JAN. 3, 2026 Bible reading; the key to spiritual growth (2) "Continue following the teachings you learned."  2Ti 3:14 NCV Don't chart your life's course according to the opinions of people or popular culture. If you do, you'll make the mistake that a farmer's son made. The father sent the boy to prepare a field, reminding him to till straight lines. "Select an object on the far side of the field and plow straight at it." Later, when the father checked on the boy's progress, t

JAN. 2, 2026 Bible reading; the key to spiritual growth (1) "This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth."  Jos 1:8 NKJV God gave Joshua a big job: conquer the Promised Land and divide it up among the twelve tribes of Israel. He also gave him the key to success:  "This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosper

JAN. 1, 2026 Make prayer your first priority. "Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full."  Jn 16:24 NKJV Prayer should be your highest priority. Why? Because when you fail to pray, you set yourself up to fail. You're saying in essence, "I don't need God's help or input." God comes by invitation. Prayer opens the door and welcomes Him into your situation. Jesus said, "Until now you have asked nothing in My name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.

DEC. 31, 2025 Leave the past in the past. "Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you."  Eph 4:32 NKJV Studies suggest that just 3 percent of life events are highly memorable. So, over the course of an average year, approximately seventeen experiences will make it into your long-term memory. The other 97 percent fades into the black hole called the subconscious. But that remaining 3 percent can hurt us every day if we canno

DEC. 30, 2025 God has a purpose for your life . "Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you." Jn 15:16 KJV It doesn't take many people to bring about change. In fact, too many people can get in the way. Gideon took 32,000 to fight, but God needed only 300. He doesn't care how many can be counted-He cares only about how many can be counted on. The truth is that your life could be messed up because too many people are telling you what to do. Hang up the phone. Shut the door.

DEC. 29, 2025 Healing for someone you love . "Pray...for one another, that you may be healed and restored."  Jas 5:16 AMPC Because of the connection we have with those we love, when they hurt, we hurt. One of the greatest things we can do is intercede in prayer for those who need healing.  God can use us as an agent of healing: "Pray [also] for one another, that you may be healed and restored [to a spiritual tone of mind and heart]. The earnest (heartfelt, continued) prayer o

DEC. 28, 2025 Be the master of your debt . "The rich rule over the poor, and the borrower is slave to the lender." Pr 22:7 NIV Good credit establishes your future buying power. But when you misuse debt, you experience anxiety each month as you pull the envelope from the mailbox with the credit card bill that says you've spent more than you can afford. And what about the unexpected challenges of life? Your car needs a new transmission, or you need a medical procedure not cover

DEC. 27, 2025 Trust in the Lord rather than people .  "Whoever trusts in the Lord shall be safe."  Pr 29:25 NKJV Sometimes we make the mistake of placing our trust in people when we should be placing our trust in the Lord. And since God cannot fail and people can, we end up getting hurt and disappointed.  The Bible says that King Asa of Judah had a perfect heart toward God. Yet when an enemy nation came against him, he panicked and purchased a military alliance with another k

DEC. 26, 2025 Sacrificial living . "Present your bodies a living sacrifice...to God."  Ro 12:1 NKJV With the national coffers depleted from a series of costly wars, King Frederick William Ill of Prussia found his nation seriously short of funds as it attempted to rebuild. He refused to capitulate to his enemies and couldn't face disappointing his people. He asked the women of Prussia to bring their gold and silver jewelry to be melted down and used in exchange for the things

DEC. 25, 2025 Honoring a Christmas promise. "You will find a babe wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger."  Lk 2:12 RSV Arriving at church one Christmas morning, a pastor paused to admire the nativity scene. The figures, lovingly crafted, sat on a small stage...shepherds...wise men...animals...and in the center, the Holy Family. Then he noticed the manger was empty; the baby Jesus was missing! After searching the church he called the associate pastor and the elders

