few steps forward today?

Week 16

Day 106   Day 107   Day 108   Day 109   Day 110   Day 111   Day 112

Day 106

A promise about REPUTATION

When you want to maintain a godly reputation

Never let loyalty and kindness leave you! Tie them around your neck as a reminder. Write them deep within your heart. Then you will find favor with both God and people, and you will earn a good reputation.

PROVERBS 3:3-4

Everyone has a reputation. Whether you intentionally try to project a certain image or you couldn’t care less what others think, people still form an opinion of you based on your personality, your character, your behavior, and your abilities. A good reputation can help you make friends and gain respect. A bad reputation can attract others of ill repute to you, or it can leave you isolated, shunned, and disrespected. God promises you will earn a good reputation when you show kindness, loyalty, and love to your neighbors.

What kind of reputation are you earning?

Day 107

A promise about SELF-CONTROL

When you are trying to do what is right

Let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves. . . . Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to his cross and crucified them there.

GALATIANS 5:16, 24

Because you were born with a sinful nature, you will always struggle to do what is right instead of what is wrong. God understands your weaknesses, and he promises to give you his Holy Spirit to help you develop the desire to please him. As the Spirit leads you to obey God, you will develop more self-control and greater strength to fight and win the battle with your sinful nature.

In what area of your life do you need to ask the Holy Spirit to help you gain more self-control?

Day 108

A promise about OBEDIENCE

When you want to follow God’s path for you

Who are those who fear the LORD? He will show them the path they should choose.

PSALM 25:12

The Bible says that if you “fear the Lord,” he will guide you through life. To fear the Lord means to respect him enough to obey him. When you decide to obey him, you will follow him. And when you follow him, he will lead you to places and opportunities where you can best serve him and others. If you want to make good decisions, first decide to obey God. Then you know you will be going in the right direction with your other decisions.

How can obedience to God lead you to make better decisions?

Day 109

A promise about JUDGMENT

When you need to remember the reality of God’s judgment

The Lord is coming with countless thousands of his holy ones to execute judgment on the people of the world. He will convict every person of all the ungodly things they have done and for all the insults that ungodly sinners have spoken against him.

JUDE 1:14-15

Anyone who has not followed Jesus Christ as Lord will be judged on the last day and sentenced to eternity in hell. You can argue that it’s not fair, that no “good” person should go to hell. But God gives an open invitation to everyone. Many people will be dismayed on Judgment Day to find that living a good life and being successful are not enough. God displays his justice when he honors the choice someone has made to follow him or not.

Is eternity in hell worth rejecting God’s plan of salvation?

Day 110

A promise about TRUST

When you are ready to rely on God’s promises

Through Christ you have come to trust in God. And you have placed your faith and hope in God because he raised Christ from the dead and gave him great glory.

1 PETER 1:21

Trust is an essential ingredient in any good relationship. When you trust someone, you can be absolutely sure of that person. But no human being is completely trustworthy because no one is perfect. Only God can be totally trusted without fear of disappointment. You can be assured that what he says is true and what he does is reliable. He has never broken a single one of his promises, so you can be sure his promises for the future will be fulfilled too. People are not perfect, and they will sometimes fail you. God is perfect, and he will never fail you. The world is full of uncertainty, but you can have assurance because God keeps his promises.

How will your trust in God and your assurance of his promises impact your relationship with him today?

Day 111: A Moment of Promise

A promise about GOD’S WORD

When you need spiritual renewal

The instructions of the LORD are perfect, reviving the soul. The decrees of the LORD are trustworthy, making wise the simple.

PSALM 19:7

Reading and meditating on God’s Word revives your soul. His words are living, and therefore they are relevant to your current situation, no matter what it is. The almighty God speaks to you through the Bible, and his words bring peace, strength, comfort, wisdom, and hope—the very nourishment you need for revival. Sin starves your soul, but God’s Word revives it.

Are you being revived by God’s Word?

Day 112: A Moment of Promise

A promise about FOLLOWING JESUS

When you need to renew your focus on Jesus

[Jesus said,] “If you do not carry your own cross and follow me, you cannot be my disciple.”

LUKE 14:27

Following Jesus is a costly commitment. It means leaving behind everything that might take your focus off him. It will be easier to follow Jesus when you think less about what you are giving up and more about the blessings and benefits that come from life with him.

Are you following Jesus closely?

Week 17

Day 113   Day 114   Day 115   Day 116   Day 117   Day 118   Day 119

Day 113

A promise about HOPE

When you feel like giving up

Through Christ you have come to trust in God. And you have placed your faith and hope in God because he raised Christ from the dead and gave him great glory.

1 PETER 1:21

For a prisoner on death row, a pardon offers the hope of freedom. We were once spiritual prisoners facing eternal death because of our sin, but God gave us ultimate hope by forgiving our sins so we can be with him forever in heaven. When life seems impossible, God gives eternal hope. Hope is essential for persevering through the tough times. Without hope, we would give up. Hope simply requires that we trust in the only One who is able to grant it.

Is the hope that you have today strong enough to get you through any tough times ahead?

Day 114

A promise about RESURRECTION

When you need reassurance that the resurrection is true

Jesus told her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Anyone who believes in me will live, even after dying.”

JOHN 11:25

Jesus’ resurrection is key to the Christian faith. Just as he promised, Jesus rose from the dead. You can be confident, then, that God will keep all his other promises. And you can be certain of your own resurrection because Jesus has power over death. The resurrection of Jesus proves that he was more than just a human leader; he is the Son of God, and he brings eternal life to all who believe in him.

How is Jesus’ resurrection the basis of your faith? How does it affect your daily life?

Day 115

A promise about REST

When you are weary

Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.”

MATTHEW 11:28-30

When you visit friends who live far away and you spend the night with them, usually they’ve prepared a room for you to make you comfortable and help you rest. God does the same for you. When you come to him, he has already prepared a place where you can feel safe and you can rest quietly. In his presence, the burdens of the world are put into perspective. When you need spiritual rest and refreshment, go to the Creator of rest and linger with him. Only the Creator can give you true rest.

How can you find a quiet place to rest with God today?

Day 116

A promise about STRENGTH

When you are weak

Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.

ISAIAH 41:10

As soon as I pray, you answer me; you encourage me by giving me strength.

PSALM 138:3

It’s easy to become overwhelmed by the challenges and struggles we must face each day. But when you begin to see the obstacles in your life as opportunities for God to show you his strength, they will not seem so overwhelming. The hardships and worries that frighten you may be the tools God will use to make you stronger and to equip you to fight life’s battles. The mystery and miracle of prayer also allow God to work in your situation and give you his strength.

How have you seen God work through overwhelming situations in the past?

Day 117

A promise about REGRET

When regret is holding you back

He saved us, not because of the righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He washed away our sins, giving us a new birth and new life through the Holy Spirit.

TITUS 3:5

Regrets are like a dirty window that keeps you from seeing clearly what is in front of you. But God is in the cleaning business. He washes away the sins of your past as well as the guilt you still feel over those sins. If God can completely forget your sins, so can you. You can choose to move forward joyfully and leave behind the burden of regret.

Are you still carrying regrets over past sins? Ask God to wash away your guilt so you can move on in peace and joy.

Day 118: A Moment of Promise

A promise about JOY

When you want to experience lasting joy

How joyful are those who fear the LORD and delight in obeying his commands.

PSALM 112:1

Happiness is a fleeting emotion based on circumstances. God does not promise that you will always be happy. But God does promise a joy that goes deeper than happiness for all who sincerely follow him. If you trust him, you have the assurance that God loves you, promises to care for you, and has guaranteed your eternal future with him. Godly joy stays with you even when happiness is unattainable.

Is your life characterized more by happiness or joy?

Day 119: A Moment of Promise

A promise about GRATITUDE

When you want to cultivate a grateful attitude

Give thanks for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

EPHESIANS 5:20

When you give thanks to God, you honor and praise him for everything he has done. Similarly, when you thank other people, you honor them and show them respect for who they are and what they have done. This attitude of gratitude helps you serve others and allows you to enjoy whatever blessings come your way.

Can you thank God for something every day?

Week 18

Day 120   Day 121   Day 122   Day 123   Day 124   Day 125   Day 126

Day 120

A promise about GOD’S PRESENCE

When you feel alone as you deal with challenges

In your strength I can crush an army; with my God I can scale any wall.

2 SAMUEL 22:30

Every day brings some kind of challenge. You may not rule a nation or run a large corporation, but you do face tough situations, difficult people, or subtle temptations. Challenges keep you from getting too comfortable or too accepting of the status quo; they force you into uncharted waters. Without God’s leading, this would be frightening, but with God it can be a great adventure. So whatever challenge you are facing, make sure you head into it with God at your side.

What challenge, big or small, are you facing today? Try to picture God by your side, and then move forward with confidence.

Day 121

A promise about HOLINESS

When you are thankful that the Holy Spirit is working in your life

Our High Priest offered himself to God as a single sacrifice for sins, good for all time. Then he sat down in the place of honor at God’s right hand. . . . By that one offering he forever made perfect those who are being made holy.

HEBREWS 10:12, 14

On your own, it is not possible to be holy because you were born with a bent toward sin. But when you ask God’s Holy Spirit to control your mind and actions, you take the first important step toward becoming more holy. Holiness here on earth does not equal perfection; it means striving for purity. But God promises that you will one day be perfectly holy in heaven.

How can you strive to be holy today?

Day 122

A promise about APPROVAL

When you want to please God

The Kingdom of God is not a matter of what we eat or drink, but of living a life of goodness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. If you serve Christ with this attitude, you will please God, and others will approve of you, too.

ROMANS 14:17-18

Seek God’s approval first. Sometimes doing what pleases God also pleases others, especially godly people, but that is not always the case. God has many enemies who love evil more than good, so you may never earn their approval. Your ultimate purpose is to please the God who made you and redeemed you, no matter what others may think of you. Focus on him; he promises you will receive his approval.

What might you need to change in your life today as you seek God’s approval?

Day 123

A promise about the BODY OF CHRIST

When you need the community of believers

You must call a meeting of the church. I will be present with you in spirit, and so will the power of our Lord Jesus.

1 CORINTHIANS 5:4

We were created for community. Jesus commissioned the church to be a body of believers, not a collection of individuals. Being connected to other people in loving relationships is important to living a life of hope. Living in isolation makes us vulnerable to discouragement and despair. When we are connected to a community of believers, we are able to worship together, to support one another, and to experience fellowship that keep us strong in the faith even during the most difficult times. Because Jesus promises to be with us when we gather as a body of believers, it is in community that we can experience God’s presence in a unique and powerful way.

Are you regularly experiencing God’s presence within a Christian community?

Day 124

A promise about GRACE

When you need to share God’s grace with others

Sin is no longer your master, for you no longer live under the requirements of the law. Instead, you live under the freedom of God’s grace.

ROMANS 6:14

Grace is undeserved favor. It is receiving mercy when you don’t expect it or deserve it. The Bible says that God extended grace to you by offering you salvation—eternal life with him—for free! You don’t have to do anything to earn it. In fact, you can’t earn it or buy it. You simply accept it by believing that Jesus, God’s Son, died for your sins so you don’t have to pay that price. God’s ultimate act of grace also gives you an example of how you are to extend grace to others. You should be quick to forgive and extend kindness to others, and be generous in love—even when they don’t deserve it. Grace is a tangible expression of love.

How can you extend grace to someone else today?

Day 125: A Moment of Promise

A promise about ETERNITY

When you are seeking an eternal perspective

This world is not our permanent home; we are looking forward to a home yet to come.

HEBREWS 13:14

As a heaven-bound follower of Jesus, try to put earth and heaven in perspective. Here, you will probably live less than a hundred years. In heaven, one hundred million years will be just the beginning. In light of that, you should spend your time on earth preparing yourself for heaven. Having an eternal perspective will help you live today with the right priorities, for this life is really your preparation for eternity.

How can your understanding of eternity change the way you live today?

Day 126: A Moment of Promise

A promise about HEALING

When you need God to restore you

The LORD nurses them when they are sick and restores them to health.

PSALM 41:3

God can heal any pain—a broken body or a broken heart. As you wait for God to heal you, either in this life or in heaven, don’t give up. Believe that one day he can and will take away all your pain and fully restore you. Until then, he will give you the strength to keep going.

Have you asked God to heal and restore you today?

Week 19

Day 127   Day 128   Day 129   Day 130   Day 131   Day 132   Day 133

Day 127

A promise about TRUTHFULNESS

When you are tempted to lie

The Scriptures say, “If you want to enjoy life and see many happy days, keep your tongue from speaking evil and your lips from telling lies.”

1 PETER 3:10

Lying is deceiving someone. It can be blatant or subtle. Lying is selfish and self-serving, for it always attempts to hide and deceive, to take what you have not earned, or to leave an impression you do not deserve. To fall short of truth in any way is to lie. You cannot follow the God of truth while you consistently tell lies—even “little white lies.” Lying destroys trust, and trust is the key to strong relationships. That is why the Bible promises that a happy life is an honest life.

How can you be completely honest today and feel happier as a result?

Day 128

A promise about RESISTING TEMPTATION

When you need God’s help to be victorious over evil

Humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

JAMES 4:7

When you believe and live out the truths taught in God’s Word, you will have the upper hand in the battle against evil. You must be humble before God and ask him for help. When you do this, he will give you discernment as well as protection against Satan and his demons, who continually fight for your soul. The Word of God and the power of the Holy Spirit are powerful resources that can help you resist your enemy. Stand strong and confident in your faith, and you can be sure that God will help you fight your battles and make you victorious.

Humility helps you resist evil because it causes you to realize that you must rely on God’s help. What specific temptation can you ask God to help you resist today?

Day 129

A promise about GOD’S WORD

When you want to grow in your knowledge of Scripture

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 corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work.

2 TIMOTHY 3:16-17

If you buy a new computer but neglect to read the instruction manual, you’ll miss out on many of the functions the machine is capable of doing. You’ll be operating with just enough knowledge to perform basic functions. When it comes to reading the Bible, most of us read just enough to get by. We miss so much of what God’s Word has to offer. Read the Bible daily so you can thoroughly understand everything God wants you to know. Then you will be able to live at peak performance.

What can you do to develop the habit of reading God’s Word more regularly?

Day 130

A promise about RESPONSIBILTY

When you want to make good choices

To those who use well what they are given, even more will be given, and they will have an abundance. But from those who do nothing, even what little they have will be taken away.

MATTHEW 25:29

It seems that no one wants to take responsibility for their actions; nothing is ever “my fault.” But God promises that if you take responsibility for your actions and use well what he has given you, he will give you more opportunities and more blessings. In the end, each person will be responsible for his or her own decisions, behavior, and relationships. Ultimately, everyone is responsible to God. Show responsibility in how you use the gifts and opportunities God has given you, and he will reward you.

Are you taking responsibility for everything God has given you?

Day 131

A promise about GOD’S LOVE

When you want to understand the depth of God’s love

God showed how much he loved us by sending his one and only Son into the world so that we might have eternal life through him. This is real love—not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins.

1 JOHN 4:9-10

Real love is being willing to sacrifice much—even life itself—for the good of someone else. You know for certain how much God loves you because he allowed his Son to die in your place, to take the punishment for your sin so that you could be free from eternal judgment. Think of it: God sent his Son to die for you so that you could live forever with him. No wonder John wrote, “This is real love”!

How can you take some time today to pause and consider God’s great love for you?

Day 132: A Moment of Promise

A promise about WISDOM

When you are facing a difficult choice

If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking.

JAMES 1:5

When you are faced with a decision, you may be afraid to bother God with your problems because you think he has bigger things to worry about. Not so. God wants to help you because he loves you. He cares about your little decisions as much as your big ones. When you open the lines of communication with God, he releases his resources to you.

How often do you ask God for wisdom?

Day 133: A Moment of Promise

A promise about GRATITUDE

When you want to develop a thankful heart

Giving thanks is a sacrifice that truly honors me. If you keep to my path, I will reveal to you the salvation of God.

PSALM 50:23

The Bible says that thanking God is a sacrifice that honors him. It recognizes his work, mercy, provision, and blessing in your life. A thankful heart gives you a positive attitude because it keeps you focused on all God is doing for you instead of what you think you lack. Give thanks to God every day—he promises to bless you with his salvation.

What can you thank God for today?

Week 20

Day 134   Day 135   Day 136   Day 137   Day 138   Day 139   Day 140

Day 134

A promise about SUCCESS

When you want to pursue the success that comes from obeying God’s Word

Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the instructions Moses gave you. Do not deviate from them, turning either to the right or to the left. Then you will be successful in everything you do.

JOSHUA 1:7

The Bible is the Word of God and the wisdom of God. It has both useful instruction and spiritual power to help you deal with any challenge. The key to success is found in commitment to obedience. So challenge yourself to obey God’s Word, and you will enjoy success as God defines it—and that is the only kind of success that is truly worth achieving.

Do you believe you can enjoy success by committing to obey God’s Word?

Day 135

A promise about ETERNAL LIFE

When you wonder what comes after death

Our dying bodies must be transformed into bodies that will never die; our mortal bodies must be transformed into immortal bodies. Then . . . this Scripture will be fulfilled: “Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?”

1 CORINTHIANS 15:53-55

So often we see death as a terrible end, but what an adventure awaits those who love Jesus! When Christians die, they will meet God and live with him forever in heaven. Our bodies will be totally transformed into bodies that will never again be subjected to sin, pain, death, and the limitations of this world.

How can you live differently today because of the knowledge that you will live forever with God?

Day 136

A promise about FORGIVENESS

When you need to seek God’s mercy

The LORD passed in front of Moses, calling out, “Yahweh! The LORD! The God of compassion and mercy! I am slow to anger and filled with unfailing love and faithfulness. I lavish unfailing love to a thousand generations. I forgive iniquity, rebellion, and sin. But I do not excuse the guilty.”

EXODUS 34:6-7

Because God is perfectly holy, he cannot tolerate sin. Therefore, any kind of sin angers him. But he is ready to forgive sin because he is also kind and merciful. Those who humbly confess their sins and turn to God in faith receive his abundant love and mercy instead of his anger.

Do you have sins that need to be forgiven? Ask God today for his mercy and forgiveness.

Day 137

A promise about SEEKING GOD

When you feel abandoned

Those who know your name trust in you, for you, O LORD, do not abandon those who search for you.

PSALM 9:10

There may be times when even those closest to you will neglect or abandon you, but God never will. He promises that he will never abandon you when you look for him. When you are feeling deserted and alone, it may be just the right time to look more intently and see that God is there by your side. God is always trying to get your attention. Are you aware of him? If you are sincerely seeking him, you are sure to find him.

How have you felt God’s presence even when others abandoned you?

Day 138

A promise about PEACE

When you need to be filled with God’s peace

Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.

PHILIPPIANS 4:6-7

Peace of mind comes from inviting God—the source of peace—into your life. He helps you understand that this world is only temporary. You will be able to navigate through any kind of chaos because you know God is ultimately in control. To find this harmony with God, you must ask Jesus Christ to forgive your sins and make you clean in God’s sight. Then you can work toward denying your sinful desires, living a godly lifestyle, and loving others. You will begin to experience God’s peace as your mind, your heart, and your actions line up with his.

What can you do today to experience God’s peace?

Day 139: A Moment of Promise

A promise about PRAISE

When you choose to worship the Lord

It is good to give thanks to the LORD, to sing praises to the Most High.

PSALM 92:1

When you praise the Lord, it lifts your mood. It is a deliberate act of worship that is hard to do when you are feeling down, but it produces almost immediate results. Praise the Lord for his unfailing, unconditional love for you. Praise him for the gift of salvation and eternal life. Praise him for his promise to help you through your hard times. Praise him for anything good you see around you.

What can you praise God for right now?

Day 140: A Moment of Promise

A promise about HUMILITY

When pride is keeping you from admitting your needs

Humble yourselves under the mighty power of God, and at the right time he will lift you up in honor.

