Be holy because I am holy.—Leviticus 11:44 (GW)
The most important way to spend your day is to model your actions after Jesus. Every day brings new opportunities to become more like Him. To offer compassion, understanding and love, to be a blessing to those around you.
Lord, You have given me the greatest example to follow. I long to live a life of purpose. A life that serves You.
How great is God—beyond our understanding! The number of his years is past finding out.—Job 36:26 (NIV)
Job tried desperately to understand God’s actions. And although God responded to Job with a flurry of questions, He never directly answered him. God’s response shows that His actions, His reasons cannot be reduced to human understanding.
Heavenly Father, when I get frustrated and try to understand Your plan, lead me back to accepting that it is not for me to know all the answers right now.
We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans.—Romans 8:26 (NIV)
Twenty years ago we experienced the heart-wrenching tragedy of September 11th. How comforting to know that God was with us on that day. He was helping us through the devastation and destruction and guiding us to be good to one another.
Dear Lord, on this solemn anniversary, we give thanks for Your presence in our time of need and remember all those affected by this tragedy. We pray for healing, harmony, peace and serenity.
“Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.”—Ephesians 3:20-21 (NIV)
Reflect on “immeasurably more,” in the above verse. God is capable of more than you can imagine. His plans reach far beyond what you can see in your mind’s eye. Even when you are facing circumstances that may not change, God will change you!
Dear God, You are bigger than the universe and Your love showers infinite blessings upon me.
This God—his way is perfect; the word of the Lord proves true; he is a shield for all those who take refuge in him.—Psalm 18:30 (ESV)
If a mistake or the unexpected happens—a misdialed number, a wrong turn, a missed meeting—instead of worrying or wishing it hadn’t happened, trust God and say a quick prayer of thanksgiving. Often our mistakes turn out to be a detour that brings blessings.
Dear Lord, every coincidence, every blessing in disguise is divine providence at work.
Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.—Psalm 27:14 (NIV)
Sometimes God calls us to wait and not act. Our job is to continue to trust Him along the way. To surrender our will for His, to exchange our timing for His, knowing that He holds every moment in His hands.
Great Creator, I trust You with my whole life, believing that now is a time for me to be still and not act.
Happy are the people who are in such a state; Happy are the people whose God is the Lord!—Psalm 144:15 (NKJV)
Dr. Norman Vincent Peale said, “Give thanks daily for your blessings. Get in the habit of thinking happy thoughts. Go out of your way to make other people happy. There is your formula for real happiness and enthusiasm.”
Lord God, guide my thoughts away from my problems and onto my blessings. Focus my actions on bringing others joy.
… Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus, whom the apostles called Barnabas which means “son of encouragement.”—Acts 4:36 (NIV)
Barnabas helped new believers by encouraging them to keep the faith during difficult times. When you are in need of encouragement, follow Barnabas’ instructions and have unshakable confidence by keeping your eyes fixed on Jesus.
Merciful Father, because of Your love I have hope for the future.
The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.—John 10:10 (NIV)
Jesus promises you an abundant life. His endless blessings flow to you, filling you with His light. No matter what circumstances you face, trust that all is unfolding in the perfect way for you. Have faith!
Dear Lord, when I’m tired and overwhelmed, help me look to You and You alone to find an abundant life.
The appetite of the lazy craves, and gets nothing, while the appetite of the diligent is richly supplied.”—Proverbs 13:4 (NRSV)
God’s Word has a way of honing in to your weaknesses and helping you strengthen your resolve. He knows that change can be uncomfortable, and it takes bravery and strength to overcome cravings and do the right thing.
Heavenly Father, thank You for loving me right now as I am and guiding me to make good and important changes in my life.
“Has the Lord spoken only through Moses?” they asked. “Hasn’t he also spoken through us?” And the Lord heard this.—Numbers 12:2 (NIV)
In the above verse, when Miriam and Aaron witnessed God using Moses, they were jealous. Praising others and being truly happy for another’s spiritual or natural gifts can be difficult. But when you recognize that your work and your relationship with God is equally important, you can truly appreciate the blessings of others and be positive about their achievements.
Dear Lord, when I feel envious of another, please guide my focus back to You and the work that You have given me to do.
Upon this I awaked, and beheld; and my sleep was sweet unto me.—Jeremiah 31:26 (KJV)
God invites you to come to Him and He will restore and replenish your energy. He will refocus your mind and heart. He will satiate your weary soul and you will awake feeling comforted and loved.
Dear God, help me to release my burdens and worries to You. Fill my weary soul with your perfect peace.
Therefore I do not run like someone running aimlessly…—1 CORINTHIANS 9:26 (NIV)
Anxiety weighs down the heart, but a kind word cheers it up.—PROVERBS 12:25 (NIV
Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God— this is your true and proper worship.—Romans 12:1 (NIV)
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.—Hebrews 12:1 (NIV)
There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens.—Ecclesiastes 3:1 (NIV)
But to you who are listening I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you.—Luke 6:27 (NIV)
A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for a time of adversity.—Proverbs 17:17 (NIV)
But Jonah rose to flee to Tarshish from the presence of the Lord. He went down to Joppa and found a ship going to Tarshish. So he paid the fare and went down into it, to go with them to Tarshish, away from the presence of the Lord.—Jonah 1:3 (ESV)
For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.—Romans 3:23–24 (NIV)
Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you.—James 1:27 (NLT)
Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.—Matthew 5:4 (NIV)
And he directed the people to sit down on the grass. Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke the loaves. Then he gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the people.—Matthew 14:19 (NIV)
In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.—Ephesians 6:16 (NIV)
I had only heard about you before, but now I have seen you with my own eyes. I take back everything I said, and I sit in dust and ashes to show my repentance.—Job 42:5-6 (NLT)
Rend your heart and not your garments. Return to the Lord your God, for he is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love, and he relents from sending calamity.—Joel 2:13 (NIV)
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”—Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV)
As soon as he had finished speaking to Saul, the soul of Jonathan was knit to the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul.—1 Samuel 18:1 (ESV)
For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”—Galatians 5:14 (NIV)
This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.—John 15:12 (ESV)
Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times and in every way.—2 Thessalonians 3:16 (NIV)
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