1 Peter 4:12-13

Some believers like to portray their life as ideal and carefree. But in reality, being a Christian isn’t easy. In fact, sometimes we’ll experience trials that truly test our faith and ability to trust in God.

In today’s passage, Peter refers to times of testing as a “fiery ordeal.” He says we shouldn’t be surprised when adversity comes. It’s important to remember that God has a purpose for our difficulties and will see us through them (Romans 5:3-5). Here are some of the goals He may have for painful experiences:

• At times the Lord uses hardship to cleanse us. Trials drive us to Him. And as we focus on God, we’re increasingly able to see things from His perspective.

• A difficulty in our life may be the Lord’s way of testing us. He could be trying our faith, endurance, or devotion to Him.

• God uses suffering to demonstrate His power to sustain us. When He brings us through challenging times, He glorifies Himself. In turn, this encourages others, because they have witnessed God’s sustaining power in our life.

Ultimately, hardships strengthen our testimony. In the midst of our struggles, we might feel overwhelmed and discouraged. But once the storm has passed, we can often look back and see the Lord’s providential hand carrying us through.

2 Corinthians 1:3-7

The world’s definition of comfort is the alleviation of suffering or despair. However, God has a different view: It’s a teaching tool. Because we mature spiritually when we exercise faith, our Father doesn’t remove our troubles but instead gives us the encouragement and strength to work through them.

God sent His Spirit to dwell within everyone who believes, and in that way, our source of help is as close as our own beating heart. When we face affliction and feel as if we can’t bear it, He whispers into our soul, “Yes, you can, because I am here.” There is no healing balm like the voice of God’s Spirit.

In some circumstances, the Spirit directs our mind to a Bible passage. Reading God’s Word is a way to hear directly from Him. A scripture’s personal meaning and application may not be apparent immediately, but God will bring the verse to mind at the time it’s most needed.

When we receive Christ, we are sealed as God’s child. The Lord promises us, “I will never desert you, nor will I ever abandon you” (Hebrews 13:5). He will walk beside us in every trial—and since He is omnipresent, He’s always available to help and comfort us.

1 Samuel 17:20-49

David’s short battle with Goliath was more than a fight between Israel and the Philistines. It was a defense of Jehovah’s name against those who doubted Him. As David pointed out, the only way a boy with a sling could defeat a giant warrior like Goliath was by the Lord’s hand. And that’s exactly what happened.

In facing Goliath, David showed real courage and faith. But we see that what drove him to face the giant was righteous indignation: “For who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he has dared to defy the armies of the living God?” (1 Sam. 17:26). David believed that someone had to wipe away the reproach caused by Goliath’s insults. Since no one else would step forward, he volunteered to defend Yahweh’s name.

At one point or another, we also will find ourselves in a situation that challenges us to stand up for the Lord. At such a time, will we listen to our fears and remain silent? Or will we represent God’s name in the way for which He’s called and equipped us? Our “smooth stones” (v. 40) are the truths from God’s Word. Whatever the outcome appears to be, the battle is the Lord’s, and He gives victory to the faithful.

Ruth 1:1-22

The Christian life isn’t free of responsibilities. God’s Word is filled with His instructions about how to treat people in our various circles and ways to enrich those relationships by giving of ourselves.

Yet many people prefer not to invest in deep friendships, opting instead for acquaintances that demand little. They can talk about pop culture, movies, and sports but avoid discussing deep concerns. They don’t have to bear anyone else’s burdens or heartbreak. But neither will they learn the joy of expressing care and loyalty. The human heart was created for intimate fellowship—the kind of connectedness that is based on mutual trust and love.

Ruth is an example of this kind of selfless dedication. When her mother-in-law Naomi went through a bitter period of loss and hopelessness, the young widow Ruth chose to stay with the older woman. Though this meant sacrificing the comforts of home and any prospect of marriage to a countryman, she demonstrated absolute allegiance.

Loyalty demands something of us, but too few are willing take on that responsibility. Some hold acquaintances at arm’s length to avoid obligation or inconvenience. But our Father wants His children to stand together in love and encourage one another (John 13:34; 1 Thessalonians 5:11). Doing so always brings blessings.