1 PETER 5:6

Pride can keep you from seeking the help you need. Humility gives you the wisdom and courage to admit your needs in any situation. You won’t get help—from God or from others—if you can’t admit you have a problem. But when you are humble, God’s power is at your disposal, and he promises to help you.

In what area of life do you need to be more humble?

Week 21

Day 141   Day 142   Day 143   Day 144   Day 145   Day 146   Day 147

Day 141

A promise about the SECOND COMING

When you need to prepare for the future coming of Christ

And then at last, the sign that the Son of Man is coming will appear in the heavens, and there will be deep mourning among all the peoples of the earth. And they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. And he will send out his angels with the mighty blast of a trumpet, and they will gather his chosen ones from all over the world—from the farthest ends of the earth and heaven.

MATTHEW 24:30-31

One of the greatest promises in the Bible is that Jesus will come again. He will come to judge—righting all wrong and vindicating his followers. And he will come to forgive—pardoning all who believe in him as Lord. All who believe will be gathered together with him in heaven and will live there forever.

If Jesus comes back today, will you be ready for him?

Day 142

A promise about HOLINESS

When you want to become blameless before God

[God] has reconciled you to himself through the death of Christ in his physical body. As a result, he has brought you into his own presence, and you are holy and blameless as you stand before him without a single fault.

COLOSSIANS 1:22

Holiness is much more than the absence of sin; it is the practice of righteousness, purity, and godliness. Holiness is being wholly dedicated and devoted to God, being distinct and separate from the world’s way of living, being committed to godly living and purity. When you become a Christian, God makes you holy by forgiving your sins. He looks at you as if you had never sinned. Even though God sees you as holy because of Jesus, you still cannot live a life of perfect holiness. Here on earth, you must strive each day to be more like Jesus.

What can you do today to pursue greater holiness?

Day 143

A promise about GODLINESS

When you are striving to become more and more like Christ

This will continue until we all come to such unity in our faith and knowledge of God’s Son that we will be mature in the Lord, measuring up to the full and complete standard of Christ.

EPHESIANS 4:13

A believer’s perfection is not a flawless imitation of God but rather a process of maturing into a purer and more godly person. Growing in godliness means becoming more like God, even while falling far short of his perfect standards. That process of reflecting more and more of God’s nature will be completed when you reach heaven, and then you will indeed be perfect.

Where are you in the process of reaching perfection?

Day 144

A promise about BALANCE

When you want to discover God’s will for you

Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.

ROMANS 12:2

Jesus modeled a life of balance between socializing and solitariness, action and reflection, mission and meditation, hard work and rest for spiritual reenergizing. This pace allowed him to be guided by God’s will instead of human pressures. When you live a balanced life, you realize that God is not necessarily calling you to meet every need and volunteer at every opportunity. When you let God change your thinking to reflect his thinking, he will show you what to do and what not to do. Then you can live according to his priorities and his will.

How can you achieve balance between what you want to do and what God wants you to do?

Day 145

A promise about GOD’S PRESENCE

When you are struggling with depression

I can never escape from your Spirit! I can never get away from your presence. . . . Even in darkness I cannot hide from you.

PSALM 139:7, 12

There is no depth you can descend to where God is not present with you. God does not regard depression as sin, nor does he take it lightly. He responds with great tenderness, understanding, and compassion to those who suffer the darkness of depression. Even if you don’t feel God’s presence, he has not abandoned you. You don’t have to wallow in the darkness. Allow God’s comforting light to enter your soul. Don’t push him away. He knows everything about your situation, he knows what you are going through, and he loves you more than you could ever imagine.

Even in the midst of depression, can you commit to running toward God instead of away from him?

Day 146: A Moment of Promise

A promise about ETERNAL LIFE

When you need to accept God’s gift of salvation

The wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.

ROMANS 6:23

God promises salvation to everyone who accepts it. When you confess your sins and are sorry for them, and when you believe that Jesus died for your sins, you will be saved from the punishment you deserve. God looks at you as though you had never sinned, and he gives you eternal life in heaven.

Have you accepted God’s free gift of eternal life in heaven?

Day 147: A Moment of Promise

A promise about HELP

When you need reassurance that God will work in your life

The LORD is my strength and shield. I trust him with all my heart. He helps me, and my heart is filled with joy.

PSALM 28:7

When you ask God for help and trust that he will help, you open a lifeline to the God who loves to do the impossible for you. If you trust him wholeheartedly, he will help you in all that you ask. You will be filled with joy when you see the amazing things God has planned for you!

How can you trust that God will help you?

Week 22

Day 148   Day 149   Day 150   Day 151   Day 152   Day 153   Day 154

Day 148

A promise about PRAYER

When you want to feel closer to God

The LORD is close to all who call on him, yes, to all who call on him in truth.

PSALM 145:18

Prayer is an intimate conversation with your heavenly Father. Through prayer he makes his love and resources available to you. Just as you enjoy being with the people you love, you will learn to enjoy spending time with God the more you get to know him and understand how much he loves you. Good conversation includes listening as well as talking, so be sure to allow time to hear God speak to you. When you listen to God, he will make his wisdom and his will known to you.

Do you feel close to God when you pray?

Day 149

A promise about GOD’S HAND

When you need to be reminded of God’s work in your life

Remember the things I have done in the past. For I alone am God! I am God, and there is none like me.

ISAIAH 46:9

It is easy to forget about things that aren’t important to you, so make sure to give God utmost importance in your life. Then you will be more likely to remember how he has worked in your life before and to go to him first when you need help again. You can keep your focus on God by remembering how you have seen his hand at work in your past, by telling others what he is doing in your life now, by meditating on his Word to see how he has worked throughout history, and by sharing his blessings with future generations. When you do these things, you help yourself and others acknowledge God’s hand in the past, the present, and the future.

When was the last time you really took notice of God’s hand at work in your life?

Day 150

A promise about HOLINESS

When you want to become more and more like Christ

Work at living in peace with everyone, and work at living a holy life, for those who are not holy will not see the Lord.

HEBREWS 12:14

Holiness is an indicator of the health of your relationship with God. Being holy includes trying your best to treat others with the same mercy and unconditional love that God would show them—and that God has showed you. You won’t achieve perfect holiness in this life, but God asks that you sincerely try to be more like him each day. The more you understand what the Holy One has done for you, the more you will want to live the holy life he desires.

How can you live out God’s peace and holiness in your relationships with others?

Day 151

A promise about GOD’S CALL

When God is leading you to something new

I knew you before I formed you in your mother’s womb. Before you were born I set you apart and appointed you as my prophet to the nations.

JEREMIAH 1:5

You might think that God was only speaking to the prophet Jeremiah in these verses. But God calls everyone to do a certain job, to accomplish a specific task, or to use his or her gifts in a unique way. When God calls you to do something, he will make sure you know what it is. Often you will feel a strong sense of leading from him. It’s up to you to respond and walk through the door of opportunity he opens.

Do you have a strong sense that God is leading you in a certain direction or asking you to serve him in some way? How can you begin to respond to God’s call in practical ways today?

Day 152

A promise about MOTIVES

When you want to act with pure motives

The LORD’s light penetrates the human spirit, exposing every hidden motive.

PROVERBS 20:27

When someone gives a thousand dollars to a charity, it seems like such a good and selfless act. But one person may do it in order to earn a tax break; another may do it to win political favor; yet another person may in fact do it out of deep compassion for the poor. The same act can be set in motion by very different motives. The Bible teaches that God is as interested in our motives as he is in our behavior. Selfish and sinful motives eventually produce selfish and sinful behavior, but good and godly motives result in true good works.

Evaluate every decision you make today. How many of your actions are based on good motives rather than selfish ones?

Day 153: A Moment of Promise

A promise about PRAYER

When you need to bring your anxieties to God

Give your burdens to the LORD, and he will take care of you. He will not permit the godly to slip and fall.

PSALM 55:22

God cares for you and helps you whenever you ask. When you bring your burdens to God in prayer, you will experience freedom from worry and anxiety because you know he is listening and he cares. You can receive the assurance of God’s love and concern through the promises of his Word and through prayer.

How have you experienced God’s care when you go to him in prayer?

Day 154: A Moment of Promise

A promise about SATISFACTION

When you are seeking spiritual nourishment

Jesus replied, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry again. Whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.”

JOHN 6:35

Jesus is the spiritual nourishment your soul craves. His daily presence satisfies your deepest spiritual hunger. He meets your needs, works good in your life, and offers you peace of mind and the promise of eternal life. Feed your soul with Jesus, and you will be satisfied for eternity.

How can you satisfy your soul today?

Week 23

Day 155   Day 156   Day 157   Day 158   Day 159   Day 160   Day 161

Day 155

A promise about COMMITMENT

When you want to serve God by obeying his commands

Love the LORD your God and . . . keep his commands, decrees, and regulations by walking in his ways. If you do this, you will live and . . . the LORD your God will bless you.

DEUTERONOMY 30:16

Serving God with your entire life begins with making smaller decisions to serve him in little ways. Commit yourself to making the little, daily choices to serve God. The more you serve him in the little things, the more you will obey him in all things. Obedience comes out of a lifelong commitment to making godly choices on a daily basis.

What small step of obedience can you take today?

Day 156

A promise about GOD’S SOVEREIGNTY

When you wonder if God is really in control

Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. Keep putting into practice all you learned. . . . Then the God of peace will be with you.

PHILIPPIANS 4:8-9

Life is less confusing when you realize and accept that God truly is in control. The purpose of God’s control is not to manipulate you or order you around but to assure you that this world is not random and chaotic. If that were the case, life would be meaningless. But because God is in control of the world, you can be sure his promises will come true. You can live a life of purpose rather than confusion and make a difference for all eternity. Then you will be at peace.

Do you really believe God is in control? How can this belief decrease your confusion and increase your peace of mind?

Day 157

A promise about VICTORY

When you feel like giving up

O LORD, I have so many enemies; so many are against me. . . . But you, O LORD, are a shield around me; you are my glory, the one who holds my head high. . . . Victory comes from you, O LORD.

PSALM 3:1, 3, 8

The powers of evil can seem overwhelming at times. You may wonder how you can keep going. But God says not to be afraid because he will act like a shield around you. When you are afraid, the courage you need comes only from realizing how powerful God is. Then the odds won’t seem so impossible. No enemy can stand before him. God is more powerful than any force against you.

Are you feeling overwhelmed? How can you trust God for victory?

Day 158

A promise about PATIENCE

When you are facing frustrating circumstances

The Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: . . . patience.

GALATIANS 5:22

If you’ve ever spent two hours stuck in rush-hour traffic or held a crying baby at two o’clock in the morning, you know something about patience. According to the Bible, patience is a form of perseverance and endurance that allows you to respond to frustrating circumstances with grace and self-control. Contrary to popular opinion, patience is not merely a personality trait; it is a by-product of the presence and work of the Holy Spirit in the heart and mind of the believer. God promises that when the Holy Spirit is in you, he will produce more patience in your life.

How can you give the Holy Spirit greater control over your life?

Day 159

A promise about DELIVERANCE

When you need to be freed from oppression

The Spirit of the LORD is upon me, for he has anointed me to bring Good News to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim that captives will be released, that the blind will see, that the oppressed will be set free, and that the time of the LORD’s favor has come.

LUKE 4:18-19

Jesus came to deliver people who are oppressed by the world and the powers of evil. We see this throughout the Gospels. He delivered people from spiritual oppression by driving out demons. He delivered them from physical oppression by healing their diseases. He delivered them from intellectual oppression by exposing lies and teaching the truth that would set them free. And he spoke boldly against oppressive spiritual leadership. Jesus promises to deliver you not only from the consequences of your sins but from the forces that oppress you in this world.

How are you oppressed by the world or the devil? Have you asked Jesus to set you free?

Day 160: A Moment of Promise

A promise about GOD’S COMFORT

When your heart is broken

The LORD is close to the brokenhearted; he rescues those whose spirits are crushed.

PSALM 34:18

There is no quick cure for a broken heart. No pill taken twice a day for two weeks will treat it. A broken heart needs a different kind of healing. Other people can help with generous doses of compassion, listening, love, comfort, encouragement, and blessing. But God is the master healer. When you are hurting, move toward God, not away from him. He is the greatest source of joy and healing.

How can you find comfort in God’s presence today?

Day 161: A Moment of Promise

A promise about QUIETNESS

When you need to be still before God

When you pray, go away by yourself, shut the door behind you, and pray to your Father in private. Then your Father, who sees everything, will reward you.

MATTHEW 6:6

Sometimes you must be still, quiet, and alone to hear God speak. Just find a quiet place and tell God you are listening and ready to hear him speak to your heart and mind. He promises to see you and reward you.

When was the last time you were quiet before God?

Week 24

Day 162   Day 163   Day 164   Day 165   Day 166   Day 167   Day 168

Day 162

A promise about STRENGTH

When you are weak and exhausted

He gives power to the weak and strength to the powerless. Even youths will become weak and tired, and young men will fall in exhaustion. But those who trust in the LORD will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint.

ISAIAH 40:29-31

The more you recognize your weaknesses and limitations, the more you understand God’s power at work within you. Strength can make you proud and self-sufficient. That is why God often works through your weakness and your weariness, if you let him. Then there is no doubt that it is by his power—not your own—that the task is accomplished.

When you are tired or frustrated by your limitations, how can you learn to eagerly anticipate God’s power coming to your rescue?

Day 163

A promise about GOD’S LOVE

When you are ready to surrender to God’s transforming love

“When that day comes,” says the LORD, . . . “I will be faithful to you and make you mine, and you will finally know me as the LORD. . . . I will show love to those I called ‘Not loved.’ And to those I called ‘Not my people,’ I will say, ‘Now you are my people.’ And they will reply, ‘You are our God!’”

HOSEA 2:16, 20, 23

God wants a personal relationship with each person he has created. He pursues you, not to get something from you but to give something wonderful to you—help, hope, power, salvation, joy, peace, eternal life. God pursues you because he knows that only he can transform your life forever.

Are you still running from God’s love, or have you surrendered to his pursuing?

Day 164

A promise about CONTENTMENT

When you want to cultivate an eternal perspective

Don’t love money; be satisfied with what you have. For God has said, “I will never fail you. I will never abandon you.”

HEBREWS 13:5

After all, we brought nothing with us when we came into the world, and we can’t take anything with us when we leave it.

1 TIMOTHY 6:7

Contentment comes when you have a proper perspective of eternity. It’s not how much you accumulate on earth but how much you send on to heaven. The heart and soul that make you who you are follow you into eternity; the money and things that make up what you have stay here.

How might a heavenly perspective affect your current level of contentment?

Day 165

A promise about RECONCILIATION

When you need to be reconciled to God

God has given us this task of reconciling people to him. For God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself, no longer counting people’s sins against them. . . . We speak for Christ when we plead, “Come back to God!” For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ.

2 CORINTHIANS 5:18-21

Reconciliation between two people divided by conflict is possible only when one of them makes the first move—a hand extended, a phone call, words of forgiveness. Sin separates you from God. The relationship is broken, and someone has to make the first move. You are the one who needed to be reconciled, but God made the first move, sending his Son, Jesus Christ, to bridge the divide between himself and you.

God has made the first move toward reconciliation with you. Have you made the next move?

Day 166

A promise about CONFESSION

When you need to seek forgiveness

If we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness.

1 JOHN 1:9

Confession reveals the sin within your heart. When you acknowledge the ugliness of your sin, it can be embarrassing and sometimes painful. It is never easy to look deep into the dark places of your life, to become vulnerable and open yourself to rebuke. But confession is a necessary part of knowing God, of receiving forgiveness and freedom from sin, of identifying yourself as a follower of Jesus Christ. God’s supply of forgiveness far exceeds what your sins demand. No matter how many sins you confess or how often you confess them, God promises to forgive you whenever you ask.

What sins do you need to confess to God (or to someone else) today so you can be forgiven?

Day 167: A Moment of Promise

A promise about CHANGE

When you want to celebrate your new life in Christ

Anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!

2 CORINTHIANS 5:17

The Bible teaches two great truths about change. The first is that despite the changing world around us, God is changeless and dependable. The second is that God requires of us an inner change of heart (repentance) that produces an outward change of lifestyle (obedience). When your heart is changed, your life will be changed forever.

Have the unchanging truths of Scripture changed you?

Day 168: A Moment of Promise

A promise about INTEGRITY

When you want to make the right choices

The LORD rewarded me for doing right. He has seen my innocence. To the faithful you show yourself faithful; to those with integrity you show integrity.

PSALM 18:24-25

Integrity allows you to experience fellowship with God as well as his guidance. Without integrity, you are exposed to all kinds of sin and danger, including the disintegration of your character. But when you do the right thing and remain innocent of sin, God promises to reward you.

How has God rewarded you for your integrity?

Week 25

Day 169   Day 170   Day 171   Day 172   Day 173   Day 174   Day 175

Day 169

A promise about GOD’S LOVE

When you are amazed by the love God has extended to you

I will praise you, LORD, with all my heart; I will tell of all the marvelous things you have done.

PSALM 9:1

When you ask God for a miracle, you can’t know whether or not God in his infinite wisdom will choose to perform that miracle. But you can know that God’s love for you is eternal and unchanging. You can therefore trust that God is doing good things in your life even when he doesn’t give you exactly what you pray for. The greatest miracle of all is the miracle of God’s love for sinners, and that is one you can experience every day.

Are you noticing and enjoying the daily miracle of God’s love?

Day 170

A promise about REWARDS

When you wonder whether it’s worth it to follow God

No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love him.

1 CORINTHIANS 2:9

If Christians suffer like everybody else, why bother living for God or following him? If all we had to live for were the rewards of this life, then a “why bother” attitude might be understandable. But this perspective is wrong for at least two reasons: First, when you try to obey God, your relationships are fulfilling, your life displays integrity, and your conscience is clear. Second, this life is not all there is. The Bible is clear that those who trust Jesus Christ for salvation and the forgiveness of their sins receive the promise of eternal life. Your faithfulness may or may not result in rewards in this life, but your rewards in heaven will be greater than you can imagine.

Are you working only for rewards here on earth, or are you looking forward to the rewards God promises in heaven?

Day 171

A promise about PRAYER

When you want to ask God’s blessing on your country’s leaders

I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. Ask God to help them; intercede on their behalf, and give thanks for them. Pray this way for kings and all who are in authority so that we can live peaceful and quiet lives marked by godliness and dignity.

1 TIMOTHY 2:1-2

It’s important for Christians to pray for our nation’s leaders because the Bible says doing so leads to peace. Pray for government officials to be led and protected by God’s mighty hand. Pray for them to be humble and wise, to discern right from wrong, and to champion the cause of the needy and helpless. A nation that allows or endorses immorality is subject to judgment and will eventually collapse from the inside out. When we worship the one true God, we will stand firm and live in peace.

How can you pray for your country’s leaders today?

Day 172

A promise about PEACE

When you are in the midst of chaos

Wherever there is jealousy and selfish ambition, there you will find disorder and evil of every kind. . . . Those who are peacemakers will plant seeds of peace and reap a harvest of righteousness.

JAMES 3:16, 18

Peace and security come when you live in harmony with God’s commands. Two of God’s most important commands are to love him and to love others. When everyone makes his or her own rules instead of following God’s standards, chaos reigns. When people put their own desires above the needs of others, turmoil and confusion rule their lives. But when God’s commands rule your life, order and purpose come into your life. You grow in wisdom and find peace for your mind and heart.

If your life is chaotic, what can you do to experience peace and order today?

Day 173

A promise about GOD’S JUSTICE

When you feel like taking revenge on those who have hurt you

Dear friends, never take revenge. Leave that to the righteous anger of God. For the Scriptures say, “I will take revenge; I will pay them back,” says the LORD.

ROMANS 12:19

Seeking revenge is a basic instinct of our sinful human nature. Whether we are cut off in traffic, unjustly criticized by a coworker, or the victim of a violent crime, our gut response is to get revenge. God makes it clear that vengeance is to be left to him alone. He promises to right all wrongs and get rid of evil forever on the final Day of Judgment. But for now, Jesus gives you the best example of responding to injustice with patience and kindness, and leaving judgment and punishment in the hands of God.

