Thursday, November 23, 2023

Thursday, November 23, 2023
2 Corinthians 9:15
Thanks be to God for his inexpressible gift!

Thanks be to God for everything that we have! For this country, for our families, our friends, and the food He has put on the table. Thank Him for this last year of life, with all its ups and downs that even now are being woven into God’s story. But most of all, be thankful for the inexpressible gift of Jesus Christ: God’s ultimate gift to mankind, which bought you freedom from guilt and shame, and eternal paradise with the One who loves you. When the Lord made you, He made you in His image, and the same breath of life that He breathed into Adam is in your lungs today. It was His love for you that held Christ on that cross, so that we could eat and drink and laugh at His table forever.

Wednesday, November 22, 2023

Wednesday, November 22, 2023
1 Thessalonians 5:18
Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

The good things in the world… a warm house, a warm family, and warm food… they are all gifts. God meant for us to enjoy them, and be thankful for them, because good things were a part of His original design for the world. But Paul urged all followers of Christ to be thankful even when the going gets tough. After all, this life is a vapor… it’ll pass before you know it, and then a new Heaven and a new earth awaits! Enjoy all the time that God has given you, and all the gifts He has blessed you with, whether you have just one thing to be thankful for, or a hundred.

Tuesday, November 21, 2023

Tuesday, November 21, 2023
Colossians 3:17
And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Without Jesus, there is no hope for life after death, or a relationship with God. If Christ didn’t rise from the dead, neither will you, which makes life nothing more than a cruel joke. But that stone was rolled away, and the tomb was empty; there is a paradise waiting for you, and a Savior who bled and died to get you there. So whatever you choose to do with the life that He’s given you, live it for Christ. Love the Lord your God, do good to your neighbors and your enemies, and in all things give thanks to the One who put the breath in your lungs.

Monday, November 20, 2023

Monday, November 20, 2023
Psalm 118:24
This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.

God made today, and today will look different for every single person on the planet. It’ll be a wonderful day for one person, and a less-than-wonderful day for someone else; but God made it, and as much as life may change day by day, He never does. The Lord holds all of time in His hands, including the day you’re experiencing now. Make the most of it, finding joy in the good days and bearing the hard ones patiently. God meant for you to enjoy the good days, and while hardship is a part of life, He uses both equally to strengthen your faith and chisel your character.

Friday, November 17, 2023

Friday, November 17, 2023
Psalm 25:21
May integrity and uprightness preserve me, for I wait for you.

Jesus is coming back, and when He does, I don’t want to be caught off guard. I want to be someone who lives to make the Lord proud, and who hears the words “Well done, good and faithful servant,” when I get to Heaven’s gates. Dedicate your mind and your life to One who matters more than anything else in the world; live with integrity, and when faced with temptation, stay upright. Christ gave His followers clear instructions when He left this world, and I hope He finds all of us following them when He makes His glorious return.

Thursday, November 16, 2023

Thursday, November 16, 2023
Psalm 25:9
He leads the humble in what is right, and teaches the humble in His way.

The first step to becoming great is to realize that you aren’t, and you never will be without His help. All people are born broken, with no ability to save ourselves or sneak into Heaven on our own. You and I rely completely on God to show us what’s right and wrong, save us from our sins, and transform us from criminals into new creations… and it takes humility to recognize that. Pride tells you that you can make yourself a better person, earn the Lord’s paradise, and become a new creation using your own efforts. But humility reminds you that you are a very small and lowly human being, serving a powerful, loving, and almighty God. A God who leads the humble and teaches them His way.