Read Romans 8:35-39 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? As it is written, “For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.” No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor heig

Read James 1:2-4 Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. Reflect What lessons have you learned from difficulties in your life? How have they helped you? What was your least favorite subject in school? Geology? Chemistry? Math? Many of us probably have vivid memories of struggling

Read 2 Corinthians 4:16-18 So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal. Reflect Does looking forward to a reward help you endure a trial? What do

Read Matthew 7:24-27 “Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on the house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against

Read John 16:33 I have said these things to you, that in me, you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world. Reflect Do you have a healthy expectation of trials and tribulations in life or do they seem to catch you off-guard? Why do you think that is? “It was never supposed to be this hard!” Have you ever uttered those words? We all have different  problems, sure, but we all have problems. Relationships can be messy, so c

Read Matthew 14:25-31 And in the fourth watch of the night he came to them, walking on the sea. But when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified, and said, “It’s a ghost!” and they cried out in fear. But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid.” And Peter answered him, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.” He said, “Come.” So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came to Jesu

Read Luke 1:35-38 And the angel answered her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy—the Son of God. And behold, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son, and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren. For nothing will be impossible with God.” And Mary said, “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.” Refl

Read Psalm 56:3-4, 8-11 When I am afraid, I put my trust in you. In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I shall not be afraid. What can flesh do to me?...You have kept count of my tossings; put my tears in your bottle. Are they not in your book? Then my enemies will turn back in the day when I call. This I know, that God is for me. In God, whose word I praise, in the LORD, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I shall not be afraid. What can man do to me? Reflect What do

Read Joshua 2:1-5 And Joshua the son of Nun sent two men secretly from Shittim as spies, saying, “Go, view the land, especially Jericho.” And they went and came into the house of a prostitute whose name was Rahab and lodged there. And it was told to the king of Jericho, “Behold, men of Israel have come here tonight to search out the land.” Then the kind of Jericho sent Rahab, saying, “Bring out the men who have come to you, who entered your house, for they have come to search

Read Numbers 14:6-10 And Joshua the son of Nun and Caleb the son of Jephunneh, who were among those who had spied out the land, tore their clothes and said to all the congregation of the people of Israel, “The land, which we passed through to spy it out, is an exceedingly good land. If the LORD delights in us, he will bring us into this land and give it to us, a land that flows with milk and honey. Only do not rebel against the LORD. And do not fear the people of the land, fo

Read Hebrews 11:7 By faith Noah, being warned by God concerning events as yet unseen, in reverent fear constructed an ark for the saving of his household. By this he condemned the world and became an heir of the righteousness that comes by faith. Reflect What fears do you think Noah faced? Would you consider Noah to be a courageous person? Why or why not? In 1956, United States Senator and the future 35th US President, John F. Kennedy released a book titled, Profiles In Coura

Read John 17:14-21 “I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they may believe that you have sent me. The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me. Father, I desi

Read Philippians 4:6-7 …do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Reflect When you are worried and begin to feel anxious about something, what is typically your first reaction? I have tossed and turned all night long. I have made myself sick with worry. I have cried myself

Read Psalm 141:1-2 O LORD, I call upon you; hasten to me! Give ear to my voice when I call to you! Let my prayer be counted as incense before you, and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice. Reflect Have you ever used a prayer journal? Do you feel that writing your prayers down is beneficial? Sometimes, when I sit down to pray, I just can't quiet my mind. A thousand thoughts are swirling around in my head—usually my to-do list. I keep checking the clock because I

Read Deuteronomy 6:5-9 You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on

Read Matthew 6:9-13 Pray then like this: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.” Reflect Do you follow a certain pattern or method when you pray? Many new believers say, “I want to talk to God, I just don’t know how.” But what new believers may not

Read 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. Reflect What do you think it means to pray without ceasing? Imagine trying to have a meaningful relationship with someone you never talk to. That individual talks with you, but you don’t reply. They send you messages that you occasionally read, but you don’t respond. Communicating is completely a one-way street. How meaningf

Read 1 Corinthians 13:4-8, 13 Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends…So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love. Reflect As you read today’s verse, did you spot any

Read Titus 2:11-14 For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passion, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works. Reflect Do yo

Read Ephesians 4:1-3 I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. Reflect How does gentleness maintain unity among the body of Christ? God’s Word says that “a gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger” (Proverbs 15:1, NIV). This has pro

Read Hebrews 10:23, 35-39 Let us hold fast to the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful…Therefore do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward. For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God you may receive what is promised. For, “Yet a little while, and the coming one will come and will not delay; but the righteous one shall live by faith, and if he shrinks back, my soul has no pleasure in him.” Bu

Read Romans 12:9,21 Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good…Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. Reflect How do we know what is good versus what is evil? Have you ever watched a movie or read a book that made you unintentionally root for the bad guy? It’s happened to me before. Writers can make the main character seem so likable and cast the antagonists in such a terrible light that I suddenly find myself sympathizing with the ma

Read Ephesians 4:31-32 Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you. Reflect What do you think it means to be kind to one another? Posters, mugs, T-shirts, and slogans urge us to “Just Be Kind.” Initiatives encourage people to practice random acts of kindness and “pay it forward.” You see, even the secular world understands t

Read 1 Timothy 1:15-16 The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost. But I received mercy for this reason, that in me, as the foremost, Jesus Christ might display his perfect patience as an example to those who were to believe in him for eternal life. Reflect Prayerfully consider your sins. How has God been patient toward you? Would you consider yourself quick to become frustrated

Read John 14:27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. Reflect When people are seeking peace, what does our culture tend to suggest? Where do you look for peace? This world is loud, chaotic, tragic, and violent. We wish for peace on earth and yet, deep down we all know that if world peace depends on people, we are doomed. It’s never going to happen. The reason this w

Read 1 Peter 1:8-9 Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls. Reflect This life is not easy, even for Christians. So how can Christians be full of joy despite their circumstances? In Sunday school, I remember singing “I’ve got the joy, joy, joy, joy down in my heart.” Do you know that one? The ch

Read John 13:34-35 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. Reflect “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” Love. It’s a word we use all the time and yet we struggle to

Read Galatians 5:16, 25 But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh…If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit. Reflect Think about good and bad habits in your life. How did you develop them? How do you change them? My kids have been educated about proper dental hygiene. They know that in order to have healthy teeth and avoid cavities, they have to brush their teeth after breakfast and before bed every single day. A

Read John 15:4-5 “Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.” Reflect Have you ever tried to change your behavior, habits, or lifestyle on your own? How did it go? If you were planting an apple tree, what are some things you would do to ens

Read Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up! Again, if two lie together, they keep warm, but how can one keep warm alone? And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him—a threefold cord is not quickly broken. Reflect Have you experienced the benefits of having a mentor