If someone has wronged you, how can you turn your desire for revenge over to God?

Day 174: A Moment of Promise

A promise about QUESTIONS

When you are facing doubts about your faith

When doubts filled my mind, your comfort gave me renewed hope and cheer.

PSALM 94:19

God doesn’t mind when you doubt as long as you continue to seek him in the midst of it. Doubt can become sin if you allow hard-heartedness to lead you away from God and into skepticism and cynicism. But doubt can be beneficial when your honest searching leads you to God and a deeper faith.

What questions do you want to ask God?

Day 175: A Moment of Promise

A promise about HOPE

When you need to remember the wonderful things God can accomplish

All glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think.

EPHESIANS 3:20

Most people hope too little in God and expect too little from him. If you remind yourself of the amazing things God has already done, you will have reason to believe that the sovereign Lord of the universe wants to bless you more abundantly than you can imagine.

What do you dare to hope for?

Week 26

Day 176   Day 177   Day 178   Day 179   Day 180   Day 181   Day 182

Day 176

A promise about GUIDANCE

When you are seeking God’s direction

You guide me with your counsel, leading me to a glorious destiny.

PSALM 73:24

When you travel to a new destination, you might seek the advice of someone who has been there—who knows the lay of the land, the best sites to see, and the places to avoid. As you journey through life, it is important to have a close relationship with the ultimate travel guide, Jesus Christ. He knows where you’ve been and what will happen in the future. When you seek his advice, he points you toward places of beauty, joy, and peace, and he helps you avoid the dangerous spots. God promises to be your constant guide on your life’s journey, leading you through the dark valleys and up to the mountaintop experiences, finally bringing you to that place of eternal peace and rest you long for.

When others look at the path of your life, do they see that God is guiding you?

Day 177

A promise about ENDURANCE

When you want to be faithful in the midst of suffering

We give great honor to those who endure under suffering.

JAMES 5:11

Every country honors its soldiers who endure much suffering on behalf of its citizens. Soldiers are heroes who are willing to give up their lives so that others can live life to the fullest. The Christian faith also has heroes—those who inspire us to hang on to our faith no matter what happens, those who are willing to give up their lives for what they believe. When you are faithful to God no matter what, you will experience the greatest of freedoms—freedom from sin and eternal death.

You may never face martyrdom for being a Christian, but is your faith strong enough to endure even a little suffering?

Day 178

A promise about MONEY

When you are struggling to be content with what you have

Those who love money will never have enough. How meaningless to think that wealth brings true happiness!

ECCLESIASTES 5:10

The pursuit of money and possessions can easily deceive you into thinking that if only you had a little more, you would be content. The Bible promises that nothing could be further from the truth. The desire for more always leads to discontent. Contentment comes not from material wealth but from spiritual wealth, so focus on making spiritual investments. The love of money and material things becomes a trap because it chains you to this earth. Your only hope of escape is to keep an eternal perspective and realize that true happiness is found not in earthly possessions but in your relationship with God.

Have you fallen into the trap of believing that money will bring you happiness?

Day 179

A promise about JESUS

When you remember that eternal life comes through Christ

Jesus Christ, the Son of God, does not waver between “Yes” and “No.” . . . As God’s ultimate “Yes,” he always does what he says. For all of God’s promises have been fulfilled in Christ with a resounding “Yes!” And through Christ, our “Amen” (which means “Yes”) ascends to God for his glory.

2 CORINTHIANS 1:19-20

Jesus Christ is the Son of God, the Savior who was promised by God. He was fully God and fully human. He lived a sinless life so that he could die on the cross to take the punishment that you deserve for your sins. Then he rose from the dead to prove that he has power over death and to assure you that if you believe in him as Lord, you will also be raised to eternal life. God promises that when you believe in Jesus, you will live forever in heaven with him.

Do you believe God’s promises about Jesus? If not, what would it take for you to believe?

Day 180

A promise about OPPORTUNITIES

When you need to see your problems as an opportunity for growth

Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.

JAMES 1:2-4

It may seem to be a contradiction, but adversity actually produces strength. Just as your muscles grow when pushed beyond their limits, your character grows when the pressures of life push against it and test its strength. Developing a strong character takes time and constant attention. Your character will get soft if you stop working on it. Only through hard work will you achieve great accomplishment and the satisfaction that goes with it. Pain, trials, and temptations refine us so that over time we are better equipped to deal with them.

How might some of the problems you have today be building your character?

Day 181: A Moment of Promise

A promise about GOD’S PRESENCE

When you feel abandoned

The LORD will not abandon his people.

1 SAMUEL 12:22

God does not abandon you when you suffer. In fact, it is through suffering that you can experience God’s comfort more than ever. You may sometimes feel alone, but if God were to abandon you, he would have to stop loving you, and he will never do that because he cannot act against his loving nature. Rather, your compassionate God moves in to help, strengthen, and comfort you.

How can you see God at work in your life today?

Day 182: A Moment of Promise

A promise about THE BODY OF CHRIST

When you want to worship God in community

Where two or three gather together as my followers, I am there among them.

MATTHEW 18:20

God lives in the heart of every believer, but he also lives within the community of the church. When the church is gathered together, God meets his people in a special way. Just as being present at a live concert or sports event makes it much more exciting, participating with other believers in worshiping God makes it much more meaningful.

How can you experience God more deeply with other believers?

Week 27

Day 183   Day 184   Day 185   Day 186   Day 187   Day 188   Day 189

Day 183

A promise about HEAVEN

When you are hurt and struggling

We believers also groan, . . . for we long for our bodies to be released from sin and suffering. We, too, wait with eager hope for the day when God will give us our full rights as his adopted children, including the new bodies he has promised us.

ROMANS 8:23

God does not promise believers a life free from pain and suffering. If Christians didn’t hurt, other people might see God only as some sort of magician who takes away all the bad things in life. But because you have a relationship with God, he helps you, comforts you, and sometimes miraculously heals your hurt. Most important, God will one day take away all of your hurt when you arrive in heaven. Whatever pain you are experiencing is only temporary. You can be certain there is no hurt in heaven.

Are you longing to be healed from hurt? Try to picture the eternity free from hurt that God promises you.

Day 184

A promise about FORGIVENESS

When you realize you are stained by sin

He personally carried our sins in his body on the cross so that we can be dead to sin and live for what is right. By his wounds you are healed.

1 PETER 2:24

A congenital disease is raging within you all the time—it is called sin. Sin is a disease that takes not only a physical, mental, and emotional toll, but also a spiritual one. When you come to Jesus to treat this disease, he promises healing through the antidote of forgiveness. When you ask him, Jesus forgives your sin. A miraculous healing takes place, and this disease can no longer control the way you live.

Have you asked God for the medicine of forgiveness to heal your worst sickness?

Day 185

A promise about DIGNITY

When you question your value as a person

You made [human beings] only a little lower than God and crowned them with glory and honor.

PSALM 8:5

To have dignity means to understand who God made you to be—a human being who bears his image. In the eyes of the Creator, you have great worth and value, and you have been made for a special purpose. Your dignity comes not from what others think about you but from God himself. God chose to create you, and he gave you unique gifts and abilities. Not only does this give you dignity, it gives you the confidence to boldly serve him wherever he leads you.

How can your God-given sense of dignity give you confidence and purpose today?

Day 186

A promise about GIVING

When you want to develop a generous heart

“Bring all the tithes into the storehouse so there will be enough food in my Temple. If you do,” says the LORD of Heaven’s Armies, “I will open the windows of heaven for you. I will pour out a blessing so great you won’t have enough room to take it in! Try it! Put me to the test!”

MALACHI 3:10

Old Testament law made it clear that God wanted his people to tithe—to give him the first tenth of their income. This demonstrated their obedience and trust that God would provide for them. When Jesus came, he made it clear that he loves a cheerful giver. This means that he loves it when you have a generous heart. Whatever the amount you give, you should honor the Lord with your wealth so that his work on earth can continue. God promises to bless you lavishly when you do this.

Are you willing to step out in faith, give generously, and see how God blesses you?

Day 187

A promise about GOD’S MERCY

When you need a reminder that God is merciful

His anger lasts only a moment, but his favor lasts a lifetime! Weeping may last through the night, but joy comes with the morning.

PSALM 30:5

The Bible promises that God is kind and merciful and will always be ready to receive you with love when you confess your sin and seek a relationship with him. One of the worst caricatures of God is the image of him as an angry old man. Instead of fierce anger and punishment, God corrects his children with gentle discipline that is actually an expression of his love in action.

What are some ways you can see God’s merciful love in action in your life today?

Day 188: A Moment of Promise

A promise about MOURNING

When you are grieving a loss

God blesses those who mourn, for they will be comforted.

MATTHEW 5:4

Grief brings suffering, anxiety, confusion, restlessness, pain, heartache, and usually plenty of tears. Like a stabbing pain, it tortures your soul and robs you of the joy of living. But you can find this theme throughout the Bible: even when you go through dark times of grief, God is with you, blessing you with comfort and hope.

How can you find God’s blessing in the midst of grief?

Day 189: A Moment of Promise

A promise about GOD’S GOODNESS

When you wonder about your future

“I know the plans I have for you,” says the LORD. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.”

JEREMIAH 29:11

Many people picture God as stern and vindictive, just watching and waiting for the chance to zap humans with bolts of misfortune. But this verse shows the opposite. God loves you and wants only good things for you. He wants your future—both in this life and in heaven—to be bright and hopeful.

How can you begin to recognize God’s goodness?

Week 28

Day 190   Day 191   Day 192   Day 193   Day 194   Day 195   Day 196

Day 190

A promise about GOD’S LOVE

When you are running from God

The LORD says, “I will rescue those who love me. I will protect those who trust in my name. When they call on me, I will answer; I will be with them in trouble. I will rescue and honor them. I will reward them with a long life and give them my salvation.”

PSALM 91:14-16

God loves you because he made you. You are not a creature that randomly evolved from a prehistoric primordial soup. God created you in his own image so you could have a relationship with him. God desires your love and friendship, and he is pursuing you now. Stop running from him, and discover the purpose for which he made you.

Have you realized that God is pursuing you with his love, or are you running from him?

Day 191

A promise about PURITY

When you want to be cleansed from sin

Teach me your ways, O LORD, that I may live according to your truth! Grant me purity of heart, so that I may honor you.

PSALM 86:11

One bad apple spoils the barrel. Likewise, just a little bit of sin in our lives spoils our relationship with God and with others and causes us to become spiritually sick. But Jesus’ death on the cross purified our contaminated lives so that we could be fresh and clean in the presence of God. We cannot accomplish this on our own. God’s forgiveness is like an ever-blooming tree of perfect fruit in our lives. When you humbly ask him to forgive you, he removes the contamination of your sin and makes you fresh and pure again.

How has sin spoiled your life? How can you become pure?

Day 192

A promise about MEANING

When you want to live with purpose

My life is worth nothing to me unless I use it for finishing the work assigned me by the Lord Jesus.

ACTS 20:24

I take joy in doing your will, my God, for your instructions are written on my heart.

PSALM 40:8

You don’t need to do earthshaking things in order to have a meaningful life. Your life has meaning when you do the work that God has given you to do. Whether you are changing diapers, running a company, or evangelizing the world, do it as though God is working through you—because he is! Your life has meaning because you are sharing the love of God with everyone in your circle of influence.

How can you find greater meaning in your daily tasks?

Day 193

A promise about CHARACTER

When you want to be known as a person of integrity

Don’t make judgments about anyone ahead of time—before the Lord returns. For he will bring our darkest secrets to light and will reveal our private motives. Then God will give to each one whatever praise is due.

1 CORINTHIANS 4:5

Character is who you actually are—the sum total of everything that distinguishes you from everyone else. Your reputation—what other people say about you—is often a good indication of your character. But character is also who you desire to become. If you strive for good character—or better yet, godly character—you are working toward moral excellence. You work hard all your life for excellence in many areas, so it only makes sense to work hard at moral excellence. You want to be known as someone who has integrity, kindness, love, faithfulness—the character qualities that really matter.

How do you think others would describe your character?

Day 194

A promise about GENEROSITY

When you want to give generously to others

Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be.

MATTHEW 6:21

Who is more generous—a billionaire who gives one million dollars to the church, or a struggling single mom who gives only a hundred? If you do have a lot of money, does that mean you are not generous? Jesus says we can’t know the answers to these questions without knowing the heart of the giver. The Bible shows us that God doesn’t focus on how much money you have but rather on how generous you are with it. One thing is clear: what you spend your money on reveals what you care most about. When you realize that everything you have is a gift from a generous God, it motivates you to share your money and possessions more freely.

How might your generous giving impact the lives of those around you?

Day 195: A Moment of Promise

A promise about TIMING

When you are waiting

When we were utterly helpless, Christ came at just the right time and died for us sinners.

ROMANS 5:6

God’s people had been longing for the Messiah for centuries, but God sent Jesus to earth at just the right time. We may not fully understand why this was perfect timing until we get to heaven. But you can be sure that God sent Jesus at the time when the most people, present and future, would be reached with the Good News of salvation.

How do you see God’s perfect timing in your life?

Day 196: A Moment of Promise

A promise about KNOWLEDGE

When you want to know God through his Word

Fear of the LORD is the foundation of true knowledge.

PROVERBS 1:7

The book of Proverbs declares that the fear of the Lord is foundational to real knowledge. Our understanding of the information that the world throws at us should initially pass through the filter of God’s Word. Knowledge of God and how he intended for life to work leads to purpose. When you fear God, study his Word, and get to know him, you will gain true knowledge.

Do you look to God’s Word for true knowledge?

Week 29

Day 197   Day 198   Day 199   Day 200   Day 201   Day 202   Day 203

Day 197

A promise about the FUTURE

When you need encouragement to persevere through the difficulties of the present

When the Great Shepherd appears, you will receive a crown of never-ending glory and honor. . . . In his kindness God called you to share in his eternal glory by means of Christ Jesus. So after you have suffered a little while, he will restore, support, and strengthen you, and he will place you on a firm foundation.

1 PETER 5:4, 10

When you are suffering, you may feel as though your pain will never end. But in comparison with eternity, your present suffering will last only “a little while.” Be encouraged by the promises of God: he will restore what has gone wrong, support you with comfort and provision, strengthen you to overcome, and give you the firm foundation of his unchanging love. And as a crowning gift, you will share in his glory—forever!

What difficulties are you facing today? How can an eternal perspective help you persevere through them?

Day 198

A promise about BECOMING LIKE CHRIST

When you want to be more like Jesus

All of us who have had that veil removed can see and reflect the glory of the Lord. And the Lord—who is the Spirit—makes us more and more like him as we are changed into his glorious image.

2 CORINTHIANS 3:18

The more time two people spend together, the more alike they become. They adopt certain figures of speech or accents of the other person. They sometimes begin to dress alike or even think alike. The same is true when you spend more and more time with Jesus. Soon your speech becomes more gentle and kind, your face mirrors his joy, your attitudes and motives become more pure, and your actions become more focused on serving others. When Christ changes you, it’s always for the better!

Can other people see you becoming more and more like Jesus every day?

Day 199

A promise about TIME

When you want to make the most of your limited time

For everything there is a season, a time for every activity under heaven. . . . God has made everything beautiful for its own time. He has planted eternity in the human heart, but even so, people cannot see the whole scope of God’s work from beginning to end.

ECCLESIASTES 3:1, 11

The Bible is clear that time is infinite, and how you use your time on earth will have an impact on your life in heaven. So often we live by the motto “So much to do, so little time.” But God does not ask you to do everything, just everything that he has called you to do. And he assures you that there is enough time to do it. The more time you invest in discovering the purpose for which God created you and living it out with obedience and responsibility, the more meaningful and significant your time on earth will be.

How can you find more time to discover what God wants you to do here on earth?

Day 200

A promise about REJOICING

When you need to rejoice in the Lord regardless of circumstances

Even though the fig trees have no blossoms, and there are no grapes on the vines; even though the olive crop fails, and the fields lie empty and barren; even though the flocks die in the fields, and the cattle barns are empty, yet I will rejoice in the LORD! I will be joyful in the God of my salvation! The Sovereign LORD is my strength!

HABAKKUK 3:17-19

The more you despair in hard times, the more they drag you down. The more you reach out to God with hope and gratitude that your circumstances are temporary, the more your perspective and attitude will change. No matter what your current circumstances, you can respond joyfully to the God who offers you peace of heart and mind.

How can you focus more on the blessings of your relationship with God and less on the frustrations of your circumstances?

Day 201

A promise about GIVING

When you want to share with others

God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another.

1 PETER 4:10

Giving is sharing something you own—time, talents, finances—with someone else. In a deeper sense, giving is sharing something of yourself. Giving originates with the God who gives more blessings to his people than they deserve or expect. He gives the gift of life, the gift of love, the gift of salvation, the gift of eternity in heaven—all priceless gifts. God also gives us spiritual gifts that we should use to serve each other. The Bible promises that the more we give, the more we will receive—not necessarily in material possessions, but in spiritual and eternal rewards.

How can you give of yourself to someone else today?

Day 202: A Moment of Promise

A promise about SECURITY

When you want a solid foundation for your life

Those who fear the LORD are secure; he will be a refuge for their children.

PROVERBS 14:26

When you strengthen your faith day by day with the truths of God’s Word, you build a solid foundation that will not easily crack under pressure. Life’s battles may be strong enough to knock down some of your walls, but your foundation will remain steady and secure because God’s truths are eternal.

Where do you find security in your life?

Day 203: A Moment of Promise

A promise about CONSEQUENCES

When you need to consider the consequences of your choices

You will always harvest what you plant.

GALATIANS 6:7

A consequence is an outcome, aftermath, or result. Some actions produce consequences that are neither morally good nor bad. For example, if you take a shower, you will get clean. But many thoughts and actions have definite good or bad consequences. Sin will always cause bad consequences. Before you act, ask yourself, What will the consequences of my actions be?

Do you think about consequences before you act?

Week 30

Day 204   Day 205   Day 206   Day 207   Day 208   Day 209   Day 210

Day 204

A promise about GOD’S PRESENCE

When you are lonely

Nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. . . . No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.

ROMANS 8:38-39

In the dark hours of the night, do you feel desperately alone and rejected? Perhaps a best friend deserted you. The marriage you hoped for never materialized. Or the person you married now wants out. Maybe your child has turned against you, or your parents and friends don’t seem to care. But God says, “Do not be afraid, for I am with you” (Isaiah 43:5). God promises to love you and stay with you no matter what.

Do you feel God’s presence and his love even when you are all alone?

Day 205

A promise about WEALTH

When you want to store up treasure in heaven

Teach those who are rich in this world not to be proud and not to trust in their money, which is so unreliable. Their trust should be in God, who richly gives us all we need for our enjoyment. . . . They should be rich in good works and generous to those in need. . . . By doing this they will be storing up their treasure as a good foundation for the future so that they may experience true life.

1 TIMOTHY 6:17-19

We are accountable for how we use the money God has entrusted to us, so use it to honor God and help others. Learn and share with others God’s principles about earning money, giving generously, saving regularly, and spending responsibly. Understand the link between how you use your money on earth and the corresponding rewards in heaven.

How can you invest wealth in heaven by spending your money here on earth more wisely?

Day 206

A promise about SEEKING GOD

When you feel far from God

From there you will search again for the LORD your God. And if you search for him with all your heart and soul, you will find him.

DEUTERONOMY 4:29

God wants you to know him, and he reveals himself to all those who seek him. Sometimes you may try to hide from God. You blame him when you feel far away from him. You claim that God is the one playing hard to get. Perhaps you are hiding because finding God means your life will change radically. But God is always trying to show himself to you. The question is, do you really want to find him? He promises to be found when you seek him wholeheartedly.

Are you hiding from God? Begin seeking him today.

Day 207

A promise about GENEROSITY

When you want to discover the joy of sharing with others

When Christ, who is your life, is revealed to the whole world, you will share in all his glory.

