Tuesday, January 10, 2023

Tuesday, January 10, 2023
Galatians 2:20
I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

Even as Christians, we still mess up. No one is righteous, the Bible says, not even one. Saved or unsaved, we all fall short… but if you’ve accepted Christ’s payment for you, you are forever redeemed. Does that mean you shouldn’t worry about your sin? Absolutely not. If you’ve repented and come to the cross, your old self was crucified with Christ, and now you are no longer just you, because Jesus and the Holy Spirit live with you. The life you now live, you live in the sinful body you were born in, but you shouldn’t live by sin. Instead, live by faith in the Son of God, who loved you and gave Himself for you.

Monday, January 9, 2023

Monday, January 9, 2023
2 Corinthians 5:17
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.

If you are in Christ, it means that you’ve repented of sin and accepted the payment that Jesus made for you on the cross. His blood was the ultimate sacrifice, and if you believe and trust in Him, your sins have been atoned for and you are a new creation. No matter what you’ve done, the forgiveness of Christ is enough. The more you get to know God, the more the old you will fade away, as the Lord transforms you into something better. After coming to grips with Christ’s infinite love, how can any of us stay the same?

Friday, January 6, 2023

Friday, January 6, 2023
Psalm 51:10-11
Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from your presence, and take not your Holy Spirit from me.

A new year brings new opportunities to better yourself, make good habits, and refocus on your relationship with God. Maybe last year you didn’t talk to Him as much as you wanted, or you want to put an emphasis on reading the Bible regularly. Rest assured, the Lord is ready and waiting for you. If your desire is to know Him more and to be who He wants you to be, He will give you a clean heart and renew your spirit. God will never cast you away because you are His beloved child. If you draw near to Him, He will draw near to you.

Thursday, January 5, 2023

Thursday, January 5, 2023
Philippians 3:13
Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead.

If Jesus is a part of your life, try to imagine the kind of person you’d be if He wasn’t in your story. The truth is that without God, you and I are powerless, sinful, and selfish by nature. Everything good that comes out of your life is accomplished with Christ’s help, and you can do all things through Him who gives you strength. You haven’t made it this far by yourself, but with the help of the Lord, who will carry you further. God will give you opportunities in life to do amazing things for Him, so keep your vision facing forward. Press on through life and pursue the Lord’s will, doing your best with all that He gives you.

Wednesday, January 4, 2023

Wednesday, January 4, 2023
Matthew 6:34
Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.

A brand-new year can feel exciting to some and daunting to others. The future is full of possibilities, but Jesus warns us not to spend too much time worrying. In fact, over and over throughout the scriptures Christ tells us “Do not be afraid!” If He wasn’t serious, He wouldn’t have repeated it as many times as He did. Don’t be anxious about what’s to come because no amount of worrying can protect you from life’s difficulties; instead, focus on what God has for you here and now. If you’re too busy worrying about what He has for you tomorrow, you’ll miss what He has for you today.

Tuesday, January 3, 2023

Tuesday, January 3, 2023
Lamentations 3:22-23
The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.

A lot can change in a year, but not God! His love for you is permanent, and His mercy never ends. He has forgiven your sins, and He will faithfully stick with you until this life is over. Whether you had a good year or bad year, He was with you through it, and will be for this one too. How exciting it is to know that God is on your side, and to imagine all the blessings and good opportunities He could give you this year! Though bad things happen, and life isn’t always perfect, the Author of the story is one whose love never ceases, whose mercy never ends, and whose faithfulness is unyielding.