Monday, May 8, 2023

Monday, May 8, 2023
Proverbs 25:28
A man without self-control is like a city broken into and left without walls.

A citadel that has been breached and left without walls is a place where anything could happen. Anyone and anything are free to creep in and live there, and subsequently, anything can get out without permission. Proverbs uses this analogy to describe a person who lacks self-control. Unkind words can burst from them at any time, unfiltered, and anything from the outside can infect their heart and trigger their emotions in an instant. Having self-control means exercising authority over what comes out of you, but it’s also the strength to guard against what you allow in.

Friday, May 5, 2023

Friday, May 5, 2023
Philippians 4:11
Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content.

Being content in the place that God has put you is the secret to finding joy regardless of circumstance. Paul found reasons to rejoice no matter what was happening to him, whether he was being shipwrecked, stoned, imprisoned, or thrown out of cities. He was doing what God had called Him to do, and He was confident that no matter what circumstances he found himself in, nothing could change his relationship to his Maker. Wherever you find yourself today, tomorrow, or a week from now, remember that your purpose and your identity aren’t tied to your circumstances. Hard times will come and go, but the Lord isn’t going anywhere. Hold onto Him and be content in whatever situation He has put you in; you aren’t there by accident, and you won’t be there forever.

Thursday, May 4, 2023

Thursday, May 4, 2023
James 5:16
Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.

If God already has a plan for everything, why do we bother to pray? The answer is simple: because He wants you to pray and Has invited you to pray. God wants to hear from His kids so He can bless them by answering their prayers. He wants you to pray for others, and others to pray for you too, so that your requests can be answered in ways that more than one person get to witness. The Lord has given you and I the privilege of being a part of the story He’s telling through His creation, and throughout the Bible, you can see prayer being used to part seas, crush armies, and rescue nations. There is no prayer too big or too small for God; He hears them all, and He wants to hear yours too.

Wednesday, May 3, 2023

Wednesday, May 3, 2023
Luke 15:7
Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.

It’s God’s will that none should perish; that all people would come to know Him and accept Christ’s payment for their sins. In heaven, He and the angels celebrate every lost soul that repents and is saved, including yours. You’re worth something not only to the heavenly hosts, but to the Lord of the universe. Your value is incalculable! And if God is for you, who can be against you? Rejoice every day that even while you were a sinner, a criminal against God, He made a way for you to be saved through the blood of His Son, because He couldn’t bear to spend forever without you.

Tuesday, May 2, 2023

Tuesday, May 2, 2023
Psalm 30:5
For his anger lasts only a moment, but his favor lasts a lifetime; weeping may stay for the night, but rejoicing comes in the morning

When you think of God, remember that even though He’s the Almighty, He has feelings too. He is infinite and perfectly good, nothing like you and I… but He made mankind in His image, and emotions are part of that image. The Bible shows us that God feels joy, sadness, and anger, and that He cares deeply about His children and their lives. When you find happiness in good things, He smiles with you, and when you stumble into sin, it grieves His heart. But no matter what happens, His love for you remains unconditional, which means that no matter how long hard times may last, joy always wins in the end. Weeping may stay for the night, but joy comes in the morning.

Monday, May 1, 2023

Monday, May 1, 2023
Proverbs 17:22
A joyful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.

You’ve probably heard it said that “worrying about it won’t solve anything.” And while there’s truth in that, choosing not to dwell on painful things isn’t as easy as flipping a switch. But with God’s help, you can overcome a crushed spirit with the joy of the Lord: the abundant happiness that comes from having a relationship with Him. You’re a beloved child of the One who holds the stars in place, and who commands the wind and waves with His voice. He came and lived as a man, dying for your sins so that you could spent forever in paradise with Him. Until then, pain is an ever-present part of life. It can’t be avoided, but it can be overcome by a joyful heart that is secure in Christ!