Friday, January 28, 2022

Friday, January 28, 2022
2 Thessalonians 1:4

Therefore, among God’s churches we boast about your perseverance and faith in all the persecutions and trials you are enduring.

Persevering through trials can not only strengthen our faith, but the faith of those around us as well. Paul praises the Thessalonian church for their steadfastness through the hardships they face; their perseverance has been a source of encouragement and inspiration to other believers. Let your faith in God through troubling times be a testament to others.

Thursday, January 27, 2022

Thursday, January 27, 2022
Proverbs 3:5-6

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.

When things happen in our lives that we don’t understand, it’s easy for us to doubt God; but Proverbs reminds us to lean not on our own understanding. God’s ways are above our ways, and His thoughts are above our thoughts. If we submit to our heavenly Father and trust him with all our heart, He will make our paths straight.

Wednesday, January 26, 2022

Wednesday, January 26, 2022
Romans 8:17-18

Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory. I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.

As children of God, we are promised a place in eternity with Him. The Apostle Paul assures us that the trials and sufferings we endure in this life are nothing compared to the glory and paradise that awaits us in the next. If we share in Christ’s sufferings in a world that every day strays further from Him, we will be richly rewarded in Heaven.

Tuesday, January 25, 2022

Tuesday, January 25, 2022
Romans 5:3-4

Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope.

If we want to become physically stronger, we force our muscles to perform under pressure. The same principle is true for our faith. We are most put to the test when we face life’s difficulties, but as Paul writes, enduring these trials produces character, and character produces hope.

Monday, January 24, 2022

Monday, January 24, 2022
James 1:2-4

Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

Nowhere in the Bible does it say that followers of Christ will have it easy. When life gets hard, our faith is put to the test, and when this happens, James encourages us to rejoice. Perseverance through hardships allows us to grow, and gives God an opportunity to show His goodness and grace in our lives.

Friday, January 21, 2022

Friday, January 21, 2022
Ephesians 4:32

Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.

If we aren’t putting ourselves on a pedestal, we can recognize our own faults and mistakes. In turn, we can empathize with the shortcomings of others. We’ve all done things wrong, some more than others, but God offers unconditional forgiveness to everyone, and encourages us to do the same.