COLOSSIANS 3:4

Ever since we were little children, we’ve been taught to share. Yet for most of us, it remains as hard as ever to share either our things or ourselves. Why? Because at the very core of our sinful human nature is the desire to get, not give; to accumulate, not relinquish; to look out for ourselves, not for others. The Bible calls you to share many things—your resources, your faith, your love, your time, your talents, your money. It promises that those who share generously will discover the benefits of giving, which are far greater than the temporary satisfaction of receiving. God was willing to share his own Son with you so that you could have eternal life. When you realize how much God has shared with you, you will be more willing to share with others to bless their lives.

What do you have that you can share generously with others?

Day 208

A promise about LOYALTY

When you need to be reminded of God’s faithfulness to you

The LORD leads with unfailing love and faithfulness all who keep his covenant and obey his demands.

PSALM 25:10

Loyalty can be defined as a highly personal form of commitment. Loyalty says, “No matter what happens around us or between us, there is no fear, doubt, or hurt that can make me turn my back on you.” When you have loyalty in a relationship, it is secure and solid. When you do not, you live in insecurity and fear. The Bible teaches that loyalty is part of the very character of God. He expresses his loyalty by refusing to give up on you no matter how often you disappoint him with your sin. You express your loyalty to God by obeying his Word.

How are you showing your loyalty to God? How can you model the same loyalty to your loved ones?

Day 209: A Moment of Promise

A promise about CHALLENGES

When you need God to keep you from falling

The LORD directs the steps of the godly. He delights in every detail of their lives. Though they stumble, they will never fall, for the LORD holds them by the hand.

PSALM 37:23-24

Don’t let failure get you down; get up and try again. Many inspiring success stories tell of people who failed many times but who never gave up. Most important, never give up on your relationship with God. He promises you the ultimate success of gaining salvation and eternal life.

How can you turn your failures into successes?

Day 210: A Moment of Promise

A promise about PATIENCE

When your faith is being tested

Patient endurance is what you need now, so that you will continue to do God’s will. Then you will receive all that he has promised.

HEBREWS 10:36

You cannot have endurance or perseverance without first developing patience. As a Christian, your faith will be tested time after time. But as you pass each test, you will develop more patience, which will build greater strength and perseverance. When you are patient, you will eventually receive the fulfillment of all of God’s promises to you.

In what area of life do you need patience today?

Week 31

Day 211   Day 212   Day 213   Day 214   Day 215   Day 216   Day 217

Day 211

A promise about GOD’S GUIDANCE

When you are trusting God to show you which way to go

Trust in the LORD with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.

PROVERBS 3:5-6

In order to get good guidance, you have to know where to put your trust. Someone who is traveling in unfamiliar territory must rely on accurate maps and signs to arrive at the destination. Someone who is critically ill must rely on a medical expert to prescribe the proper treatment. In the same way, you must realize your own spiritual limitations and rely on God’s Word—the believer’s instruction manual—in matters of faith. You can’t understand all the complexities of life, but the Lord does. Trust him to guide you and show you the best way to go.

How can you rely today on the expertise of God’s guidance?

Day 212

A promise about MERCY

When you need to show mercy to others

God blesses those who are merciful, for they will be shown mercy.

MATTHEW 5:7

Mercy can be defined as compassion poured out on needy people. But the mercy of God, which he expects us to model, goes one step further. God’s mercy is undeserved favor. Even when you don’t deserve mercy, he still extends it. Your sin and rebellion against God deserve his punishment. But instead of punishment, he promises you forgiveness and eternal life if you simply accept his mercy. Just as God has been merciful to you despite your sin, you should extend mercy toward those who have wronged you.

Have you accepted God’s mercy and extended the same kind of mercy to those who have hurt you?

Day 213

A promise about PRAYER

When you wonder if God really listens to your prayers

I love the LORD because he hears my voice and my prayer for mercy. Because he bends down to listen, I will pray as long as I have breath!

PSALM 116:1-2

God listens carefully to you and answers every prayer. His answer may be yes, no, or wait, just as loving parents might give any of these three responses to the requests of their child. Answering yes to every request would spoil you and endanger your well-being. Answering no to every request would be vindictive, stingy, and hard on your spirit. Answering wait to every request would frustrate you. God always answers your prayers according to what he knows is best for you. Knowing that God always listens and answers should inspire you to pray continually, even if his answer is not always the one you wanted.

How can you begin to recognize how God is answering each of your prayers?

Day 214

A promise about FELLOWSHIP

When you are seeking community with other believers

If we are living in the light, as God is in the light, then we have fellowship with each other, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, cleanses us from all sin.

1 JOHN 1:7

God created you for relationship. You cannot mature in your faith by yourself, without the help and influence of other Christians. Fellowship with other believers is necessary to keep you accountable, to help you learn God’s Word correctly, to pray for each other’s needs, to encourage one another, and to help you grow as a Christian.

Do you spend enough time in fellowship with other believers to keep you growing in your faith?

Day 215

A promise about HEAVEN

When you are frustrated by our imperfect world

I heard a loud shout from the throne, saying, “Look, God’s home is now among his people! He will live with them, and they will be his people. God himself will be with them. He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever.”

REVELATION 21:3-4

Scripture promises that one day God will remove all the sin and struggle from this fallen world and create a new heaven and a new earth. God will actually live among his people. The best this world has to offer can’t even begin to compare with the glory that is to come!

Can you imagine what a perfect life in a perfect world would be like?

Day 216: A Moment of Promise

A promise about BEAUTY

When you want to look for inner beauty in others

People judge by outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.

1 SAMUEL 16:7

Our eyes are trained to look first at others’ physical appearance. But God sees through a person’s physical appearance and into the heart. Society makes us believe that an unappealing face equals an unattractive person, no matter how beautiful the person’s heart is. To God, real beauty comes from who you are in your heart, not what you look like.

How can you learn to see the beauty inside others instead of judging them by their outward appearance?

Day 217: A Moment of Promise

A promise about FAITH

When you want your faith to grow stronger

If you look carefully into the perfect law that sets you free, and if you do what it says and don’t forget what you heard, then God will bless you for doing it.

JAMES 1:25

Faith is like a muscle; it gets stronger the more you exercise it. When you do what God asks you to do and see him bless you as a result of your obedience, your faith grows stronger. The next time God asks you to do something, you will have more confidence to take that leap of faith.

How can you exercise your faith this week?

Week 32

Day 218   Day 219   Day 220   Day 221   Day 222   Day 223   Day 224

Day 218

A promise about PROTECTION

When you need a place of safety

Don’t be afraid of those who want to kill your body; they cannot touch your soul. Fear only God, who can destroy both soul and body in hell. . . . Not a single sparrow can fall to the ground without your Father knowing it. And the very hairs on your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are more valuable to God than a whole flock of sparrows.

MATTHEW 10:28-31

Although God often protects you from physical harm, he is more concerned about protecting your soul from eternal harm. When you commit to following his ways, he commits to bringing you safely into eternity with him. So ask God for his protection. He is strong where you are weak. He is your safe haven when you are vulnerable and under attack. You have the power and presence of God protecting you.

In what ways has God protected you in the past, from both physical and spiritual harm?

Day 219

A promise about PURITY

When you want to fill your mind with the things of God

If you keep yourself pure, you will be a special utensil for honorable use. Your life will be clean, and you will be ready for the Master to use you for every good work.

2 TIMOTHY 2:21

How can you make wise decisions at a moment’s notice? The key is to be prepared by developing wisdom over time. One way you do that is by keeping yourself pure—filling your mind with God’s words instead of the world’s advice. You can’t anticipate everything that might happen today, but when you are prepared spiritually—when you have developed godly wisdom—you will know the right thing to do so God can use you to accomplish good. You will be ready to act swiftly and decisively because you have a wellspring of wisdom to draw upon.

How does keeping yourself pure increase God’s wisdom in your life?

Day 220

A promise about SALVATION

When you need to seek God’s forgiveness

Everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard. . . . If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

ROMANS 3:23; 10:9

Understanding the difference between God’s unconditional love for all people and his salvation of only those who confess and believe is a matter of life and death. God loves you unconditionally, but he does not approve of your sinful behavior. You must understand that your sin separates you from God and that Jesus died and rose again to take away your sin and restore you to him. Then you will realize how much God values you. When you confess your sins to him, seek his forgiveness, and commit to following Jesus, you will receive salvation and eternal life in heaven.

Have you experienced both God’s love and his salvation?

Day 221

A promise about JUSTICE

When you need God’s mercy

If you do what is wrong, you will be paid back for the wrong you have done. For God has no favorites.

COLOSSIANS 3:25

Don’t be so quick to beg God for justice. Then he just might have to punish you too. Instead, beg God in his great love to forgive you. Don’t be so quick to beg God for fairness, because he might end up taking away what you have. Instead, beg for mercy so you can be saved from the judgment that all people deserve. Because of Christ, God’s justice allows him to grant mercy to those whose hearts sincerely love him.

Would you rather have complete justice or God’s mercy in eternity?

Day 222

A promise about PERFECTION

When you’re frustrated by your inability to meet your own expectations

I don’t mean to say that I have already achieved these things or that I have already reached perfection. But I press on to possess that perfection for which Christ Jesus first possessed me.

PHILIPPIANS 3:12

Many of us strive for perfection in one or more areas of our lives. We want to be the perfect spouse or parent, perform flawlessly on the job, or be supremely skilled at a particular sport or hobby. But here on earth we will always be struggling against the reality of our humanness and sinful nature, which stand in the way of our quest for perfection. God understands our desire for perfection, and he sent his Son, Jesus, who is perfect, holy, and blameless. Through Jesus’ death on the cross, God exchanges our human sinfulness for his perfect holiness.

Are you longing for the perfection God promises in heaven?

Day 223: A Moment of Promise

A promise about TRUTH

When you doubt the claims of the Bible

Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.”

JOHN 14:6

Jesus is the only way to heaven—that’s a promise. You may want to buy your way in, work your way in, or think your way in. But the Bible is clear—Jesus Christ provides the only way in. Believing and gratefully accepting this truth is the only way to get to life’s most important destination.

Have you been counting on something other than Jesus to get you into heaven?

Day 224: A Moment of Promise

A promise about CELEBRATION

When you are amazed that God delights in you

The LORD your God . . . will take delight in you with gladness. . . . He will rejoice over you with joyful songs.

ZEPHANIAH 3:17

God rejoices and celebrates when his people faithfully follow him and obey his commands. If you trust God’s ways and follow his commands, the God of the universe will literally sing songs of joy because of you!

What specific things can you do today that God can celebrate?

Week 33

Day 225   Day 226   Day 227   Day 228   Day 229   Day 230   Day 231

Day 225

A promise about ENEMIES

When you wonder how to treat your enemies with kindness

If your enemies are hungry, give them food to eat. If they are thirsty, give them water to drink. You will heap burning coals of shame on their heads, and the LORD will reward you.

PROVERBS 25:21-22

Respond to your enemies—no matter what they do to you—with forgiveness. Your response to your enemies should include prayer as well as acts of kindness. Your words should be gentle. Your attitude should not be one of revenge or ill will. This is what Jesus would do, and when you do it too, it sets you apart from the rest of the world.

What can you do today to show love to someone who is trying to hurt you?

Day 226

A promise about ASSURANCE

When you need a reminder that God welcomes you

This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same testings we do, yet he did not sin. So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.

HEBREWS 4:15-16

Don’t ever be afraid to talk to God. When you get to know him, you’ll discover that he’s not a harsh dictator, ready to punish you for every fault. He’s a loving father, wanting to comfort, help, forgive, and bless you. The assurance of God’s love gives you courage to come to him with any problem, struggle, or concern. He will always open the door so you can talk with him as long as you want.

How can the assurance of God’s love help you talk more openly with him?

Day 227

A promise about ADVERSITY

When things are tough and you need God’s help

God is our refuge and strength, always ready to help in times of trouble.

PSALM 46:1

One thing you can count on is that adversity will come. The question is, what will you do with it when it arrives? When you believe in Jesus, Satan becomes your enemy. He will try to stop you from following God by sending you all kinds of adversity. He hopes to at least make you doubt God and stop witnessing for him. Adversity may in fact be a sign that you are being faithful to God. So continue to be faithful, even when things get tough. God promises to strengthen you and help you.

How can you allow adversity to draw you closer to God instead of pushing you away?

Day 228

A promise about PERSPECTIVE

When you need an eternal perspective

So we don’t look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever.

2 CORINTHIANS 4:18

God promises that the troubles looming in front of you today won’t last forever. Your goal, then, is to turn your focus away from your hurt and look instead to those things that will last forever—God’s love, his gift of salvation, his care for you, and eternity in heaven with him. When you live with this perspective, you see your hurts and troubles as part of this temporary world and you know they won’t last. Then you can have greater hope and confidence in God’s promise of a world where there will be no more hurt or pain.

How can you focus on God today instead of on your hurt?

Day 229

A promise about COMPROMISE

When you are tempted to compromise with evil

Be very careful never to make a treaty with the people who live in the land where you are going. If you do, you will follow their evil ways and be trapped.

EXODUS 34:12

This warning points out the danger of falling into a lifestyle of sin. The laws of society make you pay a fine or go to prison when you commit a crime because of the recognition that certain behaviors harm others. If those behaviors are left unchecked, rebellion and chaos will reign. God knows that certain behaviors not only harm you physically but also put your soul in mortal danger. That is why God warns you not to compromise with the evil that surrounds you. If you do, you will soon be living comfortably with sin rather than struggling to be true to God and his Word.

How can you live in today’s world without compromising your faith?

Day 230: A Moment of Promise

A promise about FORGIVENESS

When you need to be washed white as snow

Though your sins are like scarlet, I will make them as white as snow. Though they are red like crimson, I will make them as white as wool.

ISAIAH 1:18

Forgiveness means that God looks at you as though you had never sinned. It means you become blameless before him. When God forgives you, he doesn’t just sweep your sins under the carpet. Instead, he completely washes them away and makes you as pure and perfect as his Son, Jesus.

Have you asked for God’s forgiveness and experienced the complete removal of your past sins?

Day 231: A Moment of Promise

A promise about SEEKING GOD

When you want to be closer to God

If you seek him, you will find him.

1 CHRONICLES 28:9

Remember that God is with you all day, every day, so talk to him about everything that comes up at home, at work, or in any area of your life. Share your thoughts, needs, and concerns with him. As you practice acknowledging his presence, you’ll begin to gain the intimacy you desire.

How diligently are you searching for God?

Week 34

Day 232   Day 233   Day 234   Day 235   Day 236   Day 237   Day 238

Day 232

A promise about DOUBT

When you are overcome by doubt

Because of his glory and excellence, he has given us great and precious promises. These are the promises that enable you to share his divine nature and escape the world’s corruption caused by human desires. In view of all this, make every effort to respond to God’s promises.

2 PETER 1:4-5

Doubt doesn’t mean you have less faith but that your faith is being challenged in a new way. When you have moments of doubt, you are probably in unfamiliar territory. Allow doubt to move you closer to God, not farther away from him. God gives you many wonderful promises in the Bible, and he invites you to respond to those promises. Because he fulfills all of his promises, you can learn to trust instead of doubt. Then you will be even stronger in your faith.

How can your faith grow through the process of dealing with doubt?

Day 233

A promise about MISTAKES

When you need to fix something you’ve done wrong

“Why are you so angry?” the LORD asked Cain. . . . “You will be accepted if you do what is right. But if you refuse to do what is right, then watch out! Sin is crouching at the door, eager to control you.”

GENESIS 4:6-7

If you burn your toast at breakfast, the mistake has no lasting consequences. But if a doctor misreads someone’s chart and removes a kidney instead of the appendix, the doctor has made a mistake with considerably greater implications. We usually think of making a mistake as doing something wrong by accident. That is often the case, but a mistake can also be intentional and sinful—like turning away from God. If you have made that mistake, correct it before it’s too late!

What is the worst mistake you’ve ever made? Have you allowed God to fix and forgive it?

Day 234

A promise about MIRACLES

When you want to regain a sense of wonder

“Yes,” says the LORD, “I will do mighty miracles for you, like those I did when I rescued you from slavery in Egypt.”

MICAH 7:15

Maybe you think a miracle is always a dramatic event, like the dead being raised back to life. But miracles are happening all around you. These supernatural occurrences may not be as dramatic as the parting of the Red Sea, but they are no less powerful. Think of the birth of a baby, the healing of an illness, the rebirth of the earth in spring, the restoration of broken relationships through the work of love and forgiveness, the salvation of sinners through faith alone, the specific call of God in your life. And these are just a few “everyday” miracles. If you think you’ve never seen a miracle, look closer. They are happening all around you.

How can you be more open to seeing the miracles in your life?

Day 235

A promise about ADVICE

When you are seeking good counsel

To those who listen to my teaching, more understanding will be given, and they will have an abundance of knowledge.

MATTHEW 13:12

In an age of conflicting claims and confusing information, everyone is looking for wise counsel. Maybe that’s why counselors are in such great demand and advice columns are found in every newspaper. But there is a critical difference between worldly advice and wise counsel. God’s wisdom is best because he is all-knowing. Seek knowledge and understanding from the One who knows everything that will happen today and tomorrow and every day to come. Then you will have the wisdom to weigh and interpret advice from others.

How can you make it a habit to seek advice first from God’s Word?

Day 236

A promise about COMPASSION

When you want to serve those who are in need

Feed the hungry, and help those in trouble. Then your light will shine out from the darkness, and the darkness around you will be as bright as noon.

ISAIAH 58:10

God promises that those who help the poor will be rewarded, both in this life and the next. God has compassion for the poor and needy, so as a follower of God, you must also have compassion for them. Compassion that does not reach as far as your checkbook or your to-do list is not godly compassion. Godly compassion requires action. Helping those less fortunate than you is not merely an obligation but a privilege that should bring you great joy.

What can you do this week to show compassion to someone who is poor or needy?

Day 237: A Moment of Promise

A promise about PROVISION

When you are trusting God to meet your needs

Your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.

MATTHEW 6:32-33

The Bible promises that God will supply all of your needs. The problem comes when your definition of your needs is different from God’s. Study his Word to discover what God says you need for a fulfilling life.

What are some things you think you need? Are they the things God says you need?

Day 238: A Moment of Promise

A promise about CONFIDENCE

When you want to trust God fully

Those who are righteous will be long remembered. They do not fear bad news; they confidently trust the LORD to care for them. They are confident and fearless and can face their foes triumphantly.

PSALM 112:6-8

Confidence depends on complete consistency between words and actions, projections and outcomes. You can be completely confident in what God’s Word says because God has never broken a single promise. He has always done what he said he would, and he will always do what he says he will.

How can you increase your confidence in God?

Week 35

Day 239   Day 240   Day 241   Day 242   Day 243   Day 244   Day 245

Day 239

A promise about RISKS

When you are ready to take the risk of doing things God’s way

Mary responded, “I am the Lord’s servant. May everything you have said about me come true.” And then the angel left her.

LUKE 1:38

Take the risk of doing things God’s way. When God asks you to follow him, he won’t necessarily give you all the information up front. When you step out in faith, he gives you just enough guidance to see where to take the next step. Mary risked her marriage, her reputation, and her future by becoming the mother of Jesus. Following God’s will is not without risks, but God promises that it has the greatest reward.

How much risk are you willing to take in following God?

Day 240

A promise about HOPE

When you need to fix your eyes on heaven

We live with great expectation, and we have a priceless inheritance—an inheritance that is kept in heaven for you, pure and undefiled, beyond the reach of change and decay. And through your faith, God is protecting you by his power until you receive this salvation, which is ready to be revealed on the last day for all to see. So be truly glad. There is wonderful joy ahead, even though you have to endure many trials for a little while.

1 PETER 1:3-6

Just as focusing on a fixed point in the distance helps you move in a straight line, Jesus’ followers must fix their eyes on heaven. As you move straight toward your goal, the hope you have for eternity will help you endure the discomforts and trials of daily life.

How can the hope you have in Jesus keep you moving forward today?

Day 241

A promise about ADVICE

When you need discernment about the counsel you’re receiving

Anyone who wanders away from this teaching has no relationship with God. But anyone who remains in the teaching of Christ has a relationship with both the Father and the Son.