Ruth 4:13-22

Ruth’s remarkable loyalty is what earned her a place in both the Bible and the lineage of Jesus (Matthew 1:1-5). Ruth is an example of faithfulness—she willingly adjusted her own life to meet the needs of her mother-in-law Naomi.

With no family left to care for her and no neighbors who shared her faith in God, Naomi found herself in a foreign land, far from the comfort of a familiar community. During that dark time, Ruth—her son’s widow—sacrificed everything to stay by Naomi’s side. The younger woman even chose to move to a foreign country and to worship Naomi’s God.

Ruth was undoubtedly aware of the risks involved in casting her lot with another woman in a male-dominated society, but she did so without hesitation. And her commitment did not end when they arrived in Israel. It was Ruth who kept the two women fed. And it was Ruth, under Naomi’s tutelage, who made an alliance with Boaz that secured their future.

Ruth sacrificed mightily for her mother-in-law, and as a result, God blessed her greatly. He loved her and gave her a husband, a home, and a child. Moreover, Ruth is counted among the ancestors of the Messiah, Jesus Christ. What an awesome testimony of the blessings bestowed on a loyal heart.

Nehemiah 1:1-11

Nehemiah demonstrates the power of prayer. As a servant to the king of Persia, he had no right to request leave to rebuild Jerusalem’s walls, much less to requisition materials and protection. Yet knowing the God to whom he prayed, Nehemiah did not hesitate to act boldly and ask the king for assistance.

His prayer began, “Please, Lord God of heaven” (Neh. 1:5). Lord, when capitalized this way, means the One “who is eternal in His being”—in other words, Jehovah. When God makes a promise, He knows how He’ll keep it. That’s why Nehemiah called Him “the great and awesome God, who keeps the covenant.”

Another Hebrew name for God is Elohim, meaning “He who is sovereign.” This name refers to the Creator and speaks of His omnipotence. He spoke the world into being, so Nehemiah knew He was more than able to provide all that was needed.

The Bible contains many other names for God, such as Adonai (“master”), Jehovah-Jireh (“provider”), and Jehovah-Rapha (“healer”). Since the Hebrew language is precise, it can help us to better know who the Lord is. Then, we’ll confidently turn to Him in any situation: When we need solace, we call upon the God of comfort; in our confusion, we have the God who teaches. Always remember, the way we view God impacts how we pray.

Proverbs 11:24-25

Generosity is an attitude of gladly sharing whatever we might have, regardless of our wealth. Scripture reveals that openhanded lavishness is an attribute of God (Deuteronomy 28:12). And as part of His transformative plan for believers, the Father desires that we develop a generous spirit.

A bighearted approach to our time and material goods starts by giving ourselves to God. When we accept that He owns everything, we will be able to hold our share more loosely. But the choice to nurture generosity is based on our trust. Instead of adding figures to see what little amount might safely be set aside for charity, Christians should give sacrificially by faith. Hebrews 13:16 (NIV) tells us, “Do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.” The Lord responds by supplying enough to cover the gift and our own need (Luke 6:38). Only through giving do we learn that we can never outgive God.

Some believers choose selfishness and rebellion, but God promised a form of poverty—whether financial, emotional, or spiritual—to those who do. Instead, let’s choose to cultivate a generous spirit for the Lord.

1 Peter 5:6-7

Our heavenly Father is interested in every detail of our life. If we want Him to work in a particular area—relationships, finances, vocation, habits, or something else—we must be willing to let go and give whatever He asks of us.

We may think we have no attachments that come between us and the Lord, but He knows our heart. Ask Him to guide you and help you come to a place of being able to say, “Lord, if that’s what You desire, I commit it to You. You have the right to claim it at any time, so it’s Yours right now.”

It’s difficult to be completely obedient if we’re holding on to something too tightly. The Lord wants us to be attached exclusively to Him. You may have multitudes of things that God has blessed you with, but the moment any of it has a hold on you, His work in your life will be blocked. But when you open your hands, gripping nothing, the Holy Spirit’s power can flow unimpeded through you. Then you will be able to experience freedom.

