John 3:16-18

Saving faith has three elements: knowledge, conviction, and trust. Today, let’s look at the first component: the knowledge required to believe in Jesus as our Savior.

Who is Jesus? He is the Son of God. At the request of God the Father, Jesus set aside His divine rights, took on human form, and dwelled on earth (Philippians 2:6-7).

What did He accomplish? To be acceptable to God, sacrifices had to be without defect (Leviticus 22:20). Jesus lived a perfect life, which qualified Him to be our substitute, bearing God’s judgment for our sins. Through His death on the cross, we are forgiven for our transgressions and have peace with God.

Why did He have to die? We could not save ourselves, since even our best deeds are marred by sin. When we accept Christ’s atoning work on our behalf, we are no longer God’s enemy but a member of His family.

When I was saved at age 12, I understood only the simplest aspects of these truths. I knew that I was a sinner in need of God’s forgiveness and that only Jesus could save me. But knowledge alone does not bring salvation—even the demons understood that Jesus was the Son of God (Luke 4:41). Salvation also requires conviction and trust. I believed these truths, and the Lord saved me. Do you believe the same is true for you?

Proverbs 16:1-3

The Lord has plans for each of us and specific work that He has called us to do. This might be hopeful news to you, or it might be overwhelming if you’re already struggling to manage all that’s on your plate. Thankfully, balancing five areas of our schedule can help us live according to God’s purposes.

1. Our top priority should be spending time with the Lord each day. We can read and meditate on His Word, pray, listen for His directions, or simply be with Him.

2. Relationships are essential to God’s plans for us. We should allot time to family and friends, since Galatians 6:2 says bearing others’ burdens fulfills the law of Christ.

3. The area most likely to become imbalanced is our work. The Lord disapproves of laziness, but He doesn’t want us to be overly consumed with our careers, either.

4. It’s vital to take care of our body, allocating adequate time for rest, recreation, and exercise.

5. The Scriptures urge meeting together regularly with other believers for worship (Hebrews 10:24-25).

These general areas all need space in your life, but I can’t tell you how each day should look. Ask the Lord to direct your schedule. Seek His guidance, watch for His answers, and make the changes He brings to mind.

Hebrews 6:10

In His grace, God freely gives salvation to those who believe in Jesus. We can’t earn it, nor do we deserve it. However, our Father does notice when we live according to His will, and He promises to reward us according to what we have done for Him.

Revelation 22:12 says, “Behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to reward each one as his work deserves.” Whether large or small, service done in Jesus’ name will be blessed. We must be careful, though, that our actions are for Christ’s glory. If motives are self-serving, the only benefit we receive is the praise (if any) that we hear from people in this life.

While we look forward to rewards that will be given in heaven, some blessings can be experienced now. For example, there’s great joy in allowing God to bless others through us. In addition, there’s a profound sense of fulfillment when we lead a person to Jesus and teach him or her how to walk by faith.

Serving others is both a great benefit and a responsibility. We should prayerfully consider our motives to make sure that our goal is to glorify Christ. Only then will we receive God’s full blessings—rewards given not just in eternity but on earth as well.

Luke 14:12-14

Children aren’t the only ones who like to get rewards. Adults do too! And God’s Word makes exciting promises for those who walk in His way.

Some of these blessings are available here on earth—like fulfillment, joy, and good favor; others will be bestowed in heaven. As believers, we are clothed in righteousness through Jesus’ blood and need never fear God’s judgment (Romans 8:1).

To help us understand about these benefits, Scripture describes four crowns. The first, which is called incorruptible, is given to those whose great desire is to walk obediently before God. Second, the crown of life is granted to believers who stand firm, enduring trials without giving up or losing heart. Third, the crown of righteousness is bestowed upon those who long for Christ’s appearing and live godly lives through Him. Fourth, God will give the crown of glory to those who share His Word with others. And as the Bible tells us, we will be awed by Jesus’ glory and honored just to lay our crowns at His feet.

Heaven offers all believers the joy of unending communion with the Lord. Thankfully, though, we don’t have to wait to enjoy His presence—whoever trusts in Jesus is indwelled by God’s Holy Spirit and has His companionship and guidance for the remainder of life on earth. Won’t you put your faith in the Savior and accept God’s remarkable gift?