DEC. 24, 2025 This Christmas reach out to someone. "The word became flesh and made his dwelling among us."  Jn 1:14 NIV Here's a great story from Fifth Avenue Presbyterian Church in New York City. It's about a recovering alcoholic called Jim. It was his first Christmas alone, and when a young family sat down beside him in the pew he couldn't handle it. As he was leaving the church he met Pastor Thomas Tedwell, who asked where he was going. "Out for a drink," he replied. Tedwe

DEC. 23, 2025 The true purpose of Christmas . "Speak up for the people who have no voice."  Pr 31:8 ™ Jack Hayford writes, "As much as I have resisted the cynical slams against Christmas festivities, I must be equally confrontive with a glib, silly, or shallow celebration of this precious...season. We cannot honor Him who was shunted to a stable by a world too busy with its commerce, if we overlook the little ones who are denied birth by a system that cares more for personal

DEC. 21, 2025 Do it all for the glory of God (1) "Whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God."  1Co 10:31 NIV When it comes to your calling, observe these two things:  (1) God doesn't call the qualified ;  He qualifies the called. God will call you to do something you're not smart enough to pull off. A God-ordained dream will always be beyond your ability and resources. Why? So, you have to rely on God every single day! David said: " Unless the Lord builds the house, the

DEC. 22, 2025 Do it all for the glory of God (2). "You have an anointing...and you know all things."  1Jn 2:20 NKJV Here are two more things you need to know about your calling.  (1) The anointing is for each one of us . In Bible times, anointing oil was poured only on the heads of prophets, priests, and kings, symbolizing God's presence rested on them in a special way. But the anointing is not confined to those in ministry; it's for everyone-including you! It doesn't matter

DEC. 21, 2025 Do it all for the glory of God (1) "Whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God."  1Co 10:31 NIV When it comes to your calling, observe these two things:  (1) God doesn't call the qualified ;  He qualifies the called. God will call you to do something you're not smart enough to pull off. A God-ordained dream will always be beyond your ability and resources. Why? So, you have to rely on God every single day! David said: " Unless the Lord builds the house, the

DEC. 20, 2025 Free from the shame of the past . "Today I have rolled away the shame of your slavery." Jos 5:9 NLT God got Israel out of Egypt in one day, but it took forty years to get the shame of Egypt out of Israel. It happened at a place called Gilgal, 381 miles northeast of Egypt. The Israelites thought like slaves and acted like slaves. After all, it's tough to break the cycle after four hundred years of slavery. Technically, the Israelites were set free at the exodus.

DEC. 19, 2025 Recognize God's Spirit living within you . "Your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you." 1Co 6:19 NKJV Set aside the question of to what extent you are capable of experiencing God's presence in your current spiritual condition. Set aside your past failures and your future worries. If you are a redeemed child of God, His Holy Spirit lives within you. Jesus said, '''He who believes in Me...out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.! But this

DEC. 18, 2025 Share what you have . "Do not forget to do good and to share, for with such sacrifices God is well pleased." Heb 13:16 NKJ Hudson Taylor, founder of the China Inland Mission, prepared for missionary service by working among the poor in London. One night, a man asked him to come and pray for his sick wife. The man had already asked a priest but had been told he would have to pay him eighteen pence, which he didn't have. He didn't even have money to buy a loaf of

DEC. 17, 2025 Resist envy. "A heart at peace gives life to the body, but envy rots the bones." Pr 14:30 NIV Some folks are too insecure to applaud the success or achievements of another, be it a coworker, distant relative, sibling, spouse, or even a child. They feel that they must have comparable success, so they won't feel inferior. If they can indeed claim a similar personal achievement, then they are quick to mention it.  The truth is that someone will always have more suc

DEC. 16, 2025 Healing when you've been hurt. "He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds."  Ps 147:3 NKJV There are times when we all experience rejection, betrayal, and disappointment. But if we hold on to those experiences, we can remain in a state of perpetual hurt. Indeed, when we refuse to forgive and move on, we place a weapon into Satan's hands that he will use against us at every opportunity. It's not what has happened to us, but how we respond that matters.