Is there anything you feel you could never give up? Seriously consider whether it holds you captive (Romans 6:19-23). Release that relationship, possession, or situation to the Lord right now so He can give you the freedom you’ve been craving.

Genesis 22:1-3

We won’t always understand how God is going to accomplish His plans. All He asks is that we surrender our will to His and trust that He’ll show us the way (Proverbs 3:5-6). Abraham’s willingness to give up what was most precious to him came from his unyielding faith in the Lord’s trustworthiness.

However, if you tell God no because He won’t explain why He wants you to do something, you actually hinder His blessing. But when you say yes to the Lord, He will pour out His goodness and reward your obedience. What matters more than material blessings are the things He is teaching us in our spirit. Obeying the Lord naturally positions us to receive what He’s already trying to give us. But when we fail to trust Him and refuse to do what He says, we’re the ones choosing to close ourselves off from some of the good God would have accomplished in our life.

What has the Lord told you to do? Have you only partially cooperated? Or have you, like Abraham, given up your need to understand and obeyed completely?

If God says to give more than you think you’re able to part with, know that He will provide. Whether things are running smoothly or the bottom has dropped out, He is always trustworthy.

Philippians 4:10-13

After encountering Jesus on the road to Damascus, Paul had much to learn about salvation and following Christ. From that moment on, the apostle shared with others what he was discovering. In his letter to the church at Philippi, he wrote about an important life lesson—the secret of being content.

What do you think brings contentment? You might assume it’s a life with few troubles or great success. Perhaps you envision good health, financial security, and a loving family. Paul’s life was not at all like this. He was in danger from both his own countrymen and the opposition (2 Corinthians 11:23-26). Sometimes the people listened when he spoke, but more often they were hostile to his message. What’s more, Paul spent considerable time in prison, chained to a guard. Yet he boldly wrote, “I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation” (Phil. 4:12 NIV).

The secret he discovered was to live on the basis of his position in the Lord, not his circumstances. As God’s child, Paul knew he was spiritually rich—“blessed . . . with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ” (Ephesians 1:3)—because he had a loving Father and the Holy Spirit’s guidance. And so do we.

John 14:1-6

Too often we let our circumstances determine our attitude. If life is going smoothly, then we feel good. But when it gets hard, our mood drops. However, we don’t have to live this way. Like the apostle Paul, we can learn and practice contentment.

The word contentment describes being at peace, no matter how things are—in other words, not wanting anything to be different. It means learning to allow God’s power to come into our weakness so we can accept and adapt to changing circumstances. When we respond to life with that kind of thinking, we move beyond living by feelings to living by faith (2 Corinthians 5:7).

Submission and trust are needed for such a lifestyle. First, we must surrender to God. In every situation, we are to yield what we want and then accept whatever He allows. The second step is to trust God to oversee our specific situation. If we believe He is working out His perfect plan for us, then we’ll experience the joy that comes from fully relying on Him. Contentment will be ours.

Paul submitted his life to God and trusted Him. He faced insults, rejection, and many difficult trials but was still content. When we surrender control to the Lord and believe He has our best interest at heart, we will experience contentment, too.

James 2:14-18

The Lord calls us to share His truth with others, but sometimes our actions and attitudes can contradict the words that are coming out of our mouth.

Every day, most of us communicate something to someone. We send messages by what we say and by what we don’t say, by what we do and by what we don’t do. For example, if parents decide to stop tithing their income, they are sending a message to their children. Without ever saying anything, they are teaching their kids that Mom and Dad don’t believe God is faithful to provide. What our conduct conveys—especially to children—speaks much louder than the words we use.

The apostle Paul understood that powerful lessons are taught by our actions. For this reason, he made sure he modeled the right behavior and values for his spiritual children to observe and emulate (2 Thessalonians 3:7-9).

It is not an issue of whether or not we will communicate a message. Rather, the issue is, What kind of message are you already communicating? Search yourself for any disparity between what you say and what you do, and choose to share a complete, unified message of hope with the world.