2 Timothy 4:6-8

We all want to live life to the fullest, but to do that, we must have goals to aim for. Few of us actually take the time to consider where we’re going. How tragic it would be to finish our life and find out we were on a course other than God’s, fighting the wrong fight and struggling to keep the faith.

The apostle Paul is a good role model for living life to the fullest. His goals were to know Christ, abide in His power, fellowship in His suffering, and preach the gospel (Philippians 3:10; 1 Corinthians 1:17). Paul aligned his aspirations with the Lord’s, diligently worked to fulfill his calling, and persevered through suffering. He could face the end of his life with confidence since he’d “fought the good fight ... finished the course ... [and] kept the faith” (2 Tim. 4:7).

If you keep doing what you’re doing, you’ll keep getting what you’ve been getting. Don’t settle for the mediocrity of an unplanned life. Set aside some time this week to get alone with the Lord. Then ask for His help in setting goals that will take you where He wants you to go. Consider every area of your life—personal, relational, financial, and vocational—but make spiritual goals your primary emphasis.

Let God help you change direction so you can pursue things that align with His will. Then start living intentionally.

Proverbs 3:13-26

Would you rather have riches or wisdom? The Lord considers wisdom much more precious than wealth, and today’s passage says nothing we desire compares to it (Prov. 3:15). The reason it’s so valuable is because this passage is talking about God’s wisdom, not man’s.

The Lord created wisdom, so the best way to gain it is to know Him—His character, works, ways, and perspective. When we make it the pursuit of our life to know Him through His Word, we’ll discover the blessings that accompany wisdom.

The primary blessing is knowing God more intimately. As we see Him in His Word, we’ll begin to understand His viewpoint and recognize how He’s working in our life. Then our response to life’s circumstances will be aligned with His viewpoint. The Lord sees everything with complete accuracy, and every decision of His is right. He knows exactly what is needed to accomplish His will in our life and to conform us to His Son’s image.

All the other blessings of wisdom flow out of knowing God. Why? Because when our confidence is in the Lord instead of our own understanding, we can walk securely and boldly without stumbling into sin.

James 3:13-18

The world claims to know the path to a successful and rewarding life: ambition, education, wealth, public recognition, power, and influence. But human wisdom is foolishness in God’s eyes (1 Corinthians 3:19). While it may feel risky to set aside our own reasoning, the benefits of walking in God’s wisdom are great.

Divine wisdom could be defined as seeing life from the Lord’s perspective and responding accordingly in reliance on His strength. Then we are able to stand firm in our faith and choose His way. If we are to graciously submit to the hardships God allows, it is essential that we have His viewpoint (James 1:2-4).

Wisdom is especially needed in our relationships. If we act out of bitter jealousy and selfish ambition, then we are operating with worldly wisdom, and the results will be disorder, animosity, and conflicts. In contrast, God’s wisdom is pure, peace-loving, gentle, reasonable, merciful, and genuine (James 3:14-17). When our responses reflect these qualities, we’ll reap righteousness along with peace in our relationships.

What do your interactions with others reveal about your source of wisdom? Are you growing more Christlike or following worldly ways?

Hebrews 13:15-18

If you attend church, then God has given you a pastor to care for your soul by modeling godliness, preaching the Word, and training and exhorting you in righteousness—even when you might not feel like listening. He cares about your spiritual well-being and needs to know you care for him too.

Many believers neglect giving encouragement to the pastor because they forget that he too is a member of the body of Christ. It can be lonely and discouraging to selflessly sacrifice for the congregation without ever receiving honor and appreciation from them.

Today’s passage says that we should obey and submit to our leaders so they can faithfully do their job as shepherds with joy instead of groaning.  Paul said elders who rule well and work hard at preaching and teaching should be given double honor (1 Timothy 5:17).

When was the last time you expressed appreciation to your pastor? This week, look for ways to demonstrate your love to him. And above all, pray for him. Don’t assume that he needs no intercession; the opposite is true. Every pastor needs to know that his congregation values him.

