Monday
Crucified with Christ
For when I tried to keep the law, it condemned me. So I died to the law – I stopped trying to meet all its requirements – so that I might live for God. My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. I do not treat the grace of God as meaningless. For if keeping the law could make us right with God, then there was no need for Christ to die (Galatians 2:19-21 NLT).
Christ Jesus died for a reason. He died to save us from ourselves. How many of you are still trying to get your life right so that you can be a better person, without asking Jesus to take the controls? How many of you think that you must get your life right before asking Jesus into your heart? How many of you are still traveling that dirt road and wondering when everything will get better, all the while never asking Jesus to help and enter your heart?
First off, you will never get your life right without Jesus. Secondly, you will never find control until you let Jesus have the wheel. Thirdly, you will never get off that dirt road without Jesus taking the wheel. Lastly, you will never find life like He has designed for you without asking Jesus Christ into your heart. Isn't it time?
Dear Lord, help us to give our lives, our hearts, and our souls to you. Help us to die to self and find the true meaning of the life you have designed for us. We ask and pray in your mighty and matchless name. Amen.
Tuesday
Jesus Supplies Our Living Water
Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing (John 15:5 NLT).
We are designed by God. He knew we needed a Savior and sent Jesus, not only to save us from our sin but to supply nutrients for us to grow deep in faith. Jesus is the vine and we are His branches. He supplies for our needs currently and eternally. God's plan is for us to be the hands and feet of Jesus and to carry the Gospel throughout the world.
We are dependent on Jesus to nourish us. With His nourishment we will prosper and grow. Without Him, we will wither and die – producing nothing.
Jesus spoke and taught in parables so that His followers would understand in layman's terms our need for a Savior. This Scripture relays what it means to be in connection with God. Are you connected to the Jesus like a branch is to the vine?
Lord God, thank you for supplying all of our needs physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. We love you, Lord, help us to become more like you today than we were yesterday. In the mighty name of Jesus, we pray. Amen.
Wednesday
It is All About Jesus!
He existed before anything else, and he holds all creation together. Christ is also the head of the church, which is His body. He is the beginning, supreme over all who rise from the dead. So he is first in everything (Colossians 1:17-18 NLT).
He is the first, the last and everything in between! Thank you Jesus for saving us from ourselves.
Dear Lord, lead us in your glory and your ways. It is in the name of Jesus we ask and pray. Amen.
Thursday
A Full-Time God
But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength.
They will soar high on wings like eagles.
They will run and not grow weary.
They will walk and not faint (Isaiah 40:31 NLT).
Sometimes we get news that we just don't want to hear. Sometimes God's plan isn't what we want it to be. Sometimes there is loss that seems impossible to deal with. Sometimes we have to understand that through trials and loss, God makes us stronger.
Sometimes our faith is rocked and we are tested to the brink of despair.
Sometimes after many years of diligent prayer, we see that God's will was not our will.
Sometimes we just have to cry.
Sometimes we must realize we are humans and have no control over things like God controls.
Sometimes we just need to trust in our Creator. Sometimes there aren't words.
Sometimes…
But God is God all the time. He is not a sometimes God. Those who have trusted in Him will soar to new heights. Those who know Jesus will never taste the bitterness of death. Those who are walking with Christ on this earth will walk eternally with Him in heaven.
Dear heavenly Father, no matter what we go through, we can trust that you are in control. You will pull us through the fire. Help us be strong and trust in you. Lord God, you have never failed us and will never fail us. We know you are God and you love us. Give us the strength to remain faithful, as you are always faithful to us. Thank you Lord! We pray in the mighty name of Jesus, our Savior and King. Amen.
Friday
It Begins with Trust
The instructions of the Lord are perfect,
reviving the soul.
The decrees of the Lord are trustworthy,
making wise the simple.
The commandments of the Lord are right,
bringing joy to the heart.
The commands of the Lord are clear,
giving insight for living (Psalm 19:7-8 NLT).
We must take one step at a time, following verse-by-verse:
Step 1 – Trusting God's instructions
Step 2 – Trusting His Decrees
Step 3 – Trusting His Commands
Step 4 – Trusting His Clarity
Step 5 – Trusting in His Word as being truth
With our trust in the fact that God is who He is, we now see how much we need Jesus. We see our inability to be in the presence of God, without Jesus as our mediator. We see how broken we are. We see how much we need Jesus to cover our brokenness. We see a God who lifts our Savior from death to life. We see our God as He is…creator and loving Father. We see our God as righteous. We see our God as sovereign. We see our God as just.
Thank you, Lord God, for being who you are: God of all! Amen.
Saturday
Striving to Be Like Jesus
Imitate God, therefore, in everything you do, because you are his dear children. Live a life filled with love, following the example of Christ. He loved us and offered himself as a sacrifice for us, a pleasing aroma to God (Ephesians 5:1-2 NLT).
Being like Jesus is an impossible task, but the rewards for trying have a wonderful outcome.
Lord, help us to be more like Jesus more today than we were yesterday. Help us love and forgive others as He loves us. We pray this in His mighty and matchless name. Amen.
Sunday
Old Self
My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me (Galatians 2:20 NLT).
Every one of us has a sinful nature. We are broken people, living in a broken world. Some of us realize we need Jesus quicker than others. Some of us think we know Jesus, but we aren't living like we actually do. Some of us are determined to do it “our way.”
I'm thankful that my “old self” died on the cross with Christ. Christ lives in me now and I do my best to glorify His name. However, many times I also fail miserably at that attempt. I'm not perfect by any means, but I know He is. He died for me so my sins would be washed away. I am talking about all sin from my past, my present and any future sins. He died to wash your sins away too.
Love covers a multitude of sins, and God’s love, His grace can cover yours too.
Even so, we have to note this fact if we are truly with Jesus in our lives: When we slip up and make sinful mistakes, the Holy Spirit acts to convict us which should bring us to repentance. Repentance is the asking of forgiveness of our sin and doing our best not to return to that sin.
In John 8:1-11, Jesus addresses sin, repentance, and forgiveness as illustrated by the story where a woman caught in the act of adultery was rescued from her accusers. After saving her from sure physical death by stoning, He told her “Go and sin no more.”
We require regular soul checks to see if we find Christ. If we are living in unrepentant, continual sin by breaking His commands, we are not in His light and cannot co-exist with Christ. Like the woman, we should listen and “Go and sin no more.”
Christ is our good news in that He died for our sin and all our sin for all time if we only repent and follow Him.
Lord God, thank you for your ultimate sacrifice for our salvation. It's in your holy name that we pray. Amen.