Romans 12:10-13

How many true friends do you have? Does the question bring a lot of names to mind? Or only a few? The reality is, most of us don’t have many genuine friends—ones who remain loyal no matter what.

This dependable, intimate closeness is what God wants for us, but it’s a rare treasure. Let’s look at the biblical account of David and Jonathan (1 Samuel 18:1-30; 1 Samuel 19:1-24; 1 Samuel 20:1-42). Their story demonstrates that genuine friendships are built on a foundation of mutual respect, love, and commitment. Today, let’s explore the first component.

True companionship starts by valuing all people, knowing they were lovingly created in God’s image. After all, if Jesus chose to die in their place even before any of them acknowledged Him as Savior (Romans 5:8), they must certainly have great worth. But at the same time, the high regard that David and Jonathan had for one another was greater than mere respect; it revealed admiration for the godly qualities that Scripture commends.

Consider the question asked earlier—about the people you think of as “true friends.” Do they exhibit godly attributes that you respect? And do they, in turn, admire the righteous characteristics they see in you? This mutual, scriptural respect is a necessary foundation for lasting friendship.

Luke 5:1-11

God’s simple requests are often stepping stones to life’s greatest blessings. When Peter said yes to Jesus’ two small requests, his whole mission changed from fisherman to fisher of men.

An unproductive and backbreaking night’s work no doubt left Peter weary (Luke 5:5). Yet he willingly accepted Jesus on board and pushed his boat out from shore so the Lord’s words would carry to the crowd. After delivering His message, the Lord told Peter to head out to deeper water, even though the timing was wrong. Despite the unlikely hour for success, Peter obeyed and was blessed with not one but two loads of fish.

Often God’s blessings result from our compliance with seemingly insignificant requests. If we refuse His prompting to perform minor actions, what reason have we given Him to trust us with a more important responsibility?

Had Peter refused to lend Jesus his boat or risk a midday fishing expedition, he’d have missed the blessing of a big catch—and perhaps even the opportunity to be an apostle. Over the next few years, Peter personally witnessed miracles more spectacular than any he saw that first day. Honoring Jesus’ first request eventually led to the disciple’s sermon at Pentecost—and the salvation of 3,000 souls (Acts 2:14-41).

Judges 7:1-8

Have you ever felt backed into a corner, with the odds stacked against you? In situations like that, Christians often fail to acknowledge an important truth: that God may actually be orchestrating their challenging circumstances (Romans 8:28).

You may think, No way. God protects me from such things. But maybe, just maybe, God is trying to tell you something—and He first needs to get your attention.

Time and again in Scripture, we see that God uses difficulties to build faith. It’s easy to trust Him when things go our way. However, He often removes comforts and false securities from our life to remind us that He alone is the source of our strength.

Consider today’s passage. Gideon was ready to lead an army of 32,000 men into battle. However, God stepped into the situation two different times, whittling the Israelite army down to less than one percent of its original size. We may have replied, “What? It’s impossible to defeat enemy forces with just 300 men!” That’s probably true; 300 men alone couldn’t do it. But the Lord can—which is the lesson Gideon learned firsthand.

When the odds aren’t in your favor, don’t think that God has abandoned you. Stand your ground and stay focused on Him. You’ll be amazed at what your heavenly Father will achieve.

Judges 7:9-25

Yesterday, we read about how God reduced Gideon’s army from 32,000 men to just 300 before an important battle. Let’s see what happened next.

Naturally, Gideon was anxious. He was about to attack an enemy camp of more than 130,000 trained soldiers—with just a handful of men. Out of kindness, God gave Gideon some encouragement by allowing him to overhear an enemy soldier recounting a frightful dream: a vision of Israelite victory (Judg. 7:13-14)! God used that incident to demonstrate His sensitivity to one man’s feelings and fears. And He still operates that way today.

Consider the power of a friend’s encouraging words. Think about how meaningful it is when an unexpected blessing seems to come right at your darkest moment. Ponder the impact of reading a verse when you most need it. These are not “happy accidents.” They are precious confidence builders from God. He sees your doubts and takes steps towards weakening their hold on you.