Nehemiah 1:1-11

Discouragement feels like a big weight on our shoulders. It steals motivation, makes work more difficult, and diminishes our enjoyment of life. The reasons for discouragement vary—general dissatisfaction with life, criticism from others, failure to live up to our own expectations, painful relationships, ongoing trials, declining health, and hopelessness for the future are just a few.

Nehemiah’s situation teaches an important lesson about handling discouragement. When he heard a report about the poor condition of Jerusalem and the plight of the Jewish remnant living there, he was deeply distressed. In his dismay over their situation, Nehemiah turned to the Lord in prayer. He knew that His great God could change the situation. In his prayer, Nehemiah praised God’s awesome character, confessed sin on behalf of himself and the nation, recalled divine promises, and presented his petition.

When we face discouragement, our first priority should be to cry out to our heavenly Father. But our prayers should begin with a focus on the Lord, not our problems. Once we have confessed our sin and adjusted our perspective to see God’s greatness and care, then we’re ready to trust Him to answer our petitions in His timing.

Lamentations 3:21-25

Our heavenly Father is always faithful to His promises. We can be certain of this because He made them on the basis of His truthful, unchanging character (Hebrews 6:17-18). But sometimes when our circumstances are especially difficult, we tend to forget that God is always dependable. That’s why we need to pause periodically to look back over our life and see how He’s provided, guided, and guarded us along the way.

Many times over the years, I have been the beneficiary of God’s faithfulness to His Word. For example, Romans 10:13 says, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” Despite my lack of Bible knowledge at age 12, I recognized that I was a sinner and called on Him for forgiveness. And He saved me, just as His Word said.

There have been so many times when God provided just what I needed. After feeling called to become a preacher, the Lord orchestrated a series of events that led to my receiving a full scholarship for college.

Think about God’s faithfulness to you. How has He directed your path and supplied your needs? As you trust in Him, He’ll demonstrate just how trustworthy He is.

Psalm 40:1-17

God doesn’t lie. Whenever He says He will do something, He always accomplishes it. Over my lifetime, I’ve seen His faithfulness displayed in countless ways. I could never have imagined the course He’s chosen for me or how He’s directed me on it. Nor could I have predicted the surprising opportunities and provisions that came at just the right time.

When David witnessed God’s faithfulness in his life, he would respond by both praising the Lord and letting others know about His love and power. David’s life wasn’t easy. In fact, he spent his young adulthood being chased by a jealous king. But through it all, he depended on God to protect and rescue him. Sometimes a long wait was involved, but David knew the Lord hadn’t forgotten him.

The God who leads us is ever faithful. That’s why you and I can confidently trust Him to carry out His plan in our lives, even when His path surprises us or includes delays. If events don’t work out as we expect or desire, that doesn’t mean God is neglecting us. Remember what David tells us in verse 11 of today’s passage—that the Lord will not withhold His compassion from us, and His mercy and truth will continually watch over us.

Psalm 28:1-9

Today’s psalm records one of King David’s prayers. It reveals how he praised the Lord, cried out about his troubles, and asked God to “hear the sound of [his] pleadings” (v. 2) and not be silent. We all want to pray effectively, but to do so, we must avoid certain hindrances:

Wavering faith (James 1:5-8). Doubts about God’s character or dependability diminish our trust in Him. In our uncertainty, we’re more likely to be tossed back and forth by our feelings instead of being grounded in truth.

Wrong motives (James 4:3). God wants us to pray for His will to be done—not for selfish desires to be granted.

Conflict in relationships (1 Peter 3:7). We can’t expect the Lord to answer our prayers if we’re not treating other people as He says we should.

Indifference to God’s Word (Proverbs 28:9). If we’re unwilling to listen to the Lord and obey His commands, our prayers become an abomination to God.

A strong prayer life comes with a godly pattern of seeking to know and please the Lord, not ourselves. Consider whether any of the above issues need correction. Then, start by personalizing the prayers you read in the Psalms or elsewhere in God’s Word.

Psalm 66:16-20

Our prayers reveal what fills our hearts. David understood this. After being confronted by Nathan regarding his sin, David pleaded to be cleansed and to receive a clean heart (Psalm 51:9-10).