2 JOHN 1:9

One way to evaluate advice is to evaluate the advisers. Do their actions match their words? The most important way to evaluate advice is to check it against the truth of God’s Word. If it contradicts the Bible, then it is bad advice. Don’t make a habit of following bad advice, or eventually you will not be able to tell the difference between good and bad advice, causing you to lose touch with God. Listen to God’s advice, and you will always stay close to him.

How do you evaluate the advice you receive?

Day 242

A promise about INTIMACY

When you want to experience the fullness of God’s love

This is real love—not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins.

1 JOHN 4:10

The statement “God is love” (found in 1 John 4:16) means that God is the only source of love and only he could create us with the ability to love. Therefore, no one knows as much about love as God does. Intimacy with God means experiencing his love to the fullest and showing that love to him in return. The love he communicates is completely loyal, trusting, serving, and revealing. God created marriage to illustrate what an intimate relationship with him should look like. Therefore, a husband and wife should strive to be completely loyal, vulnerable, caring, honest, loving, and trustworthy.

Do you have an intimate relationship with God? If you are married, how can you experience that kind of intimacy with your spouse?

Day 243

A promise about INTEGRITY

When you commit to doing what is right

Who may worship in your sanctuary, LORD? . . . Those who lead blameless lives and do what is right, speaking the truth from sincere hearts. Those who refuse to gossip or harm their neighbors or speak evil of their friends. Those who . . . keep their promises even when it hurts. Those who . . . cannot be bribed to lie about the innocent. Such people will stand firm forever.

PSALM 15:1-5

Integrity means living a life that is consistent in belief and behavior, in words and deeds. Your integrity is reflected in your relationship with God and with other people. Live an honest life in all your dealings with people—even when it doesn’t seem to benefit you. Those who commit themselves to a life of integrity have a firm foundation that will last into eternity.

What one thing can you do today to live with integrity?

Day 244: A Moment of Promise

A promise about GODLY SORROW

When you feel sorrow over sin

Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up in honor.

JAMES 4:10

You must be humble in order to recognize the sin in your life. Pride gives the devil the key to your heart, but humility changes the lock and gives God the key. Replace any pride you may have with the humility that comes from godly sorrow over your sin. Openly admit that you need God, and seek his forgiveness. Only a humble person is able to do this. When you do, God promises to bless you with honor.

If you are truly sorry for your sins, you know you are developing a humble heart.

Day 245: A Moment of Promise

A promise about GUIDANCE

When you want to be directed by God’s Word

Your commands make me wiser than my enemies, for they are my constant guide.

PSALM 119:98

The more you get to know God through prayer and reading the Bible, the more you know what God wants you to do. Then you can make the right decisions when you are faced with difficult choices. God’s will becomes clear as you are guided by his Word.

Is God’s Word your guide for making decisions?

Week 36

Day 246   Day 247   Day 248   Day 249   Day 250   Day 251   Day 252

Day 246

A promise about FAITHFULNESS

When you want to reflect God’s faithfulness to others

If we are unfaithful, he remains faithful, for he cannot deny who he is.

2 TIMOTHY 2:13

Who are you really—deep down inside? Do you really love others? Are you really faithful to your family and friends? Faithfulness is necessary for maintaining love because even those closest to you will disappoint you at times. In the same way, you have disappointed God. But despite your unfaithfulness, God loves you and remains faithful to you. Model that same love of Christ to others, and remain faithful to them even when they fail you. Your faithfulness will show that your love is genuine.

How can you show greater faithfulness to your loved ones and to God?

Day 247

A promise about VICTORY

When you feel that everyone is against you

If the world hates you, remember that it hated me first. . . . I chose you to come out of the world, so it hates you.

JOHN 15:18-19

If God is for us, who can ever be against us?

ROMANS 8:31

Evil can’t stand the sight of Jesus, can’t bear even to hear his name. If you are living so that others can clearly see Jesus in you, there is good news and bad news. The bad news is that you will face opposition and even persecution for your faith. Satan opposes Jesus, so if you are on Jesus’ side, Satan is your enemy too. The good news is that even if the whole world is against you, God is for you. He promises to give you spiritual victories in this life and ultimate victory in heaven for eternity.

In what areas of your life do you feel spiritual opposition?

Day 248

A promise about HUMILITY

When your pride is getting in the way of serving others

All of you, serve each other in humility, for “God opposes the proud but favors the humble.”

1 PETER 5:5

Humility is a prerequisite for service. True humility results from understanding who you are and who God is. Humility allows you to serve wherever God places you and do whatever God asks of you. When you are sick or injured and must rely on a physician’s care, you are humbled because you realize your vulnerability. Likewise, you are humbled when you realize you are completely dependent on God to heal your soul. When you have this kind of humility, you will be happy to serve your Lord in any way he asks.

Do you have the humility to serve God wherever he is calling you?

Day 249

A promise about FASTING

When you want to practice the discipline of fasting

When you fast, don’t make it obvious, as the hypocrites do, for they try to look miserable and disheveled so people will admire them for their fasting. . . . When you fast, comb your hair and wash your face. Then no one will notice that you are fasting, except your Father. . . . And your Father, who sees everything, will reward you.

MATTHEW 6:16-18

Fasting is abstaining from things that you regularly enjoy in order to give greater attention to spiritual concerns. It is one of the most frequently illustrated spiritual exercises in Scripture. Fasting has been described as praying with the body. God promises that when you fast, you will be rewarded. It is a significant way to develop spiritual power and a more immediate sense of God’s presence.

If you fast, look at it as improving your communication with God rather than giving up something.

Day 250

A promise about OVERCOMING

When you are overwhelmed by your circumstances

[Jesus said,] “Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.”

JOHN 16:33

Perhaps the best way God helps you deal with problems is by guaranteeing a place in the future where there will be no problems. Human beings have made a mess of this world because of their sin. But no matter what your future on this earth holds, you can be sure that heaven will be free of problems and worries. Jesus guarantees that you’ll have problems in this world, but he promises that you’ll have none in the next.

How can you look forward to a world without problems instead of being overwhelmed by the problems in this world?

Day 251: A Moment of Promise

A promise about GOD’S LOVE

When you wonder how much God loves you

Long ago the LORD said . . . “I have loved you, my people, with an everlasting love. With unfailing love I have drawn you to myself.”

JEREMIAH 31:3

God created you, loves you, and longs to have a relationship with you. So he pursues you with persistent and unfailing love. Has he caught your attention yet?

How does it make you feel to know that God himself is pursuing you with his love?

Day 252: A Moment of Promise

A promise about COMPASSION

When you are thankful for God’s compassion

The LORD is like a father to his children, tender and compassionate to those who fear him.

PSALM 103:13

God shows his compassion to you by caring for you, providing for you, loving you, and blessing you. When you fear and obey him, he forgives your sins and restores your relationship with him.

How can you show others the same compassion God shows you?

Week 37

Day 253   Day 254   Day 255   Day 256   Day 257   Day 258   Day 259

Day 253

A promise about PURITY

When your heart needs to be renewed

Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a loyal spirit within me.

PSALM 51:10

You harvest what you plant. Pumpkin seeds produce pumpkins. Sunflower seeds produce sunflowers. If you have sinful desires and thoughts, it is evidence that some bad seeds have been planted in your heart, and you need to do some weeding. You must beg the Lord to plant within you a clean heart so that your life will produce clean thoughts, motives, and actions. Complete renewal cannot be accomplished yet. None of us will be entirely “clean” in this life, but one of the most worthy goals you can pursue this year is purity of mind and heart.

Can you make purity of mind and heart your goal for today? What might you look like a year from now—inside and out—if you met this goal not just today but every day?

Day 254

A promise about RECONCILIATION WITH GOD

When you need assurance of your salvation

Since we have been made right in God’s sight by the blood of Christ, he will certainly save us from God’s condemnation. For since our friendship with God was restored by the death of his Son while we were still his enemies, we will certainly be saved through the life of his Son.

ROMANS 5:9-10

Because we like to be in control, one of the hardest things to accept is that we don’t make the rules for how life and faith work—God does. God’s rules say that sin deserves eternal death, and everyone has sinned. Your assurance for salvation is based on the fact that Jesus Christ stood in your place and took the judgment you deserved for your sin. God promises that he no longer judges you an enemy but a friend—even his own child.

How will you be able to face the judgment of God?

Day 255

A promise about FEARING GOD

When you want to experience the joy that comes from a right view of God

How joyful are those who fear the LORD—all who follow his ways!

PSALM 128:1

Does it seem ironic that those who “fear” the Lord actually experience more joy? Fearing God, however, is not the same as being afraid of him. If you are afraid of God, you will stay away from him. Fearing God means being awed by his power, mercy, and goodness. This draws you closer to him, within the circle of blessings he gives to all who love him. Fear of God is like the respect you have for a beloved teacher, coach, parent, or mentor. Your respect motivates you both to do your best and to avoid doing something that would offend or hurt that person. You fear God because of his awesome power, and you love God for the way he blesses you.

How can you increase your fear of God and experience more joy as a result?

Day 256

A promise about FRIENDSHIP WITH GOD

When you want to deepen your relationship with God

Since our friendship with God was restored by the death of his Son while we were still his enemies, we will certainly be saved through the life of his Son. So now we can rejoice in our wonderful new relationship with God because our Lord Jesus Christ has made us friends of God.

ROMANS 5:10-11

The God of the universe promises that you can be his friend. You simply have to want to. Unfortunately, many of us don’t. True friends hold each other accountable and do whatever they can to please each other. Many people don’t want to live the kind of life that pleases God. They don’t realize that pleasing God gives life true meaning and joy. God created us to be in relationships, especially in a relationship with him through faith in Jesus Christ. As you develop your relationship with God, you develop a friendship with him. He is your Lord, but he also desires to be your friend.

Do you see yourself as a friend of God?

Day 257

A promise about JUSTIFICATION

When you want to be made right with God

We are made right with God by placing our faith in Jesus Christ. And this is true for everyone who believes, no matter who we are.

ROMANS 3:22

God’s salvation is available to all people. It doesn’t matter what sins you’ve committed. It doesn’t matter who you are. God loves all people equally and wants everyone to be saved from eternal death and to live with him in heaven. When you decide to follow Jesus Christ and ask him to forgive your sins and make you a new person inside, he promises to look at you as though you have never sinned. In his eyes, you are clean and pure, just like everyone else who believes.

How do God’s love and offer of salvation make everyone equal? Have you been made right in God’s eyes?

Day 258: A Moment of Promise

A promise about CONFIDENCE

When you are tempted to doubt God’s promises

Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see.

HEBREWS 11:1

When you begin to lose confidence in God, go right to the Bible. As you take confidence from the promises God has already fulfilled, you will develop greater faith that he will also fulfill his promises for the future.

What can you do today to develop greater confidence?

Day 259: A Moment of Promise

A promise about INHERITANCE

When you want to understand what it means to be part of God’s family

Now you are no longer a slave but God’s own child. And since you are his child, God has made you his heir.

GALATIANS 4:7

Belonging to God means you are no longer a slave to whatever your sinful nature tempts you to do. Therefore, you are no longer guilty before God. Now you are forgiven and free to receive all the privileges of belonging to the family of God.

What privileges does God promise you because you belong to him?

Week 38

Day 260   Day 261   Day 262   Day 263   Day 264   Day 265   Day 266

Day 260

A promise about CHARACTER

When you want to develop integrity

If you are faithful in little things, you will be faithful in large ones. But if you are dishonest in little things, you won’t be honest with greater responsibilities.

LUKE 16:10

Integrity is essentially the correspondence between your character and the character of God. To develop integrity, your character must become more and more like God’s. Just as pure gold is the result of a refining process that purifies the metal and tests it with fire, a life of integrity is the result of a refining process in which you are tested daily to see how pure you are. If God sees that your thoughts and actions are becoming increasingly pure through this testing, then your character is becoming more like his, and you are gradually gaining integrity.

Is your character becoming more or less like God’s each day?

Day 261

A promise about PROTECTION

When you wonder how God can help you

My help comes from the LORD, who made heaven and earth! He will not let you stumble; the one who watches over you will not slumber. Indeed, he who watches over Israel never slumbers or sleeps. The LORD himself watches over you! The LORD stands beside you as your protective shade. . . . The LORD keeps watch over you as you come and go, both now and forever.

PSALM 121:2-5, 8

God promises to protect and keep safe those who love him. But the ultimate fulfillment of this promise comes as God safeguards your soul so that your body and soul will live forever with him in heaven. No matter what might happen to your earthly body, you must commit yourself to obeying God to ensure that your soul will be in the right place for eternity.

Are you more concerned about the safety and protection of your body or your soul? Make it your greatest goal to get both body and soul safely into heaven.

Day 262

A promise about COMMUNICATION

When you want to be closer to God

You can be sure of this: The LORD set apart the godly for himself. The LORD will answer when I call to him.

PSALM 4:3

Because of Christ and our faith in him, we can now come boldly and confidently into God’s presence.

EPHESIANS 3:12

People like to keep in touch because it is vital to the quality and success of any relationship, whether marriage, friendship, family, or business. The same principle applies to your relationship with God. You must find ways to communicate with him, and you must learn to listen as he communicates with you. The more time you spend communicating with God, the closer and more successful your relationship with him will be.

What can you do to keep in touch with God today?

Day 263

A promise about MOTIVES

When you want to do things for the right reasons

Pay careful attention to your own work, for then you will get the satisfaction of a job well done, and you won’t need to compare yourself to anyone else.

GALATIANS 6:4

People often get stressed out when they take on activities and responsibilities for the wrong reasons. As you consider upcoming involvements, ask God to help you do things with the right motives and to reveal any motives that might be unhealthy. Then you will be better able to decide which activities you should commit to and which ones you should say no to. When you say yes with the right motives, you will be able to work with passion and purpose, which will give you great satisfaction and fulfillment.

Are you saying yes with the right motives?

Day 264

A promise about SATISFACTION

When you are struggling to find contentment

Just as Death and Destruction are never satisfied, so human desire is never satisfied.

PROVERBS 27:20

Just as drinking saltwater actually makes you thirstier, the Bible promises that getting more of something actually makes you less satisfied. When you get what you want, you will still want more of it. The perpetual quest to satisfy your desires leaves a growing, consuming emptiness that is never filled. The desire to be satisfied with earthly things (money, achievements) perpetuates a cycle of dissatisfaction, a never-ending drive for just one more thing. As a result, you are never satisfied with what you have. The sooner you understand this principle, the sooner you can begin to find true satisfaction by letting go of the temporary and seeking after the eternal.

Are you becoming less satisfied with what life has to offer? What does God offer that truly satisfies?

Day 265: A Moment of Promise

A promise about ENVY

When you are struggling with jealousy

Don’t envy sinners, but always continue to fear the LORD. You will be rewarded for this; your hope will not be disappointed.

PROVERBS 23:17-18

Jealousy eats away at you. It causes you to focus on destructive emotions such as greed and bitterness rather than on healthy emotions such as contentment with what you have and genuine happiness over the success of others.

Is there someone you envy? Begin praying for that person every day, and see how your envy is transformed into joy.

Day 266: A Moment of Promise

A promise about SALVATION

When you recognize your need for Jesus

God blesses those who are poor and realize their need for him, for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs.

MATTHEW 5:3

If you believe Jesus died to take the punishment for your sins and you recognize that only he can forgive you, the Bible promises you will go to heaven. You cannot earn your way to heaven; it is God’s gift to those who admit their need for Jesus.

Are you sure that you will go to heaven?

Week 39

Day 267   Day 268   Day 269   Day 270   Day 271   Day 272   Day 273

Day 267

A promise about THANKSGIVING

When you want to thank God in every circumstance

Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.

1 THESSALONIANS 5:18

Your loving spouse works hard all day, either at work or at home. Do you bother to say thanks? Think about how often in a day other people do things for you, however small. Do you remember to thank them? Now think about how often God helps you in your daily life. Think about how much God has given you. When you pause to think about it, you will see that God is continually blessing you, providing for you, and protecting you. How often do you say thanks to him? Giving thanks is a way to celebrate both the giver and the gift. Remember to thank God in everything.

How often do you thank God for the blessings in your life?

Day 268

A promise about GIFTS

When you wonder how you can use your abilities to serve God

There are different kinds of spiritual gifts, but the same Spirit is the source of them all. There are different kinds of service, but we serve the same Lord. God works in different ways, but it is the same God who does the work in all of us.

1 CORINTHIANS 12:4-6

The natural abilities you have are gifts from God, and they are often a clue to what God wants you to do. Would God give you certain talents and spiritual gifts and then not ask you to use them? You may have natural gifts in the area of cooking, entertaining, managing a business, teaching, handling money, playing an instrument, or any number of other things. Use whatever gifts you have to bring honor and glory to God. Then you will be right where you need to be to discover God’s will for you and to accomplish his purpose for you.

How is God calling you to serve him with your gifts?

Day 269

A promise about the HOLY SPIRIT

When you wonder how the Holy Spirit works in your life

When the Father sends the Advocate as my representative—that is, the Holy Spirit—he will teach you everything and will remind you of everything I have told you.

JOHN 14:26

God promised the gift of the Holy Spirit to his people, but the gift was not given until after Jesus rose from the dead and ascended into heaven. Anyone who believes in Jesus Christ as Savior also has the Holy Spirit living inside them. The Holy Spirit helps you understand the deep truths of God, convicts you of sin, teaches you how to live a life that pleases God, helps you pray, enables you to resist temptation, and assures you that you are a child of God. Thank God for giving you his Holy Spirit, and pray expectantly that he will release more and more of the Spirit’s power in your life.

How can you tap into more of the Holy Spirit’s power?

Day 270

A promise about GRACE

When you are amazed by God’s gift of grace

God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God.

EPHESIANS 2:8

Remember that God saves you because of his grace alone. God approves of you not because of what you do or don’t do, but because he loves you and has forgiven all your sins. The fact that this is God’s gift and not the product of your own effort gives you great comfort, security, and hope. When you accept God’s grace just as you accept any other gift, you will fully enjoy its benefits.

How can you pass along the gift of God’s grace to someone else today?

Day 271

A promise about JUSTICE

When you are angered by the injustice around you

Fear the LORD and judge with integrity, for the LORD our God does not tolerate perverted justice, partiality, or the taking of bribes.

2 CHRONICLES 19:7

God allows injustice for the present time, but he will not tolerate it forever. Injustice happens because of sin in the world and the sinful nature of human beings. The existence of injustice does not mean that God condones it. That is contrary to his nature and opposed to what the Bible teaches. God sees every injustice and judges it to be sin. He promises to bring an end to all injustice at the final judgment.

How can you be just in all your thoughts and actions today?

Day 272: A Moment of Promise

A promise about BROKENNESS

When you are brokenhearted about the sin in your life

The sacrifice you desire is a broken spirit. You will not reject a broken and repentant heart, O God.

PSALM 51:17

God promises to draw close to you when you are brokenhearted over your sin. When you repent, you turn to God in brokenness over your sin. Then he begins to heal and restore you.

How often do you come to God with an attitude of brokenness over the sin in your life?

Day 273: A Moment of Promise

A promise about GIVING

When you want to learn to give generously

Give, and you will receive. Your gift will return to you in full—pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, running over, and poured into your lap. The amount you give will determine the amount you get back.

LUKE 6:38

The act of giving creates a cycle of blessing. As God has given abundantly to you, so you give abundantly back to him as well as to others. This in turn leads those people to give abundantly to God and to other people. God promises that as you give, you will also receive blessing in return.

What can you do today to start a cycle of abundant giving?

Week 40

Day 274   Day 275   Day 276   Day 277   Day 278   Day 279   Day 280

Day 274

A promise about PERSEVERANCE

When you feel ready to quit

Since Christ suffered physical pain, you must arm yourselves with the same attitude he had, and be ready to suffer, too. For if you have suffered physically for Christ, you have finished with sin.