Our challenge is to remember the times in the past when God has encouraged us. Standing on the evidence of His faithfulness, we can boldly face the future, knowing that we are not alone.

James 1:12-16

When we struggle with temptation, understanding how it works can be helpful. Every sin originates as a thought (James 1:14-15). If we hold on to the thought, it becomes a fantasy—the chance to imagine what pursuing that notion would be like, without actually doing so. Fantasies can easily become entangled with our emotions. This creates a desire, which brings us to the point where a choice must be made. And we must either consent to the sin or refuse. This process is quite dangerous, as the progression from thought to choice can be almost instantaneous.

Wise believers determine ahead of time to resist temptation. They build the defense before the offense happens. There are two cornerstones to a good defense: the recognition that God’s in control and the commitment to obey Him (1 Corinthians 10:13; James 4:7).

We can further fortify our defense when temptation actually comes. Satan has a way of spotlighting the pleasure of sin until it’s all we see. But with prayerful effort, we can retrain our focus to take in the bigger picture: Is this choice a violation of God’s Word? What are the consequences?

No one can resist temptation perfectly—we’ll all continue to struggle with sin. But the more we meditate on Scripture and communicate with God, the stronger our defense will be.

1 John 5:14-15

Prayer is a common practice for believers, but we can easily lose sight of its greater purpose—communing with God and discerning His will for our life. Because communication with Him is so vital, it’s wise to step back at times and ask yourself these questions:

• What are my prayers accomplishing in me? Does praying make you feel closer to the Lord or is it more of a “have to”?

• Who am I praying for? Are most of your requests for yourself or others?

• What am I asking God to do? Have you looked in His Word to see what He wants, or are you trying to get Him to intervene according to your plans and desires?

• When do I pray? Do you call on the Lord only during emergencies or when you need something?

If you discovered any selfishness in your answers, you’re not alone. Most of us struggle to enter God’s presence with our eyes focused solely on Him. Your prayer life can become energizing and potent if you approach the Lord with a clean heart (Psalm 66:18), align your requests with His will (John 14:13), and believe He will do what He says (Numbers 23:19). We won’t be able to do these things perfectly, but the more we try, the more confident we’ll be in our prayers to God.”

Colossians 1:9-14

Sometimes we want to pray for another person but aren’t sure what to say. Let’s look at Paul’s prayer in Colossians 1:9-14. Every word fits perfectly with God’s will, so you can present these requests with confidence—both for yourself and for others:

• To be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding. We need to follow God daily, and we also need discernment to distinguish His guiding voice.

• To walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, pleasing Him in all ways. Our life should be patterned after the One we follow.

• To bear fruit in every good work. Instead of being wrapped up in our own circumstances, we should have a productive kingdom mindset.

• To increase in the knowledge of God. When we read His Word and apply its principles, our understanding of Him will deepen.

• To be strengthened with His power so we remain steadfast. The Christian life can be lived only with the Holy Spirit’s power.

• To joyously give thanks for all God has done for us. Believers should be characterized by joy and gratitude.

Imagine how effective your prayers will be when you shift the emphasis of your petitions to the Lord’s desires. He will transform you and the people for whom you intercede.

John 15:12-17

Many of us are familiar with the hymn “What a Friend We Have in Jesus.” We know that our Savior is a great friend (John 15:15), but let’s consider some specific aspects of His relationship with us. He is ...

• Committed to us. This commitment is for more than a lifetime—it’s eternal. And though life is bound to hold some disappointments, the Lord Himself will never let us down.

• Open and transparent at all times. Jesus will continually show us more about Himself as we desire to learn.

• Sensitive to our wants as well as our needs. He knows how to meet our deepest longings and lovingly invites us—over and over—to connect with Him.

• An inspiring, comforting listener who’s never quick to criticize. He doesn’t interrupt, and His eyes are so lovingly fixed on us that His heart hears exactly what we are saying.

What kind of friend is Jesus? John 15:13 answers that question: “Greater love has no one than this, that a person will lay down his life for his friends.” Because He gave Himself for all people, we as His followers can certainly offer our friendship to someone else. Who in your circle of influence needs the sacrifice of your time or care?