When we allow unconfessed sin in our lives, God won’t hear our prayers because it creates a barrier between us and Him. He’s promised to forgive transgression once we admit our action is wrong and turn away from it (1 John 1:9). But if we only give lip service to our confession or refuse to change ungodly ways, we haven’t truly repented.

Since we can’t always discern what’s hiding in our hearts, it’s wise to pray as David did in Psalm 139:23-24, “Search me, God, and know my heart; put me to the test and know my anxious thoughts; and see if there is any hurtful way in me, and lead me in the everlasting way.”

Prayer is the communication link between us and our loving heavenly Father. Let’s not allow anything to block our relationship with Him and hinder our prayers. Instead, we must confess and turn from all known sin so we can come to Him with a pure heart.

Colossians 3:12-17

A gift is something given willingly and without expectation of payment. Everything we have is a gift from God—especially our salvation. We haven’t earned anything except condemnation for our sin, yet the Lord graciously pardons us through faith in His Son.

Just as God grants us forgiveness we don’t deserve and can’t earn, so we are to willingly give this same priceless gift to others. To forgive means “to relinquish all claims to punish or exact a penalty for an offense.” No strings or conditions can be attached, or else it ceases to be a pardon.

Unforgiveness is emotional bondage that consumes our mind with memories of past offenses and fills our heart with churning unrest and a desire for revenge. Its tentacles reach deep into the soul, affecting both spiritual and physical health. But the one who puts on a heart of love, compassion, and forgiveness will receive the peace of Christ. When God’s Word dwells richly in us, thoughts of anger and vengeance will be transformed into praise and gratitude to the Lord.

Many people consider pardoning an offender too hard to attempt. But forgiveness isn’t something we have to manufacture in ourselves. It’s freely given to us by the Savior, and our job is simply to pass it on to others.

Ephesians 4:30-32

Have you ever considered how some of your attitudes and actions grieve the Holy Spirit? When you were saved, He came to live within you and sealed you as God’s possession. This means you are no longer your own, as you now belong to the Lord and are to live in a manner that reflects Christ.

It’s obvious to us that lying, adultery, and stealing are wrong, but too often we tolerate sinful attitudes and emotions like anger, bitterness, resentment, and an unforgiving spirit. Every area of our life is affected when we refuse to extend to others the pardon Christ so generously granted to us.

Although the pain and injustice of an offense can break our heart, a refusal to forgive denies God the opportunity to redeem the hurt. We want Him to change the offender and make him sorry for what he’s done, but the Lord wants to transform us. A forgiving spirit flows from our new Christ-like nature and enables us to see others through eyes of grace and mercy.

And something else that can increase our willingness to forgive is a familiar principle from Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount—to treat others the same way we want them to treat us (Matthew 7:12).

Psalm 103:1-22

Many people today are weighed down by the guilt they carry. This is understandable for those who’ve rejected Christ, but Christians have been relieved of their guilt through faith in the Savior. In other words, there’s no point in a believer continuing to live under that heavy burden. Forgiveness of sins is based on the riches of God’s grace and the sufficiency of Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross.

When Jesus said, “It is finished,” He was proclaiming that redemption for sins was accomplished (John 19:30).  He paid the full price with His death, and now all who believe in Him are forgiven. The scope of Christ’s atoning sacrifice reaches back to the past, into the present, and beyond to the future. That means we never have to fear that something we did in the past or might do in the future is beyond the reach of God’s forgiveness. The Lord never takes back His pardon.

Because of our faith in Christ’s completed work on the cross, we can be assured that we have received and will continue to receive His divine mercy. But that doesn’t give us license to sin (Romans 6:1-2). Rather, it should produce gratitude along with deeper love for God and a passion for holiness.

Isaiah 55:1-3

Have you ever found yourself simply standing in front of the refrigerator, not looking for anything specific but wanting to fill a longing? At other times, our craving involves something other than food, such as a career, possessions, or relationships. Our souls are continually trying to find satisfaction, but nothing in this world will fill the void.

Since we were created for relationship with God, He placed deep within us a yearning for Him. Though we may not recognize it as such, everyone knows this feeling of dissatisfaction and whenever we attempt to find fulfillment with worldly substitutes, disappointment and disillusionment are bound to follow.

