Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.—Matthew 11:28 (NIV)
When life seems dark and you feel tired and alone, trust that God is there. Reach for His hand and ask Him to refresh your soul. Call out to Him and let His strength work through you.
Heavenly Father, help me to stay focused on my faith. Fill me with the brightness of Your love.
Whoever finds their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life for my sake will find it.—Matthew 10:39 (NIV)
Dr. Norman Vincent Peale said that prayer should be an act of surrender. Many of us struggle with this unconditional surrender. Yet once the leap of faith is made; once God is accepted at His word and we are forgiven and reconciled by His grace, there is only one question most people ask: Why did I wait so long?
Dear Lord, I surrender my old self to You. I trust You to make me new.
We are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.—Ephesians 2:10 (ESV)
Recognize that you are God’s workmanship. You are created for good works! When you pray to God and open your heart to embrace His plans for you, everything changes. Priorities shift, confidence grows and with a humble spirit, you accomplish great things.
Lord, I am here and I love being part of Your glorious work.
Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord!—Psalm 27:14 (ESV)
Of all the seasons, winter seems to be the one that requires the most patience. Waiting for God, praying patiently, accepting His silent answer, all of these things help strengthen your faith. If you are in a waiting season, don’t be discouraged—it is a spiritual exercise that builds your relationship with God.
Heavenly Father, just as I have faith that spring will come, I trust Your divine timing.
If we are “out of our mind,” as some say, it is for God; if we are in our right mind, it is for you.—2 Corinthians 5:13 (NIV)
The Apostle Paul was an extraordinary man who took extraordinary actions. Perhaps many at that time thought that he was out of his mind. Truth was, Paul’s love of God drove his actions and led him to lead an amazing life. He cared little about those who thought he was a fool.
Lord, God, I long to be moved by Your love and to put my love for You above how others think of me.
Forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.—Philippians 3:13-14 (ESV)
Dr. Norman Vincent Peale coined the phrase “victorious forgetfulness”—the act of forgetting about whatever barriers keep you from letting go of the past so that you can have a prosperous and beautiful future. Forget your mistakes, your feelings of insecurity and fear. Focus on victory.
Our Heavenly Father, thank You for the great truth that if I believe in You, I will accept the great opportunities that await me tomorrow.
Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.—Psalm 37:4 (ESV)
During these first days of 2021, as you set goals and look to the future, spend time with God and thank Him for all He has done for you. When you delight in the Lord, your heart shifts to a place that aligns your will with His and you discover that your happiness does not depend on your circumstances because He fulfills you.
There is nothing better for a person than that he should eat and drink and find enjoyment in his toil. This also, I saw, is from the hand of God.—Ecclesiastes 2:24 (ESV)
What’s your favorite thing about winter? Is it the beautiful sunrises and the magical feeling when large snowflakes fall from the sky like a symphony? Warming up with a perfect cup of tea or hot chocolate? Snowmen with charcoal eyes and carrot noses made by children? Whatever your pleasure, treat yourself and relish in the beauty of life.
Dear Lord, I praise You for simple pleasures. A sunrise. A walk through the woods. Remind me to take the time to notice the aspects of Your handiwork that thrill my soul.
He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!”—Mark 4:39 (NIV)
Heavenly Father, how wonderful that even my doubts lead me closer to You, and to understanding and believing in what I do not see.
But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.—Matthew 6:6 (ESV)
Sometimes, in order to hear God’s voice you must turn down the noise of your life and turn your attention to listening. Sitting in stillness can be a heavenly practice that brings you closer to Him. In moments of silence, He speaks to you heart-to-heart, and gives you clarity of mind.
Heavenly Father, help me silence my internal chatter. Open my heart to the whispers of Your voice.
Why am I discouraged? Why is my heart so sad? I will put my hope in God! I will praise him again—my Savior and my God!—Psalm 42:11 (NLT)
January can feel bleak with midwinter weather, but don’t let it get you down. Treat yourself to things that make you feel good—including spending time with God. Look ahead with hope. God has great plans for you!
Heavenly Father, no matter what challenges I face, I can still rejoice in You. You are the Source of all hope. I trust Your plan.
And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his in Christ Jesus.—Philippians 4:19 (NIV)
With the holidays behind you, are you facing anxiety over paying your bills and making ends meet? If you’re experiencing financial problems, take a deep breath, let go of your stress and trust in God’s provision. God has taken care of you in the past, and He will take care of you today, too.
Heavenly Father, help me get my finances in order, to be smart in borrowing and diligent in paying what I owe. When bills overwhelm me, remind me that You are in control.
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)
Then Jesus said to his disciples: “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will
eat; or about your body, what you will wear.”—Luke 12:22 (NIV)
Better one handful with tranquillity than two handfuls with toil and chasing after the wind.—Ecclesiastes 4:6 (NIV)
As they make music they will sing, “All my fountains are in you.”—Psalm 87:7 (NIV)
There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens.—Ecclesiastes 3:1 (NIV)
The grace of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.—1 Timothy 1:14 (NIV)
Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.—James 1:17 (NIV)
Remind the people to be subject to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready to do whatever is good, to slander no one, to be peaceable and considerate, and always to be gentle toward everyone.—Titus 3:1–2 (NIV)
Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.—Ephesians 6:10 (NIV)
Live as free people, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as God’s slaves. Show proper respect to everyone, love the family of believers, fear God…—1 Peter 2:16–17 (NIV)
See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!—1 John 3:1 (NIV)
Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.—John 15:13 (NIV)
And Mary said: “My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior.”—Luke 1:46–47 (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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