1 PETER 4:1

When God has called you to a task, you should not give up. You would not only miss the great blessings of reaching your goal, but you might also incur discipline for not trusting God to help you get there. Just because God asks you to do something doesn’t mean it will be easy. Often, the more important the task, the harder it is. If you know God is calling you to a certain task or taking you in a new direction, don’t give up just because the going gets tough. Your suffering tells you that you are headed in the right direction. Keep moving forward in faith.

How can you know when to quit and when to keep going?

Day 275

A promise about CONFIDENCE

When you wonder if God is really working in your life

Let us who live in the light be clearheaded, protected by the armor of faith and love, and wearing as our helmet the confidence of our salvation.

1 THESSALONIANS 5:8

Many great athletes say that the biggest obstacle to winning is mental, not physical. It’s the same way in your spiritual life. Your confidence does not come from your physical circumstances—how you look or what you achieve. Rather, it comes from faith—the inner assurance that God is by your side, daily protecting you, fighting for you, and winning the victories in your life for you.

What can you do to increase your confidence that God is actively involved in your life?

Day 276

A promise about GIFTS

When you aren’t sure how you can serve God

We are many parts of one body, and we all belong to each other. In his grace, God has given us different gifts for doing certain things well.

ROMANS 12:5-6

Just as all kinds of instruments are necessary to make up an orchestra, so all kinds of gifts and perspectives are needed to make up an effective group of people such as the church. In fact, God promises that he has specifically given you a unique gift so that you can do something well in the work of his Kingdom. Then God puts people with different gifts together so that their gifts can complement each other. It is actually through diversity that the most progress can be made. If everyone thought the same way or did the same things, the status quo would never change and little would get done.

Have you discovered the unique gift God has given you? How is it different from those around you yet equally important?

Day 277

A promise about JUSTICE

When you see wrongdoing all around you

Though the wicked sprout like weeds and evildoers flourish, they will be destroyed forever.

PSALM 92:7

Sometimes it seems as if evil people can do anything they want—and not only do they get away with it, they flourish. God has promised, however, that in his time, everyone will be judged, evil will be exposed, and the righteous will prevail. God doesn’t promise the absence of evil on this earth. In fact, he warns that evil will be pervasive and powerful. But God promises to help you stand against evil. When you do, you will receive your reward of eternal life with him in heaven, where evil will be banished forever.

Stop asking why some people get away with evil and start asking God to give you the strength to combat evil when you come face-to-face with it.

Day 278

A promise about the HOLY SPIRIT

When you need the Holy Spirit to take control of your life

The Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.

GALATIANS 5:22-23

We all have our addictions, whether they are simply bad habits or serious dependencies. One thing all of us are dangerously addicted to is sin. We consistently—daily—disobey God’s Word through sinful thoughts, words, or actions. The only cure is to submit to the control of God and his Holy Spirit. When you are under God’s control, the Holy Spirit replaces the destructive things in your life with good things. God’s transforming power is the only thing that can ultimately heal you of all addictions.

What fruit of the Spirit can you cultivate today to help break your sin addiction?

Day 279: A Moment of Promise

A promise about CELEBRATION

When you anticipate celebrations in heaven

In the same way, there is joy in the presence of God’s angels when even one sinner repents.

LUKE 15:10

Heaven is filled with celebrations too wonderful for the human mind to imagine. Angels worship God in mighty celebration and rejoice wildly when just one sinner repents. All believers will celebrate together at the great banquet of the Lord in heaven. Look forward to the day when you too will be able to join in these great heavenly events.

How can you experience heavenly celebrations today?

Day 280: A Moment of Promise

A promise about JOY

When you find joy in knowing how much God loves you

The joy of the LORD is your strength!

NEHEMIAH 8:10

Joy springs from God’s love, which is not dependent on your circumstances or your performance. When you realize just how great God’s love for you really is, you become less vulnerable to depression and despair. The more you love him, walk with him, and become like him, the greater your joy will be. You will find perfect and lasting joy in heaven, but you can experience joy now by walking with God.

Does God’s great love for you bring you joy?

Week 41

Day 281   Day 282   Day 283   Day 284   Day 285   Day 286   Day 287

Day 281

A promise about PROMISES

When you need reassurance that God will do what he says

God has given both his promise and his oath. These two things are unchangeable because it is impossible for God to lie. Therefore, we who have fled to him for refuge can have great confidence as we hold to the hope that lies before us.

HEBREWS 6:18

A wedding is one of the most sacred of ceremonies. The vows that a husband and wife take as they enter into marriage are breathtaking in beauty and boldness, and they are intended to be binding “as long as you both shall live.” Yet divorce statistics prove that even the most serious of human promises is not taken very seriously today. The opposite is true with God. God’s promises are anchored in his unchanging character and his steadfast love. In fact, God has never broken a promise. Can we expect anything less from the One who cannot lie?

Do you know anyone who carries through on every promise? Look to God’s Word and take comfort in his perfect record of keeping promises.

Day 282

A promise about the FUTURE

When you need to remember that your eternal future is secure

We know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.

ROMANS 8:28

When you are absolutely convinced that Jesus died on the cross to spare you from eternal punishment and give you the free gift of eternal life, then the troubles of this world are put into perspective. You know that your future—for all eternity—is secure. This gives you peace no matter what happens in this life, and it changes the way you react to the troubles and trials that come your way.

How do God’s promises about the future affect the way you live today?

Day 283

A promise about BELONGING

When you wonder where you fit within the body of believers

Just as our bodies have many parts and each part has a special function, so it is with Christ’s body. We are many parts of one body, and we all belong to each other. In his grace, God has given us different gifts for doing certain things well.

ROMANS 12:4-6

Belonging to God makes you part of Christ’s body, the church. The next step is figuring out what part of the body you are. A hand that works? A foot that moves? An ear that listens? A mouth that speaks? When you learn what part you are, you have discovered your spiritual gift. And when you use that gift as God intended, you will find where you belong in the church, where you can best serve God and others, and where you feel a sense of purpose and fulfillment. When each person in the body understands what his or her part is and does it faithfully, the body functions as God intended.

Where do you belong in the body of Christ?

Day 284

A promise about CALLING

When you want to use your gifts for God’s glory

God’s gifts and his call can never be withdrawn.

ROMANS 11:29

God’s call is like your family name. Even when you feel you’ve dishonored your family, you do not lose your name. The same principle applies when you are a member of God’s family. Because you are his child, God has given you specific gifts and called you to do certain tasks for him. If you don’t use the gifts God has given you, he won’t take them away but you will miss out on the best possible life he has planned for you. As long as you have life and breath, use your gifts to live out God’s calling for your life—you can’t lose.

How can you begin to discover God’s gifts and call in your life?

Day 285

A promise about GIFTS

When you are ready to accept God’s gift of salvation

The same Lord . . . gives generously to all who call on him.

ROMANS 10:12

God has generously offered you the gift of life forever in a perfect world, with the promise of riches beyond measure. All you have to do is accept and believe that he’s really giving you such a magnificent gift. If God were not a generous and compassionate God, he might require his followers to work for their salvation, or he might give only a privileged few the chance to get into heaven. But God is generous, and he offers the same gift to everyone who comes to him.

Have you accepted the generous gift God is offering you?

Day 286: A Moment of Promise

A promise about HEALING

When you are wounded

He heals the brokenhearted and bandages their wounds.

PSALM 147:3

Picture God personally tending to your wounds—the physical hurts of your body and the emotional blows to your soul. Imagine the tender touch of the Great Physician as he heals your brokenness. When God performs his healing in your life, you will find joy, and others will rejoice with you.

Where do you need healing today? Will you allow God to touch you in your brokenness?

Day 287: A Moment of Promise

A promise about OBEDIENCE

When you are seeking the joy of obeying God

When you obey my commandments, you remain in my love. . . . I have told you these things so that you will be filled with my joy. Yes, your joy will overflow!

JOHN 15:10-11

Obedience expresses your love for God. But obeying God should not be confused with earning his love through good works. You obey God not so that it will make him love you, but because he already does love you. As you obey, God promises to give you the joy that comes from living in relationship with him.

How can you make obedience to God a priority today?

Week 42

Day 288   Day 289   Day 290   Day 291   Day 292   Day 293   Day 294

Day 288

A promise about SALVATION

When you are thankful for God’s promise of salvation

If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by confessing with your mouth that you are saved.

ROMANS 10:9-10

There is a big difference between being loved by God for who you are and being accepted into heaven. If you are convicted of a crime, you must suffer the consequences no matter how much you are loved. All people are guilty of sinning against God. Jesus suffered the consequences for your sin, but you must believe and accept that he did. Your sin separates you from a holy and perfect God. But your faith in Jesus makes you holy and acceptable in God’s sight, and it will reunite you with him in heaven.

Have you accepted Jesus’ offer of forgiveness so that you can be accepted into heaven?

Day 289

A promise about INTERCESSION

When you want to make a difference by praying for others

You are helping us by praying for us. Then many people will give thanks because God has graciously answered so many prayers for our safety.

2 CORINTHIANS 1:11

Intercession is the practice of praying for the needs of others. The Bible promises that when you pray for others, it makes a difference. Paul was convinced that the prayers of the Corinthians were vitally connected to his deliverance by God. It is easy to become discouraged if you think there is nothing anyone can do to help you—or nothing you can do to help someone you care about. But the most important thing that you and others can do is to pray. In ways beyond our understanding, intercessory prayer opens the door so that the love and power of God can pour through it into someone’s life. It also causes you to care more about them. Interceding with God for others is a vital source of hope.

Who might need your prayers of intercession today?

Day 290

A promise about CONTENTMENT

When you want to be satisfied in any circumstance

By his divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life. We have received all of this by coming to know him, the one who called us to himself by means of his marvelous glory and excellence.

2 PETER 1:3

When your contentment depends on things going your way, you will become unhappy when they don’t. When your contentment comes from watching Jesus meet your needs, you will be secure and happy because you will have all you need. You will know that God’s plan for you, which is always best, is working out. He will teach you to discern the valuable things in life from the distractions.

How can you learn to find greater contentment in the things God has already given you?

Day 291

A promise about HOLINESS

When you are amazed by God’s total forgiveness

Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes.

EPHESIANS 1:4

God does not regard you as holy because you are sinless but because Jesus died to take your sins away. Only Jesus Christ has lived a sinless life, but anyone who seeks forgiveness for sin and acknowledges Jesus as Savior and Lord sincerely tries to live in obedience to God’s Word. Because of Jesus, God sees that person as holy. What an amazing thought! God sent his Son to die for your sins, and now he sees only holiness when he looks at you!

Have you accepted God’s forgiveness so that he now sees you as holy?

Day 292

A promise about GOD’S MERCY

When you are experiencing a new beginning

Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each morning.

LAMENTATIONS 3:23

Life is a series of beginnings, and how you enter into them makes all the difference. Although the thought of new beginnings can sometimes make you feel anxious, remember that you experience them all the time. Each day brings a whole series of new opportunities, including chances to get to know God better and to start over with a new attitude toward circumstances and people in your life. God’s mercy toward you is new every day, no matter what you’ve done or how you’ve treated him or other people the day before. That means you don’t have to be burdened by yesterday’s failures or regrets.

Do you give new mercies each day to the people you live and work with, just as God gives new mercies to you?

Day 293: A Moment of Promise

A promise about SALVATION

When you are amazed by God’s grace

Everyone who calls on the name of the LORD will be saved.

ROMANS 10:13

It seems too easy. The greatest gift God could ever offer—life in a perfect world—is absolutely free. God’s Word promises salvation—the guarantee of a perfect life in heaven for eternity—to everyone who asks Jesus to forgive their sins. Ask God to save you. He promises that he will.

Have you accepted God’s greatest gift?

Day 294: A Moment of Promise

A promise about PERSEVERANCE

When you can’t see an end to your struggles

God blesses those who patiently endure testing and temptation. Afterward they will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.

JAMES 1:12

Perseverance has been defined as “courage stretched out.” Although God sometimes delivers you from difficult circumstances, he often calls you to an enduring faithfulness in the midst of trials. Perseverance is not only enduring situations of suffering but overcoming them with patience, hope, and joy. When you persevere, God promises to reward you.

How can you endure today’s problems with patience and hope?

Week 43

Day 295   Day 296   Day 297   Day 298   Day 299   Day 300   Day 301

Day 295

A promise about COMPASSION

When your heart needs to be moved with Christ’s compassion

Moved with compassion, Jesus reached out and touched him. “I am willing,” he said. “Be healed!”

MARK 1:41

Compassion is a deeply seated emotion. You experience it when your heart is truly touched and you sincerely care for someone in need. Compassion can be a litmus test of your commitment and desire to love others as Christ loves you. To be Christlike is to show the same compassion that Jesus showed toward the poor, the sick, the needy—those who cannot help themselves. If you are not moved by the incredible needs and hurts of the people around you, you might develop a heart of stone that could become too hard to respond either to God or to others. Let Christ’s compassion keep your heart soft and responsive.

Is your heart becoming more compassionate toward those in need?

Day 296

A promise about CONFESSION

When you need to admit your sins to God

If my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and restore their land.

2 CHRONICLES 7:14

Confession is admitting your sins to God so he can forgive you. Sin separates you from God; confession indicates your desire to restore your relationship with him. When you confess your sin, you agree that something is wrong and needs to be made right, that your damaged relationships with God and with others need to be repaired.

When was the last time you confessed your sin to God? Do it today, using this simple, ancient prayer of the church: “Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy upon me, a sinner.”

Day 297

A promise about WEAKNESS

When you are facing failure

Each time [God] said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me.

2 CORINTHIANS 12:9

One thing is certain: you must learn to live with failure. Everyone has weaknesses. Everyone fails—a lot. Strong character depends not on how often you fail but on how you respond to failure. Adam and Eve, for example, responded to failure by trying to blame each other rather than admitting their mistakes and seeking forgiveness. The apostle Paul, however, learned to appreciate his weaknesses and failures because God was working through them. Those who admit their failures and learn from them will go on to accomplish great things.

How can you learn to respond better to failure?

Day 298

A promise about RESPONSIBILITY

When you want to be trustworthy with the opportunities that come your way

Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Since God has revealed the meaning of the dreams to you, clearly no one else is as intelligent or wise as you are. You will be in charge of my court, and all my people will take orders from you. Only I, sitting on my throne, will have a rank higher than yours.”

GENESIS 41:39-40

Responsibility is one of the keys to opening doors of opportunity. Joseph was unjustly thrown into prison. He could have become bitter and done nothing. Instead, at every opportunity he earned others’ trust because of his responsibility, and eventually rose to great prominence in Egypt. When you handle even your minor, day-to-day responsibilities well, you can expect much greater opportunities.

How responsible are you in handling every opportunity, both big and small?

Day 299

A promise about the HOLY SPIRIT

When you need more of the Holy Spirit’s power in your life

When you believed in Christ, he identified you as his own by giving you the Holy Spirit, whom he promised long ago. The Spirit is God’s guarantee that he will give us the inheritance he promised and that he has purchased us to be his own people. He did this so we would praise and glorify him.

EPHESIANS 1:13-14

God gives you the Holy Spirit when you believe in Jesus Christ. In fact, it is through the promptings of the Holy Spirit that you are able to believe in Christ. Because the Holy Spirit lives in you, you can pray expectantly that God will release the Spirit’s power in your life. God fulfilled his promise to send the Holy Spirit, and the Holy Spirit assures us that his promises for the future will also be fulfilled.

Ask the Holy Spirit to release his power in you to help you live more like Jesus each day.

Day 300: A Moment of Promise

A promise about MIRACLES

When you want your eyes to be open to what God is doing in your life

Come and see what our God has done, what awesome miracles he performs for people!

PSALM 66:5

God works on behalf of his people in miraculous ways. The daily news is filled with all the terrible things that are happening in the world. But if you step back for a moment, you can begin to get a glimpse of God’s hand quietly working miracles in many people’s lives—including yours—every day. His hand is there, even when you don’t see it.

Has anything happened in your life recently that might have been the hand of God at work on your behalf?

Day 301: A Moment of Promise

A promise about AVAILABILITY

When you wonder if God is really available to you

Whenever they were in trouble and turned to the LORD, the God of Israel, and sought him out, they found him.

2 CHRONICLES 15:4

God helps you by always being available. He is ready and willing to help you whenever you call out to him. Prayer is the lifeline that connects you to God. Use it daily, and receive the help you need.

Have you asked God for help yet today?

Week 44

Day 302   Day 303   Day 304   Day 305   Day 306   Day 307   Day 308

Day 302

A promise about JUDGING

When you are tempted to judge others

Do not judge others, and you will not be judged. For you will be treated as you treat others. The standard you use in judging is the standard by which you will be judged.

MATTHEW 7:1-2

Be careful not to judge other people because you may not know all the facts of their circumstances. Just as you would not want others to hastily or unfairly evaluate you, refrain from doing it to others. Before you jump to conclusions about someone, it helps to remember the hurts you’ve experienced when others wrongly judged you. This will broaden your perspective and help you avoid looking at other people through a negative filter that distorts their reputation. See others as Jesus sees them—as God’s children worthy of love and kindness—and replace judgment with mercy.

Do you notice someone’s negative or positive qualities first? Your answer is an indicator of how quick you are to judge others.

Day 303

A promise about FORGIVENESS

When you are filled with regret for past sins

Oh, what joy for those whose disobedience is forgiven, whose sins are put out of sight. Yes, what joy for those whose record the LORD has cleared of sin.

ROMANS 4:7-8

Guilt is a legitimate spiritual response to sin; regret is sorrow over the consequences of our decisions, both the sinful and the simply unfortunate. While God promises to remove the guilt of all who seek his forgiveness, he does not prevent the consequences of your sin. It is most likely the regret over those consequences that you still carry, that weighs you down with remorse. God promises to help you deal with your regret so you can move into the future without that heavy burden. He completely gets rid of your sin; don’t take it back by hanging on to regrets.

Are you still holding on to regrets over sins that God has forgiven?

Day 304

A promise about HONESTY

When you want to be truthful in all things

Who may climb the mountain of the LORD? Who may stand in his holy place? Only those whose hands and hearts are pure, who . . . never tell lies. They will receive the LORD’s blessing and have a right relationship with God their savior.

PSALM 24:3-5

God requires honesty because honesty shows purity, integrity, and a desire to do what is true and right. Honesty creates trust, and trust is the basis of all relationships. God wants you to be completely honest—with him, with yourself, and with others. You do not honor God if you cheat or take advantage of others to get ahead. When you are honest in even the smallest details, you gain some distinct advantages: a clear conscience, the trust and respect of others, and God’s blessing. Determine today never to tell lies.

Would your closest friends describe you as an honest person?

Day 305

A promise about the HOLY SPIRIT

When you need reassurance that the Holy Spirit is dwelling within you

Each of you must repent of your sins and turn to God, and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness for your sins. Then you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. This promise is to you, and to your children, and even to the Gentiles—all who have been called by the Lord our God.

ACTS 2:38-39

When Jesus ascended into heaven, his physical presence left the earth. But he promised to send the Holy Spirit so that his presence would still be among humankind and would literally live within believers. When you believe this is true and place your trust in God, he sends his Holy Spirit to live in you. The Spirit assures you of God’s constant presence and help in your life.

Have you turned to God, received forgiveness, and believed in Jesus? Then you have the Holy Spirit living in you.

Day 306

A promise about DIRECTION

When you are seeking guidance

If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking.

JAMES 1:5

Have you ever asked God for a sign? Sometimes we want to ask God to perform a miracle so that his guidance will be crystal clear. Although God sometimes works that way, most often he does not. The best place to find God’s guidance is in his Word, the Bible. If you want God to personally guide you, study the Bible. He intended it as a guidebook for getting through life. God also wants you to have faith, to trust him every step of the way. So read the Bible, ask God what to do next, and then take a step of faith every day. God promises he will lead you in the right direction.

As you read God’s Word today, what do you think God is guiding you to do?

Day 307: A Moment of Promise

A promise about PEACE

When you want to experience the peace of God

The LORD gives his people strength. The LORD blesses them with peace.