We can choose to fill our empty souls from one of two menus. Satan’s is long and full of enticing options that seem to promise fulfillment and pleasure, perhaps by means of riches, renown, or acceptance. His choices look as if they will bring contentment, but it’s pure deception. God’s menu, on the other hand, is quite small—it offers just one option: Jesus. He is the only one who can truly fill the void.

Have you found the satisfaction you seek, or is there always a vague sense of discontent in your soul? When you spend focused, unhurried time with Jesus, He will satisfy you as nothing else can.

1 John 5:10-15

We have an Enemy who wants to undermine our confidence in salvation. We’ve all been there—joyfully moving along through life, sure of our standing as God’s children, when all of the sudden we sin and our feelings take over. Satan can use our remorse and conflicting emotions to eat away at our assurance. We think, There’s no way I can be saved. If I were truly saved, I would never have done such a thing. Overwhelmed by feelings of regret and shame, we find our faith coming under fire.

It is amazing how effectively our fleeting human emotions can undermine our certainty about God’s promises. We should remember that feelings can be unreliable; the Lord, however, says only what is true and never seeks to confuse us. Anytime your emotions contradict the Word of God, you can be sure the Scriptures are reliable. For a believer, “feeling saved” is like a husband or wife “feeling married.” You either are or you’re not; your feelings do not make it so.

Has a sense of regret stolen your confidence in God’s eternal salvation? Lay your feelings before the Lord today, and embrace the certainty that comes only with His truth. Our loving Father longs for you to trust Him without wavering.

Colossians 2:5-14

If we hope to resist the Enemy’s schemes, it is important to clear up any confusion regarding salvation. So let’s consider three crucial steps of the conversion process.

1. We must know something. The first step is that we must grasp what our condition was, apart from the Savior. Ephesians 2:1 makes it clear that, left to ourselves, we were all spiritually dead. Without the sacrifice of Jesus, there wouldn’t be eternal life for anyone.

2. We must believe something. The good news is that God provided a means of salvation that is open to all people. Scripture explains that our loving heavenly Father, of His own initiative, made a way for our sin debt to be paid so we could dwell with Him forever (Ephesians 2:4-9).

3. We must receive something. In order to claim any gift, we must first open our hands and receive it. The Father is reaching out to mankind, offering His free gift of salvation. Once we have taken it, it is ours to keep—forever (Romans 10:8-13).

Are you a believer who is empowered by God’s Spirit and completely confident about salvation? Then you are a force to be reckoned with! If you have known, believed, and received God’s gift of salvation, you can stand in full assurance today.

Exodus 3:1-6

I remember a time when I faced a difficult decision. The timing and circumstances all seemed wrong—choosing to pursue the opportunity made no sense at all. I simply wanted to turn it down but knew I needed to pray first. I spent time with the Lord, and He gave me a clear vision. I accepted that seemingly illogical, ill-timed offer, and God blessed my obedience.

As Christians, we expect the Holy Spirit to direct us through prayer and Scripture. But at times He chooses to intervene more directly in our life, as He did with me that day. Since God first walked with Adam and Eve in the garden of Eden, He’s been communicating with people in different ways. Moses saw a burning bush (Ex. 3:2), Samuel heard a voice at night (1 Samuel 3:1-14), and Joshua received specific—and unusual—instructions for defeating Jericho (Joshua 5:13-15; Joshua 6:5). Saul of Tarsus was called into ministry (Acts 9:1-31), whereas others were warned of danger through dreams (Matthew 2:12-13). Each was clearly a divine encounter—and when the Lord visits someone, He comes for a purpose.

God’s personal calls are rare and unexpected. We cannot get Him to come; He simply makes His presence known in a believer’s life when He chooses. So whether He communicates with you through His Word or by a visit someday, maintain an open heart and willing spirit.

Romans 5:6-9

I oftentimes preach, “God loves you, and He has a purpose for your life.” Yet whenever I do, it seems that someone in the crowd believes he or she is an exception. Sadly, people with this mindset have bought into Satan’s lie: They think they aren’t important enough to be singled out from among the billions on earth to receive a blessing. Or they listen to the Deceiver when he insists they are too weak, sinful, or scared to merit the Lord’s love.

