Jesus looked at him and loved him.—Mark 10:21 (NIV)
Is there someone in your life who is difficult to love? Instead of filling your heart with resentment or anger, ask Jesus to help you release your feelings and see this person as He sees them. Spend time in prayer asking for a bigger heart.
Heavenly Father, open my heart. Help me to love others like You love them.
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The greatest among you will be your servant.—Matthew 23:11 (NIV)
C. S. Lewis once said, “Humility is not thinking less of yourself, but thinking of yourself less.” Every day you have an opportunity to imitate Jesus’ humility by seeking to serve God through helping others. The closer you grow to Him, the more you grow in His image.
Lord, teach me the power and ways of humility.
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Jesus turned and saw her. “Take heart, daughter,” he said, “your faith has healed you.” And the woman was healed at that moment.—Matthew 9:22 (NIV)
When you put your trust in God, life can dramatically change in a moment. Like the above verse and again in Matthew 17:18, God’s healing can take place instantly, in a moment’s time. If you are going through a hard time, reflect on His grace and His ability to answer your prayers in an instant.
Heavenly Father, thank You for Your healing love, which strengthens me and gives me peace.
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Nehemiah said, “Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and send some to those who have nothing prepared. This day is holy to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”—Nehemiah 8:10 (NIV)
To know Jesus is to live a life of joy. When you follow His path, you have the glory of feeling His joy. Of course, life has its ups and downs but because of Him, you can feel His love and His presence during the tough times. He is your shield. He is your joy!
Heavenly Father, You are my reason to celebrate!
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Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.—1 Corinthians 6:19-20 (ESV)
Today, treat yourself! Spend at least ten minutes nurturing yourself, whether it be drinking a cup of tea, relaxing in the sun, do something nice just for you. Pat yourself on the back for a job well done. A life-well lived. Look forward to the blessings that will unfold in the day ahead.
Dear Lord, sometimes I forget to care for myself. Help me remember that I am important in Your eyes and should be important in my own.
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Pray continually…—1 Thessalonians 5:17 (NIV)
Today’s faith exercise is to pray throughout your day. Make an effort to consciously work God into your thinking. Invite Him into your mind, ask Him to show you opportunities and inspired ideas. Reach out and invite His amazing power to manifest in your life.
Heavenly Father, I want to talk with You about everything.
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He must increase, but I must decrease.—John 3:30 (ESV)
Dr. Norman Vincent Peale said, “Did it ever occur to you that you do not really own a thing, not a single thing? You are entrusted by the Lord according to your own ability to handle some of His goods for a while. If you use things selfishly for yourself, you will probably lose them and you will certainly lose the values that would come to you if you would use them for God.“
Heavenly Father, free me of selfish thoughts and deeds.
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Answer me, Lord, answer me, so these people will know that You, Lord, are God, and that You are turning their hearts back again.—1 Kings 18:37 (NIV)
When Elijah was afraid and hiding in a cave, God’s voice came as a gentle whisper encouraging him to continue on. Do you hear God’s whispers in your life? A good way to tune your ear to His guidance is to take several moments throughout the day, be still and focus on Him. Invite Him into your heart.
Heavenly Father, help me to be quiet so that I hear Your whispers.
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The Lord directs the steps of the godly. He delights in every detail of their lives.—Psalm 37:23 (NLT)
It’s been said that man plans and God laughs, but it can be upsetting when it happens to you. Trust is the key to keeping your chin up when your best plans and the future you had mapped out suddenly take a sharp, unexpected detour. Only God knows what tomorrow holds. By developing a strong faith, you can confidently walk wherever God calls you to go.
Lord, I’m doing my best to be faithful and flexible, to follow Your lead anywhere it takes me.
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“For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways,” declares the Lord. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways.”—Isaiah 55:8-9 (NIV)
It’s not easy feeling thankful when you are aggravated by setbacks. No matter what you face, one thing remains the same—God. He is with you through life’s big and small problems. Thank Him for being there and trust Him to see you through.
Lord, help turn my complaints into praise. Praise for You!
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Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows Me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”—John 8:12 (ESV)
Dr. Norman Vincent Peale said if you want to make a new start in your life put this verse in your mind and center your thoughts on it every day. Repeat, “I am the light of the world. Follow me and you won’t be walking in the dark. You will have the light that gives life.”
Heavenly Father, help me to see You as the One who walks with me, blessing my day and guiding me to live my life meaningfully.
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Therefore, I say to you, don’t worry about your life, what you’ll eat or what you’ll drink, or about your body, what you’ll wear. Isn’t life more than food and the body more than clothes?—Matthew 6:25 (CEB)
Are you a chronic worrier? Do you agonize over big things and little things no matter how hard you try? If so, take Jesus’ words to heart. He tells you not to worry. Worry is a choice you have power over. Instead of feeding your anxiety, focus your trust on Him.
Dear God, I give You my worries so that You may give me Your peace.
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Therefore I do not run like someone running aimlessly…—1 CORINTHIANS 9:26 (NIV)
Anxiety weighs down the heart, but a kind word cheers it up.—PROVERBS 12:25 (NIV
Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God— this is your true and proper worship.—Romans 12:1 (NIV)
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.—Hebrews 12:1 (NIV)
So God created the great creatures of the sea and every living thing with which the water teems and that moves about in it, according to their kinds, and every winged bird according to its kind. And God saw that it was good.—Genesis 1:21 (NIV)
Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men.—Colossians 3:23 (ESV)
Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.—Romans 12:2 (ESV)
In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.—Matthew 5:16 (ESV)
Sing to the Lord a new song; sing to the Lord, all the earth.—Psalm 96:1 (NIV)
Oh, that I might have my request, that God would grant my desire.—Job 6:8 (NIV)
The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners.—Isaiah 61:1 (NIV)
Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.—Romans 12:21 (NIV)
I have chosen the way of faithfulness; I have set my heart on your laws. I hold fast to your statutes, Lord; do not let me be put to shame. I run in the path of your commands, for you have broadened my understanding.—Psalm 119:30–32 (NIV)
And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.—Psalm 1:3 (KJV)
But God made the earth by his power; he founded the world by his wisdom and stretched out the heavens by his understanding.—Jeremiah 10:12 (NIV)
Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?—John 11:25–26 (NIV)
For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”—Galatians 5:14 (NIV)
This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.—John 15:12 (ESV)
Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times and in every way.—2 Thessalonians 3:16 (NIV)
My heart, O God, is steadfast; I will sing and make music with all my soul.—Psalm 108:1 (NIV)