PSALM 29:11

Peace with God comes from living the way God wants his people to live. That happens when you develop a relationship with him and live according to the standards he gives in his Word, the Bible. Then God strengthens you and blesses you with the peace that is found only in him.

How can you experience God’s peace today?

Day 308: A Moment of Promise

A promise about JESUS

When you want to see Jesus as he really is

The Mighty One is holy, and he has done great things for me. He shows mercy from generation to generation to all who fear him. His mighty arm has done tremendous things!

LUKE 1:49-51

It’s hard to picture the baby Jesus as the mighty God, but he was mighty enough to create the world, live a sinless life, heal countless people, calm storms, and conquer death. He is mighty enough to conquer your troubles, too. Jesus promises to give you ultimate victory!

Do you see Jesus only as a meek and lowly baby or as a mighty warrior and victorious Savior?

Week 45

Day 309   Day 310   Day 311   Day 312   Day 313   Day 314   Day 315

Day 309

A promise about CONTROL

When you are ready to let the Holy Spirit be in charge

Letting your sinful nature control your mind leads to death. But letting the Spirit control your mind leads to life and peace.

ROMANS 8:6

It’s a mistake to allow your life to get out of balance by overemphasizing one of your responsibilities at the cost of others. Balance means using your gifts, time, and resources to live a life that honors God. It means caring for others and yourself. God assures you there is time for everything he calls you to do. Jesus, despite his power and the needs of those around him, left much undone; yet he completed everything God had planned for him to do. When you try to accomplish everything you want to get done, you usually feel unsatisfied. But when you let the Holy Spirit control your life, the balance he brings gives you peace of heart and mind.

Do you feel out of control? As you give more control of your life to the Holy Spirit, you will find balance.

Day 310

A promise about GOD’S CARE

When you want to care for others

I will be your God throughout your lifetime—until your hair is white with age. I made you, and I will care for you.

ISAIAH 46:4

The God who made you shows his care for you by protecting, providing, and preserving. You can share God’s care with others by doing the same for them. You can protect by being kind, helpful, and willing to reach out. You can provide by giving of your time, treasure, and talents to those in need. You can preserve by helping to maintain harmony through your words and actions.

List the ways God cares for you. How can you care for others in the same way?

Day 311

A promise about FORGIVENESS

When you are struggling to forgive others

If you forgive those who sin against you, your heavenly Father will forgive you. But if you refuse to forgive others, your Father will not forgive your sins.

MATTHEW 6:14-15

If you are unwilling to forgive others, it shows that you have not understood or benefited from God’s forgiveness, because forgiveness is motivated by unconditional love. When God forgives you, you are freed from guilt and restored to fellowship with him. When you forgive someone who has wronged you, you are freed from bitterness and resentment so you can rebuild your relationship with that person. And when someone else forgives you, you are freed from guilt and indebtedness to them. Receiving forgiveness from God, forgiving others, and being forgiven by others are at the heart of what it means to be a Christian.

Do you need to forgive someone who has wronged you?

Day 312

A promise about SERVICE

When you want to commit to a life of serving others

Among you it will be different. Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first among you must be the slave of everyone else.

MARK 10:43-44

A popular conception of wealth and success is being able to afford the luxury of having servants. Jesus turns this thinking on its head by teaching that the highest goal in life is to be a servant. He places such a high value on serving because it is centered on others rather than yourself, and serving others is the essence of effective Christian living. God promises that those who serve others will be the most highly regarded in his Kingdom.

How can you serve God today by humbly serving someone else?

Day 313

A promise about KNOWING JESUS

When you want to deepen your trust in Jesus’ promises

Christ is the visible image of the invisible God. He existed before anything was created and is supreme over all creation. . . . Christ is also the head of the church, which is his body. He is the beginning, supreme over all who rise from the dead. So he is first in everything. For God in all his fullness was pleased to live in Christ, and through him God reconciled everything to himself. He made peace with everything in heaven and on earth by means of Christ’s blood on the cross.

COLOSSIANS 1:15, 18-20

These verses assure you that everything is under the control of Jesus Christ and everything is possible through him. The more you get to know Jesus, the more you will see how he loves and cares for you and the more confident you will be that he keeps his promises.

What are you doing to get to know Jesus better?

Day 314: A Moment of Promise

A promise about RIGHTEOUSNESS

When you want to pursue righteous living

This Good News tells us how God makes us right in his sight. This is accomplished from start to finish by faith. As the Scriptures say, “It is through faith that a righteous person has life.”

ROMANS 1:17

Righteousness is being forgiven of your sins, walking with God daily, having an unwavering faith in God and his promises, loving him deeply, and demonstrating persistent integrity. When you have faith and live in this way, God calls you righteous and promises to give you life.

How can you be righteous in God’s sight?

Day 315: A Moment of Promise

A promise about ENDURANCE

When you want to persevere with joy

You will grow as you learn to know God better and better. We also pray that you will be strengthened with all his glorious power so you will have all the endurance and patience you need.

COLOSSIANS 1:10-11

The fuel you need to persevere through life is the power of God working in you. As you become more obedient and more in tune with God, his power will strengthen you—not just to endure, but to persevere with joy!

What can you do to develop more perseverance?

Week 46

Day 316   Day 317   Day 318   Day 319   Day 320   Day 321   Day 322

Day 316

A promise about PERSECUTION

When you are suffering because of your faith in Christ

God blesses you when people mock you and persecute you and lie about you and say all sorts of evil things against you because you are my followers.

MATTHEW 5:11

If you are being persecuted for your faith, be encouraged by the fact that many other faithful believers are also standing strong in the face of persecution. The Bible says that suffering persecution for Jesus’ sake is an honor. It is evidence of the depth of your love and commitment to Jesus, so it is actually a privilege to suffer for him. Persecution also helps you remember and be grateful for the depth of suffering Jesus went through for you.

If you suffer persecution because of your faith, do you see it as an honor?

Day 317

A promise about the IMPOSSIBLE

When you’re facing seemingly insurmountable obstacles

Jesus looked at them intently and said, “Humanly speaking, it is impossible. But with God everything is possible.”

MATTHEW 19:26

There should be no doubt that God specializes in doing what from a human perspective is impossible. The end of your abilities is the beginning of his. The God who spoke all creation into being can do the impossible for you. You must believe that he can and that he wants to. When you try to cope with problems in your own strength, you easily become overwhelmed. When you focus on God, you become aware of his power at work in your life. You can cope with impossible situations when God’s strength replaces your weakness. Then your impossibilities will become God’s opportunities.

How might God turn your most impossible problem into an opportunity to do something great in your life?

Day 318

A promise about RELATIONSHIPS

When you have been neglecting your relationship with God

We must listen very carefully to the truth we have heard, or we may drift away from it.

HEBREWS 2:1

A child who is neglected longs for the love of a parent and may suffer extreme emotional trauma from not receiving it. A friend who is neglected soon drifts away, and a spouse who is neglected eventually becomes despondent and lonely. It is just as tragic when you neglect your heavenly Father. God patiently, persistently, and lovingly extends his arms to you each day. How often do you ignore his overtures? Don’t neglect your most important relationship.

How can you begin today to restore any relationships you have neglected?

Day 319

A promise about COPING

When you need to rely on God to get through your problems

The LORD helps the fallen and lifts those bent beneath their loads.

PSALM 145:14

Life is stressful. Every day, new challenges and pressures come your way. Hard times are inevitable. Sometimes you wonder how you can cope with it all. You can’t control your circumstances, but you can control how you respond to them and whom you go to for help. You need the proper perspective to cope with life. God encourages you not to run away from your problems or try to escape them but to work through them. Then you will come out stronger on the other side. Through it all, God offers strength and wisdom that you cannot find anywhere else. How you respond to the challenges of life, including how much you rely on God, determines how well you cope.

Are you coping with life from God’s perspective?

Day 320

A promise about FOLLOWING JESUS

When you want to put aside all excuses for failing to make Jesus your Lord

At the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

PHILIPPIANS 2:10-11

People have all kinds of excuses for avoiding Jesus—they’re too busy, they see him as the cause of their hardships, they procrastinate, they don’t want to give up their favorite vices, or maybe they just don’t know where to begin. But the Bible promises that the day will come when you must face Jesus, and he will know whether or not you have declared him Lord of your life. Deal with any excuses you may have today so that you will be ready when that day arrives.

Do you make excuses to avoid following Jesus? Will those excuses hold up when you come face-to-face with Jesus?

Day 321: A Moment of Promise

A promise about TRANSFORMATION

When you are ready for God to change you

God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him.

PHILIPPIANS 2:13

God doesn’t force change on you. When you invite him into your life, you give him permission to use his power to change you. If you try to change on your own, you will get discouraged. Let God himself begin a work of transformation in you that will last a lifetime. Your life will see dramatic changes if you allow God to do his work in you.

Do you need to let God change you from the inside out?

Day 322: A Moment of Promise

A promise about LOVE

When you need God’s help to love difficult people

Don’t just pretend to love others. Really love them.

ROMANS 12:9

It’s easy to like people who are likable, but you model God’s love more when you show love to those who are difficult. Reach out to those imperfect people God has placed in your life. You may be surprised at how God can bring the most unlikely individuals together as friends. When you reach out to others in love, your heart will be changed.

Who in your life is difficult to love? How can you show love for that person anyway?

Week 47

Day 323   Day 324   Day 325   Day 326   Day 327   Day 328   Day 329

Day 323

A promise about ETERNITY

When you yearn for heaven

God . . . has planted eternity in the human heart, but even so, people cannot see the whole scope of God’s work from beginning to end.

ECCLESIASTES 3:11

God has “planted eternity in the human heart.” This means that we instinctively know there is more than just this life. We feel that something is missing. Because we are created in God’s image, we have eternal value, and nothing but the eternal God can truly satisfy. He has built into us a restless yearning for the kind of perfect world that can only be found in heaven. He gives us a glimpse of that world in some of the beautiful things we experience here on earth. Someday he will restore earth to the perfection it had when he first created it. Eternity will be a never-ending exploration of its beauty in a perfect relationship with God.

When you look around you today, do you see any glimpses of the perfect world that awaits you?

Day 324

A promise about OBEDIENCE

When you need to trust that following God’s commandments is the best way to live

Do what is right and good in the LORD’s sight, so all will go well with you.

DEUTERONOMY 6:18

The right thing to do is the smart thing to do. God’s commandments are not burdensome obligations but pathways to joyful, meaningful, satisfying lives. God’s demand for obedience comes out of his desire for your well-being. Since God is the Creator of life, he knows how life is best lived. Obedience demonstrates your willingness to follow through on what God says to do. Obedience shows how much you trust that God’s way is best for you.

Do you see obedience as a burden or as a pathway to the best life?

Day 325

A promise about MONEY

When you want to keep a loose grip on your possessions

Honor the LORD with your wealth and with the best part of everything you produce. Then he will fill your barns with grain, and your vats will overflow with good wine.

PROVERBS 3:9-10

Instead of viewing money as yours to use as you wish, see it as God’s to use as he wishes. Giving the first part of everything you receive back to God will help you maintain this perspective, and God promises to bless you for it.

Do you give God first priority when it comes to your money? If not, what can you do to change that?

Day 326

A promise about DISCIPLINE

When you want God’s discipline to help you grow

No discipline is enjoyable while it is happening—it’s painful! But afterward there will be a peaceful harvest of right living for those who are trained in this way.

HEBREWS 12:11

The goal of discipline is to prevent you from harming yourself and others, which also promotes healthy relationships. Sin always damages your relationship with God and others. God’s discipline is an act of love to keep you from damaging your most important relationships and to help you become the person he created you to be. Left to yourself, you will tend to move away from God and toward sin. God’s discipline reminds you of the right way to live. He promises that the ultimate result of his discipline will be blessing.

Can you think of a time when God was disciplining you? How did you grow from it?

Day 327

A promise about COURAGE

When you need to face your fears

Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.

ISAIAH 41:10

To experience fear is normal. To be paralyzed by fear, however, can be an indication that you doubt God’s promises or his ability to care for you in the face of danger. Realize that courage doesn’t come from your qualifications or your credentials but from the promise of God’s presence and power. When you know God is with you and helping you, you can face any fear.

Are you paralyzed by fear? How can God’s promises give you the courage to face your fears?

Day 328: A Moment of Promise

A promise about HUMILITY

When you need to submit to God’s leading

He leads the humble in doing right, teaching them his way.

PSALM 25:9

God specifically searches out humble people in order to lead and teach them. Being humble means acknowledging your proper place before the Lord. When you worship him in humility, God will lead you and teach you the right way to live.

How well do you let God lead and teach you?

Day 329: A Moment of Promise

A promise about CHANGE

When you are worried about the future

We have a priceless inheritance—an inheritance that is kept in heaven for you, pure and undefiled, beyond the reach of change and decay.

1 PETER 1:4

One thing that never changes is that things change. But God and his Word never change, so his promises never change either! Every one of God’s promises will come true, including the promise of eternal life in heaven. There you will never again see anything change for the worse.

How can trusting in God’s unchanging Word and promises for the future help you cope with change today?

Week 48

Day 330   Day 331   Day 332   Day 333   Day 334   Day 335   Day 336

Day 330

A promise about LOVE

When you want to love the way God does

Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.

1 CORINTHIANS 13:4-7

These well-known verses are some of the most eloquent and accurate descriptions of love ever written. Contrary to popular opinion, true love is first of all a courageous commitment and an unwavering choice to care for another person. Then love in turn produces powerful feelings. When you practice the qualities and behaviors described in these verses, the Bible promises that you will experience satisfaction and fulfillment.

Is your love for others based first on commitment or on feelings?

Day 331

A promise about SPIRITUAL WARFARE

When you are facing a fight with evil

[Put] on the belt of truth and the body armor of God’s righteousness. For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News. . . . Hold up the shield of faith. . . . Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. Pray in the Spirit at all times.

EPHESIANS 6:14-18

Here the Bible gives us a comprehensive list of resources that God promises to believers. Spiritual forces of evil lurk behind many of the conflicts you face. You should respond by fighting the evil itself. When God’s resources are mobilized, evil can be held in check.

Do you have a battle plan in place to combat the evil forces around you?

Day 332

A promise about CONSCIENCE

When you need to reawaken your conscience

Cling to your faith in Christ, and keep your conscience clear. For some people have deliberately violated their consciences; as a result, their faith has been shipwrecked.

1 TIMOTHY 1:19

God’s Word says that if you ignore your conscience, your faith will be shipwrecked. When you sin, you are deliberately going against your conscience. You know what you are doing is wrong because your conscience tells you it is, but you do it anyway because sin is often so appealing. If you continually do what your conscience tells you not to, eventually you will no longer hear it warning you of danger. Without a strong conscience, you become desensitized to sin and your heart becomes hardened. The key to a healthy conscience is faith in Jesus Christ.

Have you been listening to your conscience or ignoring it? Your answer may be an indication of the condition of your faith.

Day 333

A promise about CHARACTER

When you want to be productive in your faith

Make every effort to respond to God’s promises. . . . The more you grow like this, the more productive and useful you will be in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

2 PETER 1:5, 8

As you mature in your faith, you will develop inner strength of character, giving you spiritual wisdom and power that can help you accomplish more than you ever thought possible. As your confidence in God’s promises increases, so does your knowledge of Jesus and the assurance of God’s love for you. These are the building blocks of an unshakable character.

How can a strong character help you be more productive and useful for God?

Day 334

A promise about COMFORT

When you want to reach out to others with God’s comfort

All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is our merciful Father and the source of all comfort. He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us.

2 CORINTHIANS 1:3-4

Remember the ways that God has comforted you in times of trouble, and model that kind of comfort to others. When you have experienced God’s assuring love, his guiding wisdom, and his sustaining power, you understand what others need and are better able to comfort them. The comforted become the comforters.

Do you know someone who needs your comfort today?

Day 335: A Moment of Promise

A promise about GOD’S POWER

When you want to experience God’s power in your life

It is not by force nor by strength, but by my Spirit, says the LORD of Heaven’s Armies.

ZECHARIAH 4:6

The Holy Spirit is the power of God that lives in every believer. When you yield control of your life to him, he releases his power within you—power to resist temptation, to have wisdom in all circumstances, and to persevere in living for God here with the promise of eternal life in heaven. Through his Spirit, God will give you the power you need to do everything he asks you to do.

How can you tap into God’s power?

Day 336: A Moment of Promise

A promise about COMPASSION

When you want to reach out to others with compassion

He will rescue the poor when they cry to him; he will help the oppressed, who have no one to defend them. He feels pity for the weak and the needy . . . for their lives are precious to him.

PSALM 72:12-14

A mark of godliness is reflecting God’s compassionate heart to others. If you want to be like him, you must develop a heart of compassion and the discipline of helping those in need.

How can you show godly compassion to others?

Week 49

Day 337   Day 338   Day 339   Day 340   Day 341   Day 342   Day 343

Day 337

A promise about GIFTS

When you seek God’s greatest gifts

God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.

JOHN 3:16

The greatest gift God gives you is his Son. Through his gift of Jesus, he also gives you the gift of eternal life. What makes these gifts so wonderful is that you don’t have to work for them or earn them. You simply believe that God has actually given you his Son and the offer of eternal life with him. Then you accept the gifts. And no one can take them away.

God has given you gifts too wonderful to keep to yourself. Whom can you share them with?

Day 338

A promise about MISTAKES

When you are thankful that God can remove your sins

He has removed our sins as far from us as the east is from the west.

PSALM 103:12

There can be a difference between making a mistake and committing a sin. For example, unintentionally hurting someone by something you say is a mistake. Gossiping or slandering someone is a sin. You can often avoid repeating a mistake by studying where you went wrong in the past, planning better, and double-checking your words and actions. But to avoid repeating a sin, you need God’s help. The regret you feel over a sin indicates that you want to change your ways. When you confess your sin to God, he promises to change you by removing your sin and your regret.

Have you asked God to help you avoid both careless mistakes and outright sin?

Day 339

A promise about APPROVAL

When you want to do your best for God

The master said, “Well done, my good and faithful servant. You have been faithful in handling this small amount, so now I will give you many more responsibilities. Let’s celebrate together!”

MATTHEW 25:23

Those who consistently do a good job can usually be trusted with more freedom and responsibility. Their work receives approval from someone who supervises or oversees them. In the same way, the more you serve God, the more he will reward your faithfulness and give you opportunities to serve him with greater freedom and responsibility. Remember that God’s love for you never changes, but his approval of your work is based on how well you serve him.

How can you better serve God today to gain his approval?

Day 340

A promise about BLESSINGS

When you want to experience the blessings that come from obedience

Joyful are those who have the God of Israel as their helper, whose hope is in the LORD their God.

PSALM 146:5

Throughout the Bible, we find a simple but profound principle: obeying God brings blessings, but disobeying God brings misfortune. Don’t think of these promised blessings only in terms of material possessions. The greatest blessings are far more valuable than money or goods. They include joy, family, relationships, peace of heart, spiritual gifts, and the confidence of eternal life. A life focused on God brings joy and many blessings. The more you trust and obey God, the more you will experience his blessings.

What are some of the greatest blessings you’ve experienced because of obeying God?

Day 341

A promise about JUSTICE

When you are angered by injustice

The LORD loves justice, and he will never abandon the godly. He will keep them safe forever, but the children of the wicked will die.

PSALM 37:28

God judges all injustice as sin. As a just and holy God, he cannot allow injustice or sin to go unpunished. He promises to punish all those who are unjust. Some may begin to experience their punishment on earth, but all unjust people will receive their full punishment in eternity. If you are struggling with an injustice done to you or someone you love, be assured that one day God will set everything right and will vindicate the godly.

Is there a situation in your life in which you are longing for God’s justice?

Day 342: A Moment of Promise

A promise about APPROACHING GOD

When you need encouragement to draw near to God

Come close to God, and God will come close to you.

JAMES 4:8

If someone gave you a free pass to an event, you wouldn’t hesitate to go. You would have the privilege of admission because of the generosity of the giver. Your faith in Jesus Christ is your free pass into God’s presence. Because of Jesus, you can enter God’s presence with confidence.