How do I know that God thinks you are special? Jesus Christ died for you! Because of the Father’s love for us, He sent His Son to the cross as a sacrifice for our sins. We don’t deserve God’s care and protection, but thankfully, deserving isn’t the basis for divine love. God’s very nature is love, which He demonstrated through Christ’s death “while we were still sinners” (1 John 4:8; Romans 5:8). And what’s more, He gifts us with the talents and attributes needed to carry out His purposes (1 Corinthians 12:11).

The Lord loves you. He says so again and again in the Bible. Don’t take my word for it. Read His Word for yourself and see how much He cares.

Romans 12:1-3

When a person places faith in Jesus Christ and becomes a believer, he is sanctified—that is, set apart for God’s purpose. Unlike salvation, which takes place in a single moment, sanctification is a lifelong process. As the Word of God and the Holy Spirit work in our life, we are being sanctified. In other words, we’re progressively maturing in our faith.

In Romans 8:29, the apostle Paul explained God’s purpose for believers: “For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son.” Our character, conduct, and conversation should be reflections of Christ. On our own, we’d place too much emphasis on behavior and get caught up with following rules and rituals that look Christian without truly reflecting Jesus. Thankfully, we have been given the Holy Spirit, who works through God’s Word to renew our mind. But we must cooperate in the sanctification process by filling our mind with Scripture.

You’ll never be perfect this side of heaven, but the Lord shows you how to think and act so you can “walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called” (Ephesians 4:1).

Jeremiah 29:11

The Lord has a grand plan for the life of every believer, and it can be summed up in the term we looked at yesterday: sanctification. This refers to the process by which something is made holy—in other words, separated from its former common usage and dedicated to God for His purposes.

Every person is born spiritually dead and an enemy of God (Ephesians 2:1; Romans 5:10). But the moment we trust in Jesus Christ for salvation, our sins are wiped away, the Holy Spirit comes to live within us, and we’re adopted into God’s family. From that moment on, we are set apart as God’s children for His sacred purposes.

This means we are here on earth not to chase after pleasure and personal gain but to serve and obey the Lord. And in so doing, we bring Him honor and glory. As members of God’s family, we are called to reflect Christ’s character. The Lord now calls us saints—a term that shares its root with sanctification—not because we live sinlessly, but because that’s our position in Christ and should be our practice as well. No longer are we to give ourselves to sin; instead, we should present ourselves to God as slaves of obedience.

1 Peter 1:3-9

Have you ever wondered why God lets bad things happen to you or your loved ones? Hardships and suffering are a consequence of sin and the fallen condition of the world, but why is He allowing distress in your life? Though trials are painful, understanding the Lord’s purpose can bring joy and hope.

When a person is saved, he or she begins the lifelong process of becoming holy. And few things build character like sorrow. Unfortunately, our spiritual growth may be slow during pleasant times, but pain brings us to our knees in dependence upon God as we seek His help, strength, comfort, and grace.

Another reason the Father allows trials is to test and refine our faith. When we go through the fire of affliction and remain true to the Lord, we’ll come out more sure of our salvation. Not only that, but we will have greater trust in God’s character and dealings with us. Then when the next difficulty arises, we will remember His faithfulness during the previous trial and be able to rest confidently in Him. If we submit to the Lord, He’ll use our hardships to mature us, and that’s reason to rejoice.

John 14:16-18

Did you ever wish for an emergency telephone line that rang in heaven? The truth is that we have something much better. The Holy Spirit lives inside us to be our helper in every situation.

The night before His crucifixion, Jesus warned the disciples that He was about to depart. The news confused and frightened them, even though it wasn’t the first time He’d spoken of His death. But the Lord offered His followers assurance that He would send them another Helper.

In this passage, the Greek word for “another” means “one of the same kind,” signifying that the new Helper would be like the Son of God—a divine being. As promised, God’s Spirit came to dwell in Christ’s followers at Pentecost (Acts 2:1-4).

Without the Holy Spirit, we’d never be able to live the Christian life. That’s why Jesus told the disciples to delay spreading the gospel until after the Holy Spirit’s arrival. Our Helper not only empowers obedience but also teaches, guides, intercedes, comforts, transforms, and gifts us for service. Whenever we’re beset by tough times or temptations, He provides strength, endurance, hope, and encouragement. We’re so privileged to have a divine Helper who is personally assisting us every minute of every day.

Romans 8:26-28

God has invited us to come to Him with our requests and concerns. Yet we don’t truly know how to pray as we should, because we have limited knowledge, faulty motives, and misplaced desires. But we have a Helper who intercedes for us according to God’s will.

The Holy Spirit knows exactly what the Father desires to do in our life, and His prayers are always answered. For example, we may ask for relief from suffering or hardship, but the Lord’s will may be to use these things to produce Christlike character within us. We may think our prayers have gone unanswered, but the Spirit has taken our desire for something good and turned it into a request for something better.

The Spirit not only prays for us according to God’s will, but He also clarifies the Father’s will to us. Scripture tells us what the Lord desires and how He works. As we renew our mind with His Word, we’ll be better able to pray effectively. Yet there is great comfort in knowing that none of our prayers fall on deaf ears. The Spirit takes each one and interprets it to fit the Father’s will.

1 Corinthians 2:6-16

Have you ever wondered why some people can read the Bible without understanding it? The reason is because it’s God’s revealed Word and to comprehend it requires His wisdom. Those who don’t know Christ have no ability to understand the things of God. But those of us who’ve been saved have the Spirit of God within us; He illumines our mind and teaches us divine truths.

In John 14:16-17, Jesus describes the Holy Spirit as the Helper. The truth is, no matter how spiritually mature or immature we are, we need His assistance every time we open our Bible. He teaches us the true meaning of the text and helps us connect concepts throughout the Word in order to gain greater understanding. Then, as we integrate each truth into our mind and life, He reveals more. The satisfaction and excitement we experience in learning and growing energizes us to keep digging into God’s unfathomable Word.

To make the most of your time in Scripture, prepare beforehand. Ask the Lord to forgive you of any sin and cleanse your heart. Then request that He open your mind to His truths and give you a teachable and submissive spirit.

Psalm 100:1-5

Have you ever considered how you treat the Lord? Some people repeatedly lift up prayer requests yet fail to express admiration, praise, and gratitude. When that’s the case, they may be attempting to use the Lord to fulfill their needs and desires without demonstrating love for Him.

In 1 Peter 2:9 it says God created His people to praise Him. Our worries and concerns are of great importance to Him, but He also wants us to come to Him with a worshipful heart, not an attitude of self-centeredness.

When we extol the Lord, our focus shifts to Him. Then we’ll begin to recall His greatness, goodness, mercy, love, and faithfulness. We’re told to praise Him joyfully (Ps. 100:1), continually (Psalm 34:1), corporately (Psalm 108:3), and wholeheartedly (Psalm 111:1). And we even see Paul and Silas praising God in the midst of pain and imprisonment (Acts 16:25).

Take some time today to reflect on God’s mighty work of salvation in your life. Instead of approaching the Lord with a list of requests, simply praise Him for His faithfulness and righteousness. When your heart is full of praise, worries dissipate and you’ll trust God to provide for your needs in His own timing.

1 Samuel 17:1-58

The Lord wants to build strong faith in us so we can stand firm in His mighty power. He does this by placing us in challenging situations that are beyond our strength. If we trust in ourselves, we’ll fail. But we will discover God’s great faithfulness if we imitate David’s example from today’s passage:

• Godly motivation. The young shepherd’s desire was to defend the Lord’s name. In our challenges, we must examine our motives to be certain they’re Christ-centered, not self-focused.

• Recognition of the battle’s nature. David’s struggle in the physical realm was against Goliath. But the real battle was spiritual, and so is ours (Ephesians 6:12).

• Memory of God’s past faithfulness. David’s confidence was based on the Lord’s power that enabled him to protect his sheep from wild animals. Even if you’re a fairly new Christian, you also have a history of God’s faithfulness to strengthen and encourage you.

• Dependence on the Lord. David didn’t rely on traditional armor or weapons; he trusted the power of God to direct a small stone into the head of Goliath.

The One who conquered sin for you will also watch over, strengthen, and care for you in every challenging situation you face. Trust Him.