Have you accepted the free pass offered by God to come into his presence and be close to him?

Day 343: A Moment of Promise

A promise about SATISFACTION

When you wonder how you can be genuinely satisfied

Those who drink the water I give will never be thirsty again. It becomes a fresh, bubbling spring within them, giving them eternal life.

JOHN 4:14

Everyone is searching for something to quench their thirsting souls. But too many people try to fill their lives with the wrong things. The key is to fill yourself with something that will last. God promises that when you fill your heart and mind with his Word and his Spirit, you will be truly fulfilled and satisfied for all eternity.

Where do you find true satisfaction?

Week 50

Day 344   Day 345   Day 346   Day 347   Day 348   Day 349   Day 350

Day 344

A promise about PEACE

When you want to receive the peace that comes from God’s presence

You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you!

ISAIAH 26:3

There are many ways to achieve peace, or the semblance of peace, but genuine peace is found only in a trusting relationship with God. Peace is not the absence of conflict but the presence of God. Peace of mind comes as the Holy Spirit guides you into God’s purposes for your life and gives you an eternal perspective. Peace of heart comes as the Holy Spirit guides you into a productive life and comforts you in times of trouble.

Where are you looking for peace? Are you looking in the right place?

Day 345

A promise about HEALING

When you need to be reminded that God will help you

In his kindness God called you to share in his eternal glory by means of Christ Jesus. So after you have suffered a little while, he will restore, support, and strengthen you, and he will place you on a firm foundation.

1 PETER 5:10

When you accidentally cut yourself, you immediately focus on how to stop the bleeding and ease the pain. Sometimes when you feel as if God has abandoned you, it is because you have become so focused on easing your pain that you have neglected God. Perhaps you have forgotten that he has promised to help you in your difficulties. God will never desert those who follow him. He doesn’t take the day off and forget about you or your pain. Even if you must experience pain for a time, remember that God promises to help and heal you.

Has the pain of difficult circumstances taken your focus off of God and his promises?

Day 346

A promise about JOY

When you are seeking joy that lasts

You will show me the way of life, granting me the joy of your presence and the pleasures of living with you forever.

PSALM 16:11

God does not promise that your life will always be happy. In fact, the Bible assumes problems will come your way. But God does promise lasting joy for all those who sincerely follow him. If you trust him, you have the assurance that the God of the universe loves you, wants to know you, promises to comfort and care for you, and has guaranteed your eternal future with him. This kind of joy stays with you despite your problems, and it helps you get through them without being overwhelmed.

Can you tell the difference between happiness and joy?

Day 347

A promise about ENCOURAGEMENT

When you feel downcast because of your circumstances

As soon as I pray, you answer me; you encourage me by giving me strength.

PSALM 138:3

Looking at your circumstances instead of focusing on God can bring discouragement. It’s easy to focus on the problem in front of you instead of seeing that God is standing by to help you overcome it. Don’t let your feelings of discouragement cause you to doubt God’s love for you; that will only draw you away from your greatest source of help. Be encouraged instead that God gives you strength and helps you succeed as you trust in him. Run to God in prayer; he promises to hear, answer, and encourage you.

When you are feeling discouraged, where do you turn for help and encouragement?

Day 348

A promise about ETERNAL LIFE

When you need to be encouraged by the hope of heaven

Let me reveal to you a wonderful secret. We will not all die, but we will all be transformed! It will happen in a moment, in the blink of an eye, when the last trumpet is blown. For when the trumpet sounds, those who have died will be raised to live forever. And we who are living will also be transformed. For our dying bodies must be transformed into bodies that will never die; our mortal bodies must be transformed into immortal bodies.

1 CORINTHIANS 15:51-53

One day you will be like Jesus. You will not be equal to him in power and authority, but you will be like him in character and perfection, for there will be no sin in heaven. You will never again experience pain or sorrow, and evil will be gone forever.

How does your hope of heaven help you live better today?

Day 349: A Moment of Promise

A promise about FOLLOWING JESUS

When you are learning to recognize Jesus’ voice

[Jesus said,] “My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.”

JOHN 10:27

Being a disciple of Jesus is simply a matter of following him with a willing heart. To follow him, you must learn to hear and recognize his voice. You can do this by studying his Word, the Bible. He will bless you not because of your ability but because of your availability.

How much do you really want to follow Jesus?

Day 350: A Moment of Promise

A promise about BROKENNESS

When you are broken before God

I will bless those who have humble and contrite hearts, who tremble at my word.

ISAIAH 66:2

Humility is a form of brokenness, which you experience when you realize that you cannot fix or control everything that happens to you. Acknowledging your dependence on God allows him to help you with all your needs and problems. He promises to bless you in your vulnerability.

Do you maintain your humility before God in the midst of brokenness? How might God bless you by meeting your needs today?

Week 51

Day 351   Day 352   Day 353   Day 354   Day 355   Day 356   Day 357

Day 351

A promise about INTERCESSION

When you don’t know how to pray

The Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. For example, we don’t know what God wants us to pray for. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words.

ROMANS 8:26

God gives you his Holy Spirit as your personal intercessor. When you don’t know what to pray, the Holy Spirit will pray for you. He will pray for you when you can’t pray for yourself. God promises that you never have to worry about what to say to him. His Spirit will ask him to help you even when you don’t know how to express the kind of help you need.

Are you unsure how to ask God for help? Don’t worry; his Holy Spirit is already helping you in exactly the way that you need it.

Day 352

A promise about OBEYING GOD’S WORD

When you want to show your love for God by obeying his commands

If someone claims, “I know God,” but doesn’t obey God’s commandments, that person is . . . not living in the truth. But those who obey God’s word truly show how completely they love him. That is how we know we are living in him.

1 JOHN 2:4-5

Do you want to show how much you love God? He tells you how—simply obey him. And how do you do that? He tells you how—follow his commandments in the Bible, which is his instruction manual for living well and loving others. When you obey God, you demonstrate your belief that what he says is true. The more you obey him, the more you will see that following God’s Word really is best. You will begin to experience the blessings of obedience, and you will love God even more for showing you how to live a life of joy and fulfillment.

How well are you obeying God? How does it affect your love for him?

Day 353

A promise about ACCEPTANCE

When you need reassurance that God will never reject you

Those the Father has given me will come to me, and I will never reject them.

JOHN 6:37

God accepts everyone who comes to him in faith, even those who previously rejected him. You can approach God knowing that he will gladly welcome you and will always accept you. God will never say, “Sorry, I don’t have time for you” or “Don’t bother me.” He always listens, always responds, always loves, always is there for you. God does not turn away but rather embraces you so you can receive all the blessings he promises you. In his open arms, you also find the ultimate example of how to accept others.

Do you struggle to believe that God promises to accept you, no matter what? Run to his open arms today and feel his acceptance.

Day 354

A promise about BLESSINGS

When you want to remember all of God’s blessings

May God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ give you grace and peace. . . . When you believed in Christ, he identified you as his own by giving you the Holy Spirit, whom he promised long ago. The Spirit is God’s guarantee that he will give us the inheritance he promised and that he has purchased us to be his own people.

EPHESIANS 1:2, 13-14

God’s love is like a vast ocean. He sends wave after wave of blessings to flow over you. Just as the movement of the ocean is constant, God’s blessings are constant, even when you are not aware of them. Scripture is full of the blessings God promises to those who love him, including his presence, his grace, and his peace. He also promises you his Holy Spirit, who opens your eyes to the blessings that surround you every day.

Make a list of God’s blessings to you. How many can you name?

Day 355

A promise about KNOWING GOD

When you desire to seek God above all else

If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me.

JEREMIAH 29:13

Desires are good and healthy when they are directed toward that which is good and right and God-honoring. The same basic desire can be right or wrong, depending upon your motives and the object of your desire. For example, the desire to love someone is healthy and right when it is directed toward your spouse in marriage. But when that same desire is directed toward someone who is not your spouse, it is adultery. The desire to lead an organization is healthy if your motive is to serve others, but it is unhealthy and wrong if your motive is to gain power or control over others. Your greatest desire must be for a relationship with God, which will influence all your other desires.

Is your greatest desire to know and love God more each day?

Day 356: A Moment of Promise

A promise about HUMILITY

When you are ready to put aside your pride

Anyone who becomes as humble as this little child is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven.

MATTHEW 18:4

The less you strive to bring honor to yourself, the more God will honor you. Pride builds barriers that keep God out of your life. Humility opens the way for God to work in your life because you are willing to seek his help and give him the honor. Humility’s effects reach into the Kingdom of Heaven. Pride reaches no further than your own ego.

How can you develop childlike humility?

Day 357: A Moment of Promise

A promise about HONESTY

When you want to be truthful in your relationships

The LORD detests the use of dishonest scales, but he delights in accurate weights.

PROVERBS 11:1

Honesty is essential for truth, justice, and trust in all relationships. Truth is revealed and justice is carried out only when people are honest. If you can’t trust your friends and family members to be honest, or if you fail to be honest with them, your relationships will crumble because of distrust and deceit. Not only will honesty safeguard and enrich your relationships, but God delights in those who practice it.

Is there someone you need to be more honest with?

Week 52

Day 358   Day 359   Day 360   Day 361   Day 362   Day 363   Day 364   Day 365

Day 358

A promise about ACCEPTANCE

When you need to reach out to those around you

Accept each other just as Christ has accepted you so that God will be given glory.

ROMANS 15:7

The way you treat other people can greatly influence them—for better or worse. Use your influence positively and accept others for who they are. Don’t be quick to judge. Don’t accept only those people who are like you or who are important or who are popular. Welcome everyone in the way Jesus would welcome them. It isn’t a matter of searching for the best people to be around; it’s a matter of bringing out the best in the people God has brought to you. Then God will be glorified because you will recognize that the way he treats people brings out the best in everyone.

Do you know someone who is struggling to be accepted? What can you do to affirm that person and help others accept him or her as well?

Day 359

A promise about RESISTING EVIL

When you need God’s help to stand firm against the devil

Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. Stand firm against him, and be strong in your faith. . . . After you have suffered a little while, [God] will restore, support, and strengthen you, and he will place you on a firm foundation.

1 PETER 5:8-10

The goal of the forces of evil is to defy God and to wear down believers until they are led into sin. This gives Satan pleasure, and it increases his power on earth. Therefore you must always be alert for both the sneak attacks and the frontal assaults of the evil one. Eventually God will destroy the powers of evil for all time. Until that day, however, you must fight and overcome evil by standing firm in your faith in God.

How can I fight the forces of evil in my life?

Day 360

A promise about GOD’S CARE

When you are weighed down by anxiety

Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.

1 PETER 5:7

How does God care for you? Can you count the ways? God is always close to you, ready to help in your time of need. God’s presence surrounds you, protecting you from Satan’s attacks. God sends you opportunities to make your life more full and satisfying. He sends you countless blessings. He promises to take your worries and cares upon himself. And he offers you eternal life in heaven, away from all hurt, pain, and sin.

How can you give to God your worries and cares today and focus instead on how he cares for you?

Day 361

A promise about JOY

When you wonder if you can bring delight to God

The LORD your God will delight in you if you obey his voice and keep the commands and decrees written in this Book of Instruction, and if you turn to the LORD your God with all your heart and soul.

DEUTERONOMY 30:10

Can finite, sinful human beings truly bring joy and delight to the Lord, the Creator of the universe? God says yes. He created you because he wants to have a relationship with you, to delight in being with you. But a good relationship works in both directions. A relationship that brings joy to God is built on trust, regular communication, honesty, humility, service, and unconditional love.

Do you think you are bringing God joy?

Day 362

A promise about DIVERSITY

When you want to better appreciate the different people around you

If the ear says, “I am not part of the body because I am not an eye,” would that make it any less a part of the body? If the whole body were an eye, how would you hear? . . . But our bodies have many parts, and God has put each part just where he wants it.

1 CORINTHIANS 12:16-18

The apostle Paul likens the church to the human body. It is foolish to try to determine whether your hand or your foot is more important—you need both. God created every believer to serve a certain role in his Kingdom, and when everyone works together, the Kingdom grows and flourishes! The more you appreciate the diversity in the body of Christ, the more you will be able to accomplish together for the glory of God.

How can you accept and even celebrate the diversity you see among those you worship with?

Day 363: A Moment of Promise

A promise about TEMPTATION

When you need the strength to resist temptation

You will be successful if you carefully obey the decrees and regulations that the LORD gave to Israel through Moses. Be strong and courageous; do not be afraid or lose heart!

1 CHRONICLES 22:13

It is never beneficial to compromise your Christian convictions. When temptations come, you need to walk—or run—away. God will give you the strength and courage to obey him so that you don’t compromise your faith, and he promises you will be successful as a result.

What temptation do you need to resist today?

Day 364: A Moment of Promise

A promise about WORDS

When you need God’s help to control your tongue

If you claim to be religious but don’t control your tongue, you are fooling yourself, and your religion is worthless.

JAMES 1:26

What comes out of your mouth shows what is in your heart. Gossip, criticism, flattery, lying, and profanity are not only word problems but heart problems as well. Simply trying to control your words isn’t enough. First you need a change of heart; then good, kind, and healing words will follow.

How can you let God control your tongue today?

Day 365

A promise about GOALS

When you want to set the right goals for your life

Take delight in the LORD, and he will give you your heart’s desires.

PSALM 37:4

Before a ship sets out on a long voyage, the captain needs to plot the course. This includes choosing the route, setting the schedule, determining the places to stop, and deciding the responsibilities for each crew member. By planning ahead and setting attainable goals, the captain ensures that the ship will stay on the right course and arrive safely at its destination. The same principle is true for you. Setting attainable goals is necessary for determining your destination and your course for getting there. Without goals, you would wander aimlessly through life. When God is your captain and plots your life’s journey according to his plan for you, you will stay on track and arrive safely at your ultimate destination—heaven.

How can you align your goals with God’s direction for your life?

Topical Index

Abiding in Christ | Day 103

Abilities | Day 101

Acceptance | Days 353, 358

Adversity | Days 67, 227

Advice | Days 48, 64, 235, 241

Angels | Day 10

Approaching God | Day 342

Approval | Days 122, 339

Assurance | Days 68, 226

Attitude | Day 82

Availability | Day 301

Balance | Day 144

Beauty | Day 216

Becoming like Christ | Day 198

Belief | Day 78

Belonging | Days 53, 283

Bible | Days 83, 111, 129

Blessings | Days 55, 62, 340, 354

Body of Christ | Days 123, 182

Brokenness | Days 272, 350

Calling | Day 284

Celebration | Days 224, 279

Challenges | Days 33, 209

Change | Days 167, 329

Character | Days 193, 260, 333

Choice | Day 31

Church | Day 73

Comfort | Days 66, 334

Commitment | Days 70, 155

Communication | Day 262

Compassion | Days 236, 252, 295, 336

Compromise | Day 229

Confession | Days 166, 296

Confidence | Days 238, 258, 275

Conscience | Day 332

Consequences | Days 5, 203

Contentment | Days 164, 290

Control | Day 309

Coping | Day 319

Courage | Days 32, 327

Creativity | Day 18

Deliverance | Days 99, 159

Desires | Day 77

Dignity | Day 185

Direction | Day 306

Disappointment | Day 9

Discernment | Day 80

Discipline | Day 326

Diversity | Day 362

Doing Good | Day 96

Doubt | Day 232

Emotions | Day 40

Encouragement | Days 104, 347

Endurance | Days 29, 76, 177, 315

Enemies | Days 46, 225

Envy | Day 265

Eternal Life | Days 4, 135, 146, 348

Eternity | Days 125, 323

Example | Day 74

Faith | Days 59, 65, 72, 85, 217

Faithfulness | Day 246

Fasting | Day 249

Fear | Day 92

Fearing God | Day 255

Fellowship | Day 214

Focus | Day 39

Following Jesus | Days 112, 320, 349

Forgiveness | Days 136, 184, 230, 303, 311

Friendship with God | Day 256

Future | Days 17, 45, 197, 282

Generosity | Days 13, 194, 207

Gifts | Days 268, 276, 285, 337

Giving | Days 91, 186, 201, 273

Goals | Days 30, 43, 365

Godliness | Day 143

God’s Call | Day 151

God’s Care | Days 310, 360

God’s Character | Days 95, 97

God’s Comfort | Day 160

God’s Faithfulness | Day 44

God’s Goodness | Day 189

God’s Guidance | Day 211

God’s Hand | Day 149

God’s Justice | Day 173

God’s Love | Days 131, 163, 169, 190, 251

God’s Mercy | Days 187, 292

God’s Power | Days 14, 335

God’s Presence | Days 35, 120, 145, 181, 204

God’s Sovereignty | Day 156

God’s Word | Days 111, 129

Grace | Days 124, 270

Gratitude | Days 119, 133

Guidance | Days 105, 176, 245

Happiness | Day 23

Harmony | Day 61

Healing | Days 21, 56, 126, 286, 345

Heart | Day 52

Heaven | Days 36, 86, 183, 215

Help | Days 27, 147

Holiness | Days 121, 142, 150, 291

Holy Spirit | Days 269, 278, 299, 305

Honesty | Days 304, 357

Hope | Days 47, 113, 175, 240

Humility | Days 140, 248, 328, 356

Idols | Day 8

Impossibilities | Days 58, 317

Inheritance | Day 259

Integrity | Days 168, 243

Intercession | Days 289, 351

Intimacy | Day 242

Jesus | Days 179, 308

Joy | Days 88, 118, 280, 346, 361

Judging | Day 302

Judgment | Day 109

Justice | Days 7, 221, 271, 277, 341

Justification | Day 257

Kindness | Days 3, 50

Knowing God | Day 355

Knowing Jesus | Day 313

Knowledge | Day 196

Limitations | Days 75, 79

Listening to God | Day 57

Love | Days 42, 90, 322, 330

Loving God | Day 34

Loyalty | Day 208

Meaning | Days 25, 192

Meditation | Day 89

Mercy | Days 20, 212

Miracles | Days 234, 300

Mistakes | Days 233, 338

Money | Days 87, 178, 325

Motives | Days 152, 263

Mourning | Day 188

Needs | Day 94

Neighbors | Day 6

Obedience | Days 108, 287, 324, 352

Opportunities | Days 26, 180

Overcoming | Day 250

Patience | Days 15, 158, 210

Peace | Days 138, 172, 307, 344

Perfection | Day 222

Persecution | Day 316

Perseverance | Days 274, 294

Perspective | Day 228

Pleasing God | Day 41

Power | Day 16

Praise | Day 139

Prayer | Days 100, 148, 153, 171, 213

Productivity | Day 60

Promises | Day 281

Protection | Days 49, 63, 218, 261

Provision | Days 98, 237

Purity | Days 102, 191, 219, 253

Purpose | Days 12, 84

Questions | Day 174

Quietness | Day 161

Reconciliation | Days 165, 254

Refuge | Day 51

Regret | Day 117

Rejoicing | Day 200

Relationships | Day 318

Repentance | Days 28, 244

Reputation | Day 106

Resisting Evil | Days 128, 359

Responsibility | Days 130, 298

Rest | Day 115

Resurrection | Day 114

Rewards | Day 170

Righteousness | Days 38, 314

Risks | Day 239

Sacrifice | Day 93

Salvation | Days 1, 24, 220, 266, 288, 293

Satisfaction | Days 154, 264, 343

Second Coming | Day 141

Security | Day 202

Seeking God | Days 137, 206, 231

Self-Control | Day 107

Service | Day 312

Showing God’s Love | Day 37

Significance | Day 2

Sorrow | Days 71, 244

Spiritual Maturity | Day 54

Spiritual Warfare | Day 331

Strength | Days 116, 162

Success | Days 22, 69, 134

Temptation | Day 363

Thanksgiving | Day 267

Time | Day 199

Timing | Day 195

Transformation | Day 321

Trust | Days 11, 19, 110

Truth | Days 81, 223

Truthfulness | Day 127

Victory | Days 157, 247

Weakness | Day 297

Wealth | Day 205

Wisdom | Day 132

Words | Day 364