1 Samuel 13:5-14

We may be tempted to think that disobedience in a small matter really won’t affect us too much. Surely God isn’t going to be bothered by something so inconsequential, especially if our motives are good. But in reality, we never have good motives for any act of disobedience, and the consequences aren’t lessened by our attempt to diminish its size.

King Saul didn’t want to go to battle until Samuel was there to offer the burnt sacrifice. But when the prophet didn’t arrive on time and the army was beginning to desert, fear made Saul impatient. So he handled the offering himself, attempting to get God’s blessing by disobediently usurping the role of the priest. When confronted by Samuel, the king tried to justify his actions.

What Saul saw as a small, necessary disobedience, God viewed as a serious act of rebellion. As a result, Saul’s kingdom would end and the Lord would one day appoint someone else to Israel’s throne.

Are there any “small disobediences” in your life that you’re trying to justify? It could be something you’ve done or perhaps something you’ve refused to do. The only solution for any act of disobedience is to confess and repent.

Jonah 3:1-10; Jonah 4:1-11

The book of Jonah doesn’t end the way we might expect. From the belly of a fish, Jonah recommitted himself to the Lord’s purpose. But later, he admitted he didn’t want the job—and the Lord chastised his selfishness. You see, Jonah was sent to the Ninevites, who were a threat to the Jewish people. The reluctant prophet was afraid that if these enemies repented, his merciful God would not destroy them. Jonah confessed he wanted to see the Ninevites wiped out: “Therefore in order to forestall [their salvation] I fled to Tarshish” (Jonah 4:2 NASB 1995).

Sometimes we resist God’s will because we dislike the probable outcome of obedience. Or like Jonah, we focus on our own desires and comfort and lose sight of what’s really important. But our feelings about what might happen are not a reason to resist God’s plan. If the Lord calls us to act, He will take care of the results. Our job is to obey.

What selfish desire is keeping you from obeying the Lord? Maybe you are too angry with your spouse to work on your marriage or too hurt to welcome back a repentant friend. But Christians are not to be ruled by feelings. Obedience is what’s required, and its blessings may surprise you.

Psalm 37:5-7

Job knew trouble and temptation, but he boldly claimed, “Though He slay me, I will hope in Him” (Job 13:15). He had lost his children, his fortune, and his health, but he didn’t abandon his faith. He was determined to hold on because he trusted God.

Unlike Job, we have Scripture, in which God reveals His nature and promises. His Word tells us that our Father is always good, always just, always faithful, and always trustworthy. When we focus on honoring and following Him, we find a consistent peace that carries us through everything.

Life is challenging, so we can easily get distracted and allow circumstances to dictate our emotions. But if we operate that way, then when life is good, we’re happy; when times are tough, we’re frustrated; and when hardship pours in, we’re miserable. On the other hand, unwavering commitment to the Lord is a cornerstone of faith. When we are situated on that foundation, we can focus solely upon God.

In order to hold on to the Lord through any trial or temptation, commit to trust and follow Him all of your days. Lay claim to His promises: The unchanging Lord and Savior is committed to caring for you in all circumstances and will never leave or forsake you (Hebrews 13:5; Hebrews 13:8; 1 Peter 5:7).

Genesis 37:1-17

Joseph is one of my favorite Bible characters. I mention him often because there’s so much to learn from his life. Today’s passage is a good example, as it reveals two of his traits that we should emulate.

1. He demonstrated a servant spirit early in life. Genesis 37 describes the things that took place when Joseph was around 17 years old. In every exchange, the young man embodied respect and discipline; he never rebelled against those in authority over him. In fact, he continually went out of his way to serve others.

2. Joseph realized God was controlling his life. How else can you explain his relentless pursuit of excellence in every trial? No matter what happened to him, Joseph always remembered the divine visions he’d been given in his teen years (Gen. 37:1-6). He believed there was a plan for his life and felt convinced that somehow, sometime, God would reveal what it was.

Whether you are 17 or 77, the lessons of Joseph’s life are valuable. It is never too late to learn the art of service or to recognize that God’s plan is perfect. What’s more, it’s never too late to help someone